Cod Almighty | Article

by Martin Handsley

7 October 2002

Wednesday night saw FC Basel finally meet reality when they were thrashed 6-2 away at Valencia.

Valencia had already easily beaten Spartak (away) and Liverpool (home), and although the fans of FCB thought it'd be a tough game, they also thought they'd return to Switzerland with at least a point, given their fantastic game at Liverpool the week before.

It wasn't to be, though, and they were already 3-0 down after 17 minutes.

I watched the game on TV with a bunch of local supporters. I could only wince when listening to the blatantly biased Swiss commentary. It was like listening to Big Ron's expert analysis of a Man Yoo game. The commentator was managing to blame his side's poor performance on anything other than the fact that this FCB were very poor and Valencia very good. We had excuses about the playing surface, which was very wet - so much so that on occasions the ball hit a puddle and stopped - about the playing schedule, about offsides and apparent poor tackles. All of which, as reasons for FCB being hammered, were either non-starters or highly questionable.

Another goal to make it 4-0 on 28 minutes and the tie was effectively over before it had really started.

Just as the second half restarted Rossi scored a goal for Basel to make it 4-1 and provide some hope for his beleaguered side, but two goals within 15 minutes for Valencia put paid to any hopes of a FCB revival.

With 30 minutes to go it was 6-1 and it looked like a Champions League record would be set. Valencia were rampant and anything more than 7-1 result would have made the record books. Local journalists were already editing their copy, talking about a goal fest. For some reason, though, Valencia pulled their collective foot off the pedal and cruised for the final half-hour.

Local boy Hakan Yakin even managed to score another consolation goal for FCB in the 90th minute, a wonderful chip on the run easily beating the Valencia keeper, who was well off his line.

So FCB had a massive wake-up call, which I guess was needed after the spectacular success of recent weeks. Valencia definitely look the strongest side in the group. However, I'm sure Liverpool will make second spot and proceed to the knockout stages, especially as Michael Owen now seems to have regained his scoring touch.

That leaves FCB and Spartak battling for third spot and a UEFA Cup place, and with Spartak not performing at all I think Christian Gross will be looking forward to some UEFA Cup success rather than the next stage of the Champions League.