Real takes on Valencia in all-Spanish final

Vicente Del Bosque’s Madrid side have already beaten last year’s finalists Manchester United and Bayern Munich in their last two ties and on paper are favourites against Hector Cuper’s men.

Yet the striking power of Claudio Lopez, set to move to Lazio for about 36 million dollars after the final, and the skill and industry of Basque-born skipper Gaizka Mendieta, could tip the balance Valencia’s way.

Cuper may introduce 21-year-old defender Gerardo Garcia, due to the suspension of Italy’s Amedeo Carboni, or could field Joaquim Bjorklund.

It’s certainly been a long season for Valencia who had to qualify from the preliminary rounds.

“I believe we have an equal chance of winning the final,” Cuper told France football magazine. The humble and low-profile Cuper, who took Mallorca to the Cup Winners Cup final last season, would become the first Argentine coach to win Europe’s premier trophy should Valencia win.

Injury problems have loomed for Madrid concerning four players from their last league game against Real Valladolid.

Hierro, who played in his first match for two months after hamstring problems, has already ruled himself out of the match.

Brazilian striker Savio has a left knee problem, Frenchman Nicolas Anelka took a knock to his right knee and defender Michel Salgado has damage to his right ankle.

Anelka, dubbed Madrid’s miracle man on the front page of Tuesday’s France Football, took half a season to score a goal, then fell out with his teammates, skipped training to earn a suspension and a huge fine.

Just a month ago he was forced to train on his own after preferring to have a weekend off than prepare for matches. He earned a 45-day ban, which was eventually reduced, and a Financial penalty worth about $ 300,000.

Yet his goal at Bayern Munich earning Real their final appearance has brought him hero status in the capital city.

At least their other key players in Raul, who scored twice at Old Trafford, and Argentine midfielder Fernando Redondo, have not picked up any injuries and are set to feature.

Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz knows only too well that a small matter of 29 million dollars rides on beating Valencia – the money they would make just by qualifying for next year’s Champions League.

The players are also on a $ 350,000 bonus each, according to As newspaper, and defeat would only earn them a quarter of that sum. “It is better to keep calm and it is better if I say nothing to the players, who are already under enough pressure,” said Sanz.

The demand for tickets has, of course, between phenomenal for both clubs who have each been allocated 17,000.

Police had to intervene on several occasions to calm people down and prevent scuffles as people queued outside Valencia’s stadium.

Real Madrid decided to have a draw among the 40,000 of their supporters who requested tickets and there have been long queues at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium to get the forms for the draw.

There are many reasons for Spanish success. Firstly the Bosman ruling in December 1995, which made players free agents at the end of their contracts, gave increased power to rich clubs who could afford to pay high wages.

Plus the increased television money in Spain, particularly to Barcelona and Real Madrid, meant again they could attract better plays.

In Spain, football has blanket media coverage. Sporting daily Marca is the best-selling of all Spanish dailies of any category. A new coach at Real Madrid is treated with the same media coverage as a ministerial appointment by the government.

Barcelona and Real are covered by literally dozens of journalists and a third of TV news is football-related.

During this media bombardment, the players, who benefit financially yet suffer from relentless pressure, have their lives continually under the microscope.

That scrutiny will continue for Wednesday’s final.

Italy’s Stefano Braschi has been chosen to be referee and will be assisted by three fellow Italians. Gennaro Mazzei and Piergiuseppe Farnetti will have the roles of assistant referees while Domenico Messina will act as the fourth official.