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7 December 2004

VALENCIA 0-2 BREMEN

Tinkerman did it again. Benching the hero's from the victory over jobbers Anderlecht (Di Vaio and Corradi) in favour of once season wonder Mista and Xisco, who wrote the marvellous Thong Song for Def Jam records last year. Mista missed two easy chances before being subbed for Di Vaio. The Italian almost gave Valencia the lead with his first touch, his stunning half volley catching the top of the crossbar. Bremen's sub went one better and scored within two minutes of entering play. Valdez pulled down Ismael's long ball, rounded Canizares and tapped into an empty net. Angulo was sent off for a shocking foul on the striker and as he walked off the pitch spat at Borowski. Marchena and Vicente should have joined him, Marchena for pushing Magnin in the face and Vicente for trying to punch Ismael. The inept Anders Frisk, who saw all of this took no action. Ranieri commented after that match that he now understands why Roma supports threw missiles at him! He should take up comedy as an Italian Jack Dee because his coaching career looks over. Valdez responded in the best possible manner by smashing in the second from the resulting free kick.

Attendance : 40,000
Red Card : Angulo 92 (Valencia)
Assists : Ismael, n/a


INTER 3-0 ANDERLECHT

Inter took the lead following a brilliant one-two between Cruz and Recoba, Recoba returned Cruz's pass with a back heel, Cruz feigned to shoot, drawing in a defender then rolled the ball into the bottom corner. Martins scored twice on the break from long balls.

Attendance : 30,000
Assists : Recoba, Davids, Emre


24 November 2004

ANDERLECHT 1-2 VALENCIA

A long, long pass found Curro Torres free out wide on the right, Corradi met his cross with a stunning back heel. He must have been watching Kluivert. Diver extraordinaire Aruna Dindane was rewarded for his persistence with a penalty. He took a dive in the box, the ref ignored him so he got up, ran forward and dived again. Canizares made a fantastic save from Zetterberg's spot kick but Wilmhelmsson lashed in the rebound. Di Vaio won the match early in the second half with a superb finish after controlling Corradi's floated cross on his chest.

Attendance : 25,866
Assists : Curro Torres, n/a, Corradi


BREMEN 1-1 INTER

The ref awarded Bremen a spot kick for a Serie A penalty box challenge. Ismael's shot was too hot for Toldo. Stankovic's exquisite lob came back off the crossbar and Martins headed into the net.

Attendance : 37,000
Assists : Magnin (won pen), n/a


If Bremen avoid defeat in the Mestella they're though the next round. A win by more than one clear goal takes Valencia through. I think a high scoring single goal loss will take Bremen through on away goals.


2 November 2004

BREMEN 5-1 ANDERLECHT

Anderlecht missed several chances to clear a free kick, Jensen flicked the ball into the box Klasnic turned and volley into the net. His second was a bullet header from a corner. The Belgians were back in the tie for three minutes until Klose bundled in a deflected cross. Klasnic finished off a brilliant counter attack to complete his hat-trick and Valdez played in Jensen for the fifth.

Attendance : 37,359
Assists : Jensen, Micoud (ck), Ehret (fk), n/a, Micoud, Valdez


INTER 0-0 VALENCIA

Adriano was sent off for punching Caneira after the defender tried to remove his shirt then slapped him in the face. He's almost certainly going to get a 2-3 match ban. If it's two matches it doesn't matter as Inter are through if not they better hope for an easy opponent in the knockout stages. I'd figure Inter won't try now they're through which means Bremen should get the point they need to make the next round.

Attendance : 35,000
Red Card : Adriano 91
Assists : n/a


20 October 2004

ANDERLECHT 1-2 BREMEN

For the second match in a row Bremen came from behind to win. Wilhelmsson gave the Belgians the lead but Klasnic equalised following a blunder by Zitka and scored the winner just before the hour mark after Micoud un-selfishlessly laid off Klose's pass.

Attendance : 21,187
Assists : Kompany, n/a, Micoud


VALENCIA 1-5 INTER

Inter hit the Spanish champions with two goals in two minutes. Stankovic scored another fantastic header and a mistake by Curro Torres left Vieri with a chance even he couldn't miss. Aimar got Valencia back into the match with an excellent first time finish from Di Vaio's lay-off. van der Meyde came on for Vieri and within a minute put Inter out of sight. He collected a pass from Adriano, flicked the ball between Carboni's legs and raced away before slotted past Canizares. The Dutchman also had a hand in the fourth, his pass found fellow substitute Zanetti and he skipped past Angulo before pulling the ball back for Adriano to score a goal he so richly deserved. Cruz, on as a sub for Adriano, completed Valencia's humiliation after Stankovic's clever flick sent him clear.

I was hoping Milan would get a crack as this vastly over-rated Valencia team and their vastly over-rated defence but I'll settle for this.

Attendance : 48,000
Assists : Favalli, n/a, Di Vaio, n/a, J Zanetti, Stankovic


29 September 2004

BREMEN 2-1 VALENCIA

One of Valencia's very good Italian players (Di Vaio) combined with one of their extremely shit Italian players (Carboni) down the left, Vicente with a stunning finish inside two minutes. Di Vaio should have buried Bremen but missed three chances on the break. Valencia were in control until Marchena earned a second yellow for a foul on Valdez. Ok so they were a defender short but it was an astonishing collapse. After a period of sustained pressure and some desperate defending Klose tapped in unmarked at the back post after Klasnic's shot fell at his feet. Barowski struck the post with a shot from outside the box and Charisteas headed straight at Canizares before grabbing the winner, the Valencia defence screwed up playing offside and the Euro 2004 hero tapped in Valdez' centre.

Attendance : 36,043
Assists : Carboni, Klasnic (x2)
Red Card : Marchena 55 (Valencia)


ANDERLECHT 1-3 INTER

You can't legislate for Adriano. He held off two defenders before whipping a cross into the box which Martins met with a spectacular volley. Anderlecht created and waste a million and one chances before Adriano headed in Emre's corner in off a post. Stankovic put the seal on a superb passing move when he stepped inside a defender before drilling low into the bottom corner. Baseggio smashed in a late, deserved consolation goal.

Unless you actually see the highlights or the match you won't appreciate how many chances Anderlecht created. Inter's defence is an absolute mess.

Attendance : 25,000
Assists : Adriano, Emre (ck), Veron


14 September 2004

VALENCIA 2-0 ANDERLECHT

Aimar chipped a ball towards Rufete, Zitka came off his line and missed the ball with his hands, it struck his face and bounced to Vicente leaving the winger with the simple task of putting the ball into an empty net. Baraja rode a tackle on the edge of the box before drilling home just on the stroke of half time.

Question for Baraja and Vicente, who cut your hair, the council?

Assists : n/a


INTER 2-0 BREMEN

Adriano won two penalties in this match, the first wasn't so at least Bugner can use that as an excuse for his miss. Adriano took the second himself and sent Reinke the wrong way and bagged another from a fine Veron pass.

Assists : Adriano (won pen), Veron
Red Card : Ismael 5 (Bremen)