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Pulis primed for historic occasion Tony Pulis is looking forward to one of the biggest nights in Stoke's history when Valencia visit the Britannia Stadium on Thursday.

The Spanish giants, who sit third in the Primera Division, arrived in the Potteries on Wednesday ahead of the first leg of their Europa League last-32 clash.

Stoke have exceeded expectations so far in their first European campaign for 37 years, losing only once in 10 games and qualifying from a group containing Besiktas, Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

But Pulis knows Valencia will present another step up and has called on the club's supporters to play their part as the Potters look to preserve their unbeaten home record in the competition.

He said: "I'm excited. It's one of the great games this football club has had in its history.

"Next year it's 150 years this club has been going and we haven't had too many occasions when you can say you're playing a top, top European team at the Britannia.

"And it's not just the game here, there's a lot of supporters who can't wait to go out for the game in Spain as well and experience the atmosphere out there, which is supposed to be absolutely fantastic. It's just fantastic for the city." Stoke will also be hoping to turn their form around after a run of four Barclays Premier League defeats in a row, which has seen them drop from the fringes of the European battle to 13th.

Pulis is convinced his side can cause an upset and said: "It's a big game, but it's a game and the end result is the most important thing.

"We have to go out there and not be overawed by anything, just play the way we can play and, if we can get our forwards playing well, then I think we'll cause them a lot of problems, I really do." Pulis has been impressed with the job done at the Mestalla by his opposite number Unai Emery, who has kept Valencia snapping at the heels of Real Madrid and Barcelona despite financial constraints that have forced him to sell the likes of David Silva and Juan Mata.

Pulis, who watched the Spaniards beat Sporting Gijon 4-0 on Sunday, said: "They're a fantastic team.

"Sometimes you go and watch a game of football and you can't see an identity with the team but he's a young coach and he's got the team very well organised both off the ball and in possession, and they impress you." Emery insists Valencia have not been focusing on individual Stoke players, such as the threat of Rory Delap's long throws, because he regards them as such a strong team.

"We are aware of certain individuals, but the thing about Stoke City, it is the team as a whole which is the strength of Stoke," said the Los Che boss.

"We are aware of the aerial threat that comes from the throw-ins of Delap, and in the shape of Jermaine Pennant down the sides they are very quick, and also Matthew Etherington down the other side.

"We have to adapt to their style and be as brave and as strong as they are. They pressure you as a unit and we have to match that.

Stoke vs Valencia

Last modified 22:17 16/02/12

All to do for Potters Stoke will have to win in the Mestalla next week if their European adventure is to continue after Valencia shaded the first leg of their Europa League last-32 clash 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium.

Mehmet Topal netted the only goal of the game in the 36th minute with a 30-yard screamer that gave Asmir Begovic absolutely no chance.

Sofiane Feghouli also hit the post in the second half while Stoke, who have lost their past four Barclays Premier League games, were limited to half chances.

Potters boss Tony Pulis described the tie as one of the greatest occasions in the club's history and there was certainly a big difference between the teams in terms of experience, with Valencia playing their 100th game in the Europa League or UEFA Cup compared to Stoke's 15th.

Los Che won the competition in 2004 and are once again the best of the rest in Spain this season, sitting third behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The cliche about European teams normally involves asking how they would fare on a wet evening in Stoke, and the hosts were quick to test their opponents, with Jon Walters benefiting from a misplaced header but firing well wide of target.

Vicente Guaita, preferred to Diego Alves in goal because of his prowess at dealing with crosses, coped well with two Matthew Etherington corners but the first Rory Delap long throw caused panic in the Valencia defence and surely would have cost them a goal had Walters managed to get his head on it.

The visitors were treated to jeers and shouts of 'boring' when they finally managed to string some passes together, but Stoke were grateful to keeper Begovic for a great save to deny Jonas after he jinked his way through the defence in the 21st minute.

Valencia's class was beginning to tell and the Stoke defence were called upon to make a number of blocks, while Huth flicked a curling shot from Tino Costa behind.

The Spaniards seemed determined to walk the ball into the net so there was a certain irony that their opening goal after 36 minutes came from a thundering 30-yard shot from Topal that left Begovic pawing at thin air.

Feghouli then fired just wide as Valencia turned the screw but Stoke were almost level moments later when a peach of a cross from Jermaine Pennant was met by Crouch's acrobatic volley that flew just over the crossbar.

Stoke, who did beat Valencia when the sides met in a friendly at the Britannia in 2004, desperately needed something to take with them to the Mestalla next week.

Pennant's crosses looked their most likely creative source and he almost picked out the head of Walters with another gem 11 minutes into the second half.

Pulis had made his first change by that point, sending on Dean Whitehead for the ineffectual Wilson Palacios, while Huth had to be alert to cut out a dangerous low ball from Feghouli at the near post.

Cameron Jerome and Ryan Shotton came on for Crouch and Marc Wilson, but Stoke almost found themselves two behind in the 71st minute when Feghouli again found space down the right.

He jinked his way into a shooting position in the middle of the box and was desperately unlucky to see the ball bounce off the inside of the post and onto Begovic but not find its way into the net.

Stoke continued to probe and Huth stabbed a shot wide from Etherington's corner before Shotton's 25-yard effort deflected off a defender but Guaita recovered just in time.