On A Day Like Today: A double dose of European success, 38 years apart

May 2nd has double significance for Valencia CF, as it is the day in which they earned two big European results which helped them into finals.

In 1962, under coach Domingo Balmanya, the team managed to reach the Fairs Cup final with a 3-7 second leg victory over Hungarian side MTK. Almost 40 years later, in 2000 and with Héctor Cúper at the helm, they all but ensured a place in the Champions League final thanks to a phenomenal 4-1 triumph at Mestalla against FC Barcelona. Both campaigns were the first for the club in the respective competitions.

The 1962 result is still considered to be one of the most impressive showings by Valencia CF in Europe. They came into the game with a 3-0 advantage from the first leg at Mestalla, but were determined to kill off the tie as soon as possible.

Héctor Núñez scored 3 of the 7 goals scored that night, whilst Waldo and Guillot grabbed a brace apiece. Reaching double figures on aggregate, Valencia CF made their way into the final of the tournament, against FC Barcelona.

Barça were also the opponents 20 years ago on May 2nd -this time in the Champions League. Regarded as Miguel Ángel Angulo’s big European night, the game was played in front of an electric atmosphere that only increased as the striker opened the scoring on 10 minutes. He put in a corner from the right hand side to hand VCF the lead.

FC Barcelona pulled level thanks to a Mauricio Pellegrino own goal, but moments later Angulo claimed his second goal. He then won a penalty, which was converted by Gaizka Mendieta to make it 3-1. Claudio López rounded off the result with the fourth in stoppage time.

Although they would lose the second leg 2-1 at the Camp Nou, that result from May 2nd saw Valencia CF into the Champions League final for the first time.