Inter Milan 1 - Valencia 0

Inter Milan: Toldo; Javier Zanetti, Materazzi, Coco (Pasquale 30'), Córdoba; Cristian Zanetti, Di Baggio, Sergio Conceiçao (Okan 64'), Emre; Vieri, Crespo (Cannavaro 83'). 4-4-2.
Valencia: Cañizares; Revellèire, Ayala, Marchena, Carboni; Baraja, Albelda; Rufete (Mista 80'), Aimar, Vicente (Fabio Aurelio 85'); Carew (Angulo 66'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 14. Vieri. Headed past keeper after Crespo flicked on Emre cross from left.

Valencia lost their first leg match with Héctor Cúper's Inter Milan by a single goal, and now have to score twice at least in the Mestalla stadium in two weeks' time to reach the quarter finals. Rafa Benítez's side put up a credible fight, but were not able to get through against a solid defence which was modelled on Cúper's defensive style. The ex Valencia manager did line up with Crespo and Vieri in attack though, and the move paid off with a quarter of an hour on the clock when Crespo flicked on Emre's cross for Vieri to head down past Cañizares for what was to prove the only goal of the game.

Both sides had gone close early on, Carew shooting wide and then Vieri hitting the side netting at the other end. After the goal though the keepers had little work for the rest of the half other than a long shot from Albelda which Toldo gathered at the second attempt. A quarter of an hour in to the second half both sides were left with ten men after Emre and Albelda were sent off after clashing off the ball, referee Markus Merk harsh on both but particularly on the Spaniard who did not appear to have done much wrong.

Valencia tried their best after that as Inter pulled in their horns, with Rufete curling a shot shot just wide and Aimar forcing a point blank save out of Toldo. Mista came on and almost immediately headed over the bar, but Cúper responded by taking off Crespo to add an extra defender Cannavaro, and the "catenacchio" was complete. In the last minute of injury time Aimar got through and fell inside the penalty area, but the referee was wise to it and booked the Argentine forward for diving. This was not Valencia's night, and they have it all to do now in a fortnight's time.