This Tuesday, May 19, 2020, marks the 16th anniversary of the conquest of the 2004 UEFA Cup by the Valencia CF. Without a doubt, this is one of the happiest dates that modern Valencianism remembers for all that that European title meant that put the finishing touch to the best Valencia CF in history. It was the culmination of one of the most golden times remembered in Mestalla. What better way to remember it than to watch the Goteborg match again. that made Valencia CF the best club in the world.
The Valencia CF that made history in 2004 achieving a ‘Double’ within the reach of very few teams, developed its legend by forming a great team with players committed to work and sacrifice. Values that paid off with the conquest of the UEFA Cup as a culmination. This double title (League and UEFA) was a springboard to the top and the Mestalla team earned the recognition of being the best team in the world, as accredited by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
On May 19, 2004, Valencia CF wrote one of the brightest pages in its history by claiming their first UEFA Cup in a grand final against Olympique de Marseille.
On May 19, 2004 (this Tuesday is exactly 16 years old), Valencia CF wrote one of the brightest pages in their history when they won their first UEFA Cup in a great final against Olympique de Marseille against a dedicated Valencia fans who did not hesitate to travel much of Europe to crowd the stands of the Ullevi Stadium in Göteborg to see their team win. Vicente and Mista’s goals were the icing on a magical night in which an indisputable Valencia CF passed over the French team in which a young Didier Drogba was active.
Rafa Benítez’s men reached the grand final of that edition after eliminating teams like AIK Solna, Maccabi Haifa, Besiktas, Glençerbiligi, Girondins de Bordeaux and Villarreal in successive rounds. Valencianism will always remember those semifinals against the ‘groguet’ team that were resolved thanks to a single goal by Mista from eleven meters and that marked the beginning of the end of the ‘germanor’ that lived between both clubs.
Not content with this, thanks to this victory, the Mestalla team earned the right to play the next edition of the European Super Cup against the then champion of the old continent, Porto. A few months later, at the start of the following season, Valencia CF achieved the second European Super Cup in its history by defeating the Portuguese team 2-1 thanks to the goals of Baraja and Di Vaio.
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