Adriano struggles to be fit for Inter

ROME - INTER Milan's Brazilian striker Adriano is battling to be fit in time for today's crucial Champions league last-16 tie away to Valencia.

The first leg at the San Siro ended in a 2-2 draw and Inter must either win or get a higher-scoring draw at the Mestella Stadium to reach the quarter-finals.

Adriano pulled his left hamstring in Wednesday's 1-1 Serie A draw with Udinese.

He missed last Saturday's 2-1 victory at Livorno. The win saw Inter stretch their lead at the top of the table to 16 points.

Hernan Crespo, suspended for the Livorno match, is likely to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic in attack if Adriano fails to prove his fitness.

Luis Figo, who is set to play in the hole behind the two strikers, believes Valencia start as favourites due to their two away goals.

Said the Portuguese: 'They have bags of experience, they're playing at home and have a small advantage from the first leg.

'Valencia are a team that give you little space and are used to big matches, but all we have to concern ourselves with is getting through to the next round.'

Inter's dynamic French midfielder Patrick Vieira has already been ruled out due to a torn right hamstring.

Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso is struggling to recover from the right-leg injury he picked up in the first leg against the Spaniards.

Olivier Dacourt is expected to replace Vieira as the holding midfielder, flanked by Dejan Stankovic on the right and Javier Zanetti on the left.

Valencia's David Villa is convinced his team will prevail today.

He told tribalfootball.com: 'We'll see if we can produce a great performance.

'Inter's record of 33 games without defeat is spectacular.

'But Valencia also have quality and we must turn the Mestalla into a bunker tomorrow night.

' They know they must score, but I don't expect them to go crazy from the first whistle.

'Hopefully I can score again like I did at the San Siro. But the most important thing is we progress.

'To get to the final eight of the Champions League will be a very proud moment.'

ASSOCIATED PRESS