Jonas pleased with home win

3 October 2012 17:26

Valencia attacker Jonas says Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League victory over Lille was crucial for his side's chances of surviving the group stages.

Valencia have collected three points from two games after losing their Group F opener against Bayern Munich 2-1, and Jonas, who netted twice against the Ligue 1 side at Mestalla, feels it will come down to their upcoming matches against group leaders BATE of Belarus.

"Our ultimate objective is to ensure we are in the last 16 of this competition next year so it was absolutely vital that we took these three home points. We just need to continue with this kind of performance and result," Jonas told reporters.

"In the first half-hour we weren't getting space, but as that changed, and we were both mobile and ambitious, the opening goal arrived. That allowed us to relax into our play a little bit in the second half.

"Now we face back-to-back matches against BATE and they'll be super-important. In fact, they may decide our destiny in this competition. We have to take points from both contests if we are to meet our goal of getting through the group stage."

Valencia lock horns with BATE in Minsk on October 23.