Valencia 2 - Steaua Bucharest 0

Valencia: Palop; Caneira, Marchena, David Navarro, Carboni; Baraja (Albelda 85'), Sissoko (Rufete 72'); Fiore, Di Vaio, Aimar; Mista (Corradi 78'). 4-2-3-1.
Steaua: Khomutovski, Ogararu, Radoi, Ghionea, Marin; Munteanu, Oprita, Dica, Paraschiv; Neaga, Ciocoiu (Cristea 54'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 38. Di Vaio. Poked ball in after Caneira headed on Fiore corner.
2-0. 52. Aimar. Bent free kick past wall and in to bottom far corner of net.

Valencia got off to a good start in defence of their title, Claudio Ranieri's side running out 2-0 winners against Steaua Bucharest in their first leg tie. The manager put out an aggressive line up, with Di Vaio, Mista and Aimar all in the starting line up to try and build up a big lead to take to Romania next week. But backed by some 9,000 travelling supporters (their millionaire club president had paid for the ticket for 5,000 of them), the visitors went on the attack, firing long balls into the box for their forwards to chase. Valencia though went close to scoring when Aimar put through Di Vaio for him to shoot against the post in the twentieth minute, and before half time the Italian striker gave them the lead when he beat Khomutovski on the far post after Caneira headed on Fiore's corner.

When Aimar added a second with a well struck free kick just a few minutes in to the second half, the Spaniards were already halfway home. Visiting manager Walter Zenga brought on Cristea for Ciocoiu though, and the striker caused some problems for the defence, shooting just wide and having another effort saved by Palop, who once again was defending the local goal in place of Cañizares. But local substitute Corradi could have increased the leader in the dying minutes when the keeper stuck out a hand to save his header from Aimar's cross. In the end though a commanding lead for next week's second leg, and the under-pressure Ranieri can breath a bit more easily for now.