SPAIN: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Press conference after Goaless draw between Valencia and Inter Milanin their second leg Champions League match marred by a fight at the end

Record ID: 376535

  • Title: SPAIN: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Press conference after Goaless draw between Valencia and Inter Milanin their second leg Champions League match marred by a fight at the end
  • Date: 7th March 2007
  • Summary: VALENCIA COACH QUIQUE FLORES SEATED AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM REPORTER WRITING ON LAP TOP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VALENCIA COACH QUIQUE FLORES SAYING: "It's like talking about things I di not see. I was inside the changing room when I noticed that people were coming out. I understand that (Nicolas) Burdisso went over (Carlos) Marchena, that is what people say and then Navarr
  • Embargoed: 22nd March 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3MOBW5R3FQY02261AXHA8PPNQ
  • Story Text: The goalless draw against Inter Milan at Valencia's Mestalla ground on Tuesday (March 6) was enough to put the Spaniards through on the away goals rule after their 2-2 draw in the first leg at the San Siro,
    Victory in the tie gave Valencia some measure of revenge for their previous defeats at the hands of the Italians who knocked them out of the UEFA Cup in 2002 and the Champions League the following season. The Spaniards had reached back-to-back finals in 2000 and 2001,
    Scoring chances were few and far between in a game that developed into a tactical battle in midfield and was dominated by two well organised defences with Valencia centre-halves Roberto Ayala and Raul Albiol outstanding at the back.
    Tempers flared at the final whistle when Valencia midfielder Carlos Marchena kicked out at Inter's Nicolas Burdisso sparking a mass brawl in the middle of the pitch.
    Valencia substitute David Navarro then ran on to the pitch and threw a punch at Burdisso while the scuffles continued in the tunnel and dressing rooms with security guards having to intervene.
    "A Valencia player went mad when he came onto the pitch and hit Burdisso," said Inter coach Roberto Mancini. "He broke Burdisso's nose."
    Inter, who came into the match on a 32-match unbeaten run, gave the home side a couple of scares in the opening minutes, centre-back Marco Materazzi causing problems for the Valencia defence at the back post and then heading over the bar after a corner.
    But Valencia responded well and it took a fine full-stretch save from Inter keeper Julio Cesar to stop a goal-bound shot from midfielder Ruben Baraja in the 11th minute.
    The game quickly settled into a tactical affair, however, with neither side giving anything away as they hunted each other down in midfield and kept their shape at the back.
    Valencia suffered a heavy blow when skipper Ruben Baraja, who had been running the show in midfield, went off with what appeared to be a torn thigh muscle nine minutes before halftime to be replaced by Hugo Viana.
    Inter had a penalty appeal turned down when a Hernan Crespo shot appeared to hit the hand of Valencia defender Albiol, but the referee waved play on.
    Midfielder Dejan Stankovic went close early in the second half when he found himself unmarked at the far post but could only steer his acrobatic volley into the side netting.
    Mancini threw on striker Julio Cruz and winger Luis Figo in an attempt to break the deadlock in the second half and the Italians pressed hard in the final quarter.
    Midfielder Marchena cleared a Materazzi header off the line after keeper Santiago Canizares was beaten.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register