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Valencia hurdle confronts Chelsea



Chelsea FC have faced Spanish opposition in each of the past two UEFA Champions League knockout stage campaigns and Valencia CF, another representative from the Primera División, now bar the London club's passage to a third semi-final in the competition in the past four seasons.

• It was FC Barcelona who stood in the way last season and also in 2004/05 – both encounters coming in the first knockout round - with José Mourinho's side enjoying contrasting fortunes. They claimed an aggregate victory in their first meeting but tasted defeat 12 months later. The tie with Valencia will be the first meeting between the clubs in UEFA competition.

• While the custom is to prefer to play away in the first leg, Chelsea believe that Stamford Bridge is a stronghold for them and can provide the means to climb this hurdle. They have lost here only once in 14 UEFA Champions League outings under Mourinho – to Barcelona 13 months ago - and have conceded goals in only two of their last nine home games in the competition.

• The second occasion came four weeks ago when Ricardo Quaresma scored to give FC Porto the overall lead 15 minutes into the second game. Chelsea had to wait until the start of the second half to respond through Arjen Robben and Michael Ballack's volley eleven minutes from time then ensured a fourth win in the same number of games on home soil in this season's competition and sent Mourinho's men through at the expense of his former club.

• In this season's group campaign Chelsea were once again paired with Barcelona and their 1-0 home victory, secured by Didier Drogba's wonderful strike early in the second half, helped dim the memory of their opponents' victory last season. That was also Chelsea's first home defeat against Spanish opponents in UEFA competition; their record now reads P8 W6 D1 L1.

• Two significant victories against Spanish opponents came on neutral soil. Chelsea played Real Madrid CF in the 1970/71 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final in Athens with Chelsea winning the replay 2-1 after a 1-1 draw. The teams also met in the 1998 UEFA Super Cup in Monaco, Chelsea winning 1-0.

• When Chelsea were last in the quarter-finals two years ago, a 4-2 home victory against FC Bayern München set them up for a 6-5 aggregate success. Their progress was halted at the next stage by Premiership rivals Liverpool FC.

• Valencia owe their place in the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2002/03 campaign - when they bowed out to FC Internazionale Milano - principally to the away goals scored by David Villa and David Silva in the 2-2 draw against the same opponents in the first leg of the first knockout round tie. That result meant they have lost just one of four games away from Spain in this season's campaign - not including the third qualifying round tie which saw them go down 1-0 away to FC Salzburg - and only one of their last six away games in the competition proper.

• With the return leg at the Mestalla Stadium ending 0-0, Sánchez Flores' team made progress at the expense of the Serie A leaders and remained on track to go one better than their two UEFA Champions League final disappointments in 2000 and 2001.

• The resilience they showed over those two games - they were twice behind at San Siro - was similar to the qualities they had called upon to remain unbeaten on their last three visits to England in the UEFA Champions League. In 2002/03 they won 1-0 at Liverpool FC and drew 0-0 away to Arsenal FC in the first and second group stages respectively; their progress came to an end in the quarter-finals when Inter went through on away goals after the teams finished 2-2 on aggregate. Two seasons before they had drawn 0-0 at the home of Leeds United AFC in the semi-final before winning the home leg 3-0.

• In that 2000/01 campaign Valencia had faced English opponents in three successive rounds, drawing 1-1 away to Manchester United FC in the second group stage before losing 2-1 at Highbury in the quarter-finals, a result which did not impair their progress as they won the home leg 1-0 to go through on away goals.

• Draws have featured most prominently in their visits to England in UEFA competition. Of the eleven trips they have made, six have ended all-square with only the recent game at Anfield featuring a victory.

• They owed their first two European trophies – the 1979/80 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Super Cup the following season - to victories against English opposition, seeing off Arsenal in the first instance following a penalty shoot-out, and then triumphing on away goals over Nottingham Forest FC.

• Parma FC coach Claudio Ranieri provides a link between the teams, and he was the predecessor for each of the current coaches. He lifted the Copa del Rey in the first of two spells at Valencia, while in between he had four seasons at Chelsea, guiding them to the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

• Asier del Horno knows all about Chelsea, with the Valencia left-back having spent last season in west London. Team-mates Edu, Hugo Viana and Fernando Morientes, formerly of Arsenal FC, Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC respectively, also have plenty of Premiership experience.

• The return match will be played at the Mestalla Stadium on 10 April with the winners facing either Liverpool FC or PSV Eindhoven in the semi-finals on 24/25 April and 1/2 May.


What do you think?

I think Chelsea will just edge this one out, I hope Valencia get an away goal.

1-1 To Valencia(H)

Fernando Morientes, Ruben Baraja, Edu, Reguiero and Gavilan miss out due to injuries, while the suspended David Navarro and Carlos Marchena take the number of absentees up to seven for Valencia.

We on the other hand could see Joe Cole back on the team for this game.

http://www.eurosport.com/football/uefa-champions-league/2006-2007/sport_sto1137849.shtml

And Wayne Bridge is back in full training too. Diarra is back and will be a sub for this game.

good time to get Joe Cole back with the whole Robben out for the rest of the season incident. i just hope Valencia dont get an away goal.

good time to get Joe Cole back with the whole Robben out for the rest of the season incident. i just hope Valencia dont get an away goal.

Valencia will get an away goal, u can be sure of that.

1-1

Drobga and Villa.I really think Valencia can make it.

1-1

Kalou and Silva the scorers.

3-2. The scorers will have Drogba and Villa on them.

I think the same as majority here so 1:1.

3-0.

Chelsea 2 - 0 Valencia
goals : r.carvalho and sheva

3-1 - Sheva, Drogba, Lampard & Silva scoring for Valencia

wow- cant hate on Silvas goal, wat a strike, down 1 , seen this b4 but gotta admit we missin Essien & Robben


lets go Blues

great equalizer from Bolton. Well played Valencia.

What a goal by Silva, just great. Than Ayala with a blunder/error in defence which Drogba scores on. I also see that Vicente has been injured yet again, I feel bad for the poor guy. Looks like he is going to be joining the list of players never able to fulfil their potental due to injury.:(

the midfield struggled with out Essien and Makelele, i don’t know why mourinho decided to sub Mikel off his passing was great and if anything positive was going to happen for us i felt sure he would play part in it, good to see Cole back in the Team Diarra was great once again. Great goal by Silva and hats of to Valencia they where missing many players and they still managed to get something out of this game, a vital away goal i just hope it won't come back to haunt us.

I think its more Canizare's fault than Ayala's...his goal kick was short and he was way off the line.....
Valencia played great football in 1st half and deserved getting the lead but we nicked it in the 2nd half....Great to see Joey back, now we need Essien back!!

foda-se que ganda golo do Silva.

ye not worried b/c essien and a more fit joe cole will also be available

yea definately Canizares fault over ayala's...

Come on valencia make the world proud and take out the blues

Come on valencia make the world proud and take out the blues

hahahahahhaa...."Where were you when you were s.h.i.t?".....Oh wait.....I forgot....Arsenal are s.h.it:mexican:

hahahahahhaa...."Where were you when you were s.h.i.t?".....Oh wait.....I forgot....Arsenal are s.h.it:mexican:

haha..pure inspiration dude! :bouncy:

I Just Hope Essien Is Fit For This One

1-0 Valencia at the half...

I guess no one is into this match?

Valencia are very impressive, but chelsea are also playing great. will be an interesting second half. Come on Chelsea

1-0 Valencia at the half...

I guess no one is into this match?
I'll fake some interest and passion:

WOOHOO! Morrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrientes!!!!!!

Okay now back to United doggy-style Roma, peace.

Shevaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... 1-1

essiiiiiiieeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 2-1

What a game. Chelsea came out on the second half and played like a complete team. They wanted it more. Essien, what else can you say, what a way to come back, scored the goal that they needed to get through. COngratulations

mourinho's done it again.

3 English teams in semifinals and 0 Spanish (i don't see PSV coming back from 3-0). That just shows the class of EPL.

EPL is THE best league in the world (Y)

CHElsea DOMINATED in the last 30 mins of the game, they deserved that goal, JOe Cole was amazing...Great victory lets have that semi finals rematch against liverpool now

Cañizares sucked in both the 1st and 2nd leg :boohoo:

3 English teams in semifinals and 0 Spanish (i don't see PSV coming back from 3-0). That just shows the class of EPL.

Err, PSV is not Spanish. Only Valencia made it that far.

Err, PSV is not Spanish. Only Valencia made it that far.

Serious?




I was refering to the 3 EPL teams part, when i was talking about PSV. My bad, i should have put the brackets in the middle of the sentence.

Err, PSV is not Spanish. Only Valencia made it that far.

You didn't get it! He mentioned PSV because Liverpool won 3-0 against them, that's why he was saying 3 English teams, because he didn't see PSV overcoming that result in the 2nd leg.

Cañizares sucked in both the 1st and 2nd leg :boohoo:

But if it wasn't for him, Valencia would have lost by more today, he made two savs that were completely out of this world.

-----------------------------

Completely deserved win by Chelsea. They totally dominated Valencia in the 2nd half and were the only team doing anything to win.

great charchter from chelsea, fair play, good luck -v- liverpool

how many f*cken goals do chelsea score past the 88th mintue

yeah because normally games have just like 60' or 70'..

great result against a great team, marvelous performance by the lads, Joe Cole was brilliant, him coming on really made the difference.....Canizares pulled out some great saves but couldn't stop Essien's thunderbolt at the near post..
bad news is, that Essien won't be able to play the 1st leg vs L'pool(or miraculously PSV??)...
The reason why we scored so many late goals this season is because of Mourinho changing things went its not going well and also our character and desire to win...something we lacked before Mourinho joined. Man Utd are also thru as I thought they would be, tough schedule for them as well!!!

yeah because normally games have just like 60' or 70'..

why dont you stop trying to be a smart ass in all of your posts, i was just mentioning it because in there last few games (and others this year) they have scored goals in the last 2 minutes or in extra time

relax man, what a huge sense of humor damn...allright i'm sorry about the irony..

I thought Canizares was amazing tonight. As mentioned before, 2 saves he made were just out of this world.

Valencia looked like they were waiting for extra time and that was a big mistake when playing us. This was the 19th goal that we have scored this season within the last ten minutes of a game, that has given us the victory. Chelsea never give up fighting for the points and Valencia must have known that.

Once Jose brought on Joe Cole and changed our formation to 4-3-3, we were all over Valencia, and had them pinned into their own half for much of the second half of the game.

A poachers goal by Sheva, in the right place at the right time, and a sublime goal by Essien. From the angle of the shot and the small target to aim at made that goal something wonderful. I think everyone else was expecting a cross ball into the area but Michael had other ideas.

English teams are not supposed to win at the home of Valencia but we did tonight.

I'd like that ref to officiate at every Chelsea game in future. He was awesome tonight.:mexican:

Well done Chelsea! Great night for English footie!
That John Terry interview was fooking funny.

Nah, The reason chelsea are winning with late winners is because Mourihno and the players want to give the other team some false hope. Then when they got them in their grasp, BAM!!. They score and win :p

Honestly thought, Thats just the heart and passion that the players have and thats why they always find ways to win. I really hope Chelsea go the distance.

it seemed as Valencia got really nervous after Sheva scored, alot of missed and bad passes.

I thought Canizares was amazing tonight. As mentioned before, 2 saves he made were just out of this world.

great saves but he had a horrible kicking night :D and never looked comfortable when dealing with crosses and corners.......

I'd like that ref to officiate at every Chelsea game in future. He was awesome tonight.:mexican:

great performance by the referee, let the game flow and was fair in terms of dealing with challenges and tackles....
just one incident where he couldn't get out of the way of Ballack pass and the ball hit him causing Lamps to collide with Albiol, the latter had to be stretchered off unfortunately.....

wow, Chelsea showed a real class today

Someone threw scissors at Drogba? :|
At least it showed him handing them to the referee.

someone threw scissors that's for sure, i don't know why and at who..

Chelsea have to be the most annoying team in the world . They absorb pressure like no other , they should have been 3-0 down at half time . and then they slowly but surely they strangle their prey like a python would a mouse..........

Chelsea have to be the most annoying team in the world . They absorb pressure like no other , they should have been 3-0 down at half time . and then they slowly but surely they strangle their prey like a python would a mouse..........


Hahahaha...Perfectly put Tracer. Thats about the size of it alright.:D

scissors...well knocking them out is thebest revenge!

Essien strikes back best box to box midfielder in the world. Bring on Lverpool.

great great performance by chelsea today! :bob:
joe cole was amazing..his introduction was on the correct time.
& again essien with a screamer!!

i'll go for essien for the best player 2006-2007

ok i know, i'm biased (H)

Here is my opinion in the cold light of morning. I'm even more impressed now. Winning 2-1 in Valencia was almost unthinkable. No English sides win there. Valencia were caught waiting for extra-time whereas Chelsea kept pressuring for the winner. Great spirit, and as Utd showed in '99, that quality could be the most important one in regards to winning the cup.

Fair play Chelsea,doing England proud.

Nice post Sean, Cheers man.:)

Is it really that big of a hurdle for an English team to win in Mestalla? It's a coincidence that English teams haven't won there. It's a challenge for any foreign team to win in Mestalla, regardless of the team's country of origin.

Congrats to Chelsea. They clearly deserved it.

Is it really that big of a hurdle for an English team to win in Mestalla? It's a coincidence that English teams haven't won there. It's a challenge for any foreign team to win in Mestalla, regardless of the team's country of origin.

Congrats to Chelsea. They clearly deserved it.

Yeah that's a good point mate.(Y)