Valencia’s La Rosaleda triumph that clinched the 2002 title | OneFootball

On 5 May 2002 Valencia clinched LaLiga with a 2-0 win at Málaga, Fabio Aurelio and Roberto Ayala scoring. Under Rafa Benítez, the club sat at the height of a golden era after the 1999 Copa del Rey and the 2000 and 2001 Champions League finals.

As reported by AS, Cañizares, Curro Torres, Pellegrino, Ayala, Fabio Aurelio, Albelda, Baraja, Aimar, Rufete, Vicente and Angulo started at La Rosaleda, then being remodelled. The city later celebrated in style, a title all the sweeter with Real Madrid’s Galácticos among the rivals.

Valencia settled it before the interval. Ayala struck on 34 minutes, celebrating by urging calm with his hands, then Fabio Aurelio added a second 10 minutes later from Aimar’s excellent pass.

Twenty-four years on, much has changed. Valencia have slipped into mediocrity, fighting to avoid relegation season after season, and for many younger fans those days feel like a distant utopia.

What endures is the support. Sunday after Sunday the stands of Mestalla are full, the crowd unwavering in backing their team, among the most loyal in Spain, however demanding.

Source: AS