Valencia - Internazionale
First knockout round - 06 March 2007 20:45 (CET) - Mestalla Stadium - Valencia

Link to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano

Valencia comeback leaves tie open

Valencia CF's refusal to accept FC Internazionale Milano's initial superiority two weeks ago and their spirited response in scoring two equalisers, has fuelled belief among Quique Sánchez Flores's side that they can claim a quarter-final place in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2003.

• Runaway Serie A leaders Inter had led in both halves of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza encounter through Esteban Cambiasso and fellow midfielder Maicon. Yet Valencia came back not once but twice, long-range efforts from David Villa and David Silva enabling them to finish the game in the better frame of mind.

• The last side to win a UEFA Champions League tie after drawing the first leg at home were FC Porto in the 2003/04 semi-finals. Since then ten teams have tried but failed to regain the initiative in a tie following a home first-leg draw.

• Valencia will be delighted if they can add to their good work in Italy and win the second leg because their opponents have generally had the better of these contests. The sides first met in UEFA club competition in the last eight of the UEFA Cup five seasons ago when, after a 1-1 draw in Milan, Inter triumphed 1-0 in Spain thanks to Nicola Ventola's early strike.

• The teams were reunited in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League the following season. On that occasion Christian Vieri won the home leg for Inter - whose coach Héctor Cúper had recently joined from Valencia - and his goal early in the return proved decisive as it meant the Nerazzurri progressed on away goals after Pablo Aimar and Rubén Baraja had struck for Valencia.

• Two seasons later Inter surpassed those results with a remarkable 5-1 group-stage win at the Mestalla - the third time in four seasons they had won at the stadium - and they will certainly not be returning to Spain short of confidence. On that occasion Dejan Stanković, Adriano and Julio Cruz were all on the scoresheet and despite a scoreless draw in the return, Inter went on to win the group with Valencia finishing third.

• This time, Valencia topped their group with a three-point advantage over AS Roma and took great heart from their home record in Group D which showed maximum points from three games – including a 2-1 success against Roma thanks to goals from Miguel Ángel Angulo and Villa. They also won 3-0 in the home leg of their third qualifying round victory over FC Salzburg.

• In four previous UEFA Champions League campaigns the Spanish side have reached the final twice, losing both.

• Inter are looking for a place in the last eight for the third successive season and their fifth in all. In only one campaign have they missed out on the quarter-finals, in 2003/04 when they finished third in their group. Twelve months ago a Stanković goal in the home return sealed their progress at this stage after they had recovered from AFC Ajax's storming start to draw 2-2 away, Stanković and Cruz scoring second-half goals.

• Inter were European Champion Clubs' Cup winners in 1963/64 and again the following year and that first triumph, a 3-1 victory in Vienna, came at the expense of Spanish opposition in the shape of Real Madrid CF.

• Roberto Mancini's team finished second in Group B behind FC Bayern München and ended the section with a 1-1 draw at the Fußball Arena München. They had won their previous away game, against FC Spartak Moskva, while their first fixture had seen them lose 1-0 at Sporting Clube de Portugal.

• The winning team will advance to the 9 March draw in Athens for the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The Greek capital will also stage the final on Wednesday 23 May.

uefa.com

Okay, so far Inter Coach Mancini, Crespo, Stankovic, and now Dacourt have said that they will win. Well actually, Dacourt is 'confident'. Sort of the same thing.

Dacourt Uefa article.

I must say that I'm somewhat disappointed that the UEFA articles seem to be one sided so far. 'Blah, blah Inter unlucky'...'Blah, Blah, blah Inter confident'....'Blah, blah, blah Inter have won alot of matches in Serie A, seek to continue trend in Champions League'. Stupid UEFA have had I think four or more articles post-draw on Inter, while not a single one about Valencia has surfaced. Not a single one. I mean could their favouritism for Inter be any more obvious?

I figure that Inter will try and come out with guns a blazing. If Quique had some sense, he should field this line-up:


................Canizares...............
..Miguel....Albiol...Ayala.....Moretti/Del Horno (not sure which is better defensively)

........... Viana....Marchena............
Joaquin..........Silva.....................Vicente

...................Villa............................


I'd keep Morientes on the bench in favor of Silva, as he would provide some graft/connection in Central Midfield - I don't think a team can properly counter-attack without a strong Central midfield attacking presence. I just remembered that no Albelda due to cards. So, I'd hope Viana, playing much more defensively, and Marchena would hopefully do well to absorb Inter's pressure while the front four of Joaquin, Silva, Vicente, and Villa would cause enough problems for Inter's midfield and defence that they couldn't afford to gamble and take too many chances.

I have no clue what Quique wants to do, but I fear he will play Angulo instead of Joaquin, Baraja instead of Viana, and Morientes instead of Silva.

I would hate to play that team against Inter. If we did, they'd probably beat us 5-0 again. I'd go for this defintely.

----------------Cañizares------------
--Miguel---Albiol---Ayala--Moretti--
---------Baraja---Marchena---------
-Angulo-------------------------Silva-
----------Morientes---Villa-----------

Viana is not a good player, especially in games like this he is a total liablity. He can't defend well and against a team like inter he won't be able to create because Dacourt and Stankovic will always close him down. Baraja player alround and he can also defend well. Him and Marchena will be a great infront of the defense.

It's most likely going to be Maxwell and Figo starting on the left flank for them. Maxwell gets forward a lot, so having Joaquin they would double up on miguel, with Angulo he'll track back and clean up Maxwell as well as getting up the pitch too.

I'd prefer two strikers as if we get a chance we NEED to score it. Having Silva in the hole isn't the best against this sort of opposition. If we still had say Aimar I'd reconsider.

AND Moretti is BY FAR the best left back at the club. He has to start. That defense I mentioned is really solid and would fit into any side in the world. Del Horno will be good to play in la liga in a few smaller games, but I feel Moretti has to play in the big games. the guy never has a bad game, so consistant and good at winning the balll and playing it on. One of the most underrated players in the world.

My starting 11:

[align=center]Cañizares
Miguel Albiol Ayala Moretti
Joaquín Baraja Marchena Vicente
Silva Villa[/align]

Anyway I think, as hoser says, that Quique will chose Angulo instead of Joaquín.

This is a match,which would suit us a lot.Inter would attack from the kick off & we would sit back & counter attack.Looking at Baraja's & Angulo's performance against Celta,I really have doubt's whetehr to start them.Its time for QQ to start with Jaoquin,he was good when he came in.
I too would prefer a 442 of abraxas.Lets see how Baraja plays & then try to bring in Viana.

I'll be with mr Abraxas in Mestalla

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Funny thing is that Moratti, Inter Milan owner, says that it would be a 'pity' if Inter were to be eliminated from the Champions League. Just because a team is doing exceptionally well in a League doesn't give it the right to win the CL. Serie A, at least this year, is a weak specimen of a League.

Fair enough. It's just that Baraja hasn't been playing well, hence the Viana substitution, but yes, in retrospect, Baraja makes more sense. Though I'd rather have Edu if he were healthy. I'd prefer Joaquin instead of Angulo because he at least provides some pressure on offense...or at least is more likely to. My only worry about fielding Angulo as Quique did against Inter last time is that Quique essentially relies on 3 players to score, Silva, Morientes, and Villa. 3! At least with Joaquin on the pitch Valencia can work on maintaining some possession, thereby leading to fouls and set plays. Because to be honest, it was set plays and not open play that got the draw for Valencia.

Anyway, regardless of formation, I hope for a win.

Medias are saying this morning that Quique has only the doubt where to fit Silva in his starting eleven. Quique is considering two options:

1.
[align=center]Cañizares
Miguel Albiol Ayala Moretti
Angulo Baraja Marchena Silva
Morientes Villa[/align]

2.
[align=center]Cañizares
Miguel Albiol Ayala Moretti
Angulo Baraja Marchena Vicente
Silva Villa[/align]

Paste your text, then select all text (CTRL A) and click on

I suggest playing with all buttons and options in a "test post". Remember you can always edit it afterwards.

It is always a good idea to click on the the quote icon when you see something interesting on somebody's post. You will see all tags... and their results.

Thanks abraxas!

From: Goal.com: 'Villa: Biggest Game of the Season'

So no Jaoquin again What does Quique see in Angulo?How is this being taken there?Do u guys like what hes doing with Jaoquin?

I would prefer Silva to start.He was very lively against Celta when he came in.Vicet seems a litle rusty.But in the second half u can bring in Jaoquin & Vicente to bring some pace in the flanks.

In Angulo's defence, he is a hard worker that defends well. What he can contribute to the offense is pretty erratic, as he has a few good games, then has large inconsistent patches. To answer the second question, no, I'm not happy with how Quique has used Joaquin.



I'd prefer Silva to start as well, though I wouldn't mind Vicente either. If Vicente starts, then Morientes starting makes sense, as he has the ability to convert Vicente's passes/crosses. Inter's midfield is in a bit of a mess with injuries to Cambiasso and Vieira - this is the reason why I'd prefer Silva in a dropped role. Regardless, Quique does have a few tough decisions to make with regards to the line-up.

International Herald Tribune

Actually, it's just the Associated Press Article the I H Tribune purchased.

Guardian
Actually, the Guardian is the first article I've read that actually takes a Valencia perspective instead of the usual Inter-friendly press.

Hmph, purchased from Reuters.



Also found within the bowels of the Guardian