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Inter will not do the Treble this term, as a 0-0 draw in Valencia saw the Spaniards through on the away goals rule, but a massive brawl broke out at the final whistle that will cost the Nerazzurri very dearly indeed.
The Nerazzurri knew they had to win in Spain to qualify after the 2-2 first leg draw at San Siro, in which they twice let their lead slip. The injured Adriano was in the stands, so Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hernan Crespo started upfront supported by Dejan Stankovic, while Nicolas Burdisso was pushed up into a midfield role in the absence of Esteban Cambiasso and Patrick Vieira. Valencia's injury crisis was abating and they had former Serie A men Emiliano Moretti and Roberto Ayala in defence. It was the same line-up as the first leg except for the suspended Albelda. Inter had a great chance to take the lead after four minutes. Douglas Maicon earned a free kick that was floated to the back post for Ibrahimovic, but his cut-back was just past Crespo, who only needed a touch to turn in from a couple of yards. At the other end, Marco Materazzi proved decisive by twice charging down shots from David Villa and Fernando Morientes in quick succession. Materazzi was important all over the field, nodding a corner kick over the bar. Julio Cesar flapped a Ruben Baraja left-foot effort out for a corner and Morientes drilled over from the edge of the area, then Crespo and Materazzi again failed to get on the end of a corner kick, while the Argentine didn't make the most of an Ayala error. Ibrahimovic was booked for a terrible challenge on Albiol and then got into a scuffle with Santiago Canizares. Another Valencia defensive error, this time from Moretti on Maxwell's cross, was not pounced upon by a distracted Crespo. Inter had a good penalty shout on 35 minutes from a set-piece, as Crespo's shot struck Albiol on the arm right in front of goal. The referee waved play on, but had the incident been witnessed, it would have been a spot-kick and a probable red card for the Valencia defender. The Spaniards lost Baraja to injury soon after, making way for Hugo Viana. The Nerazzurri's influence on the game was growing and Canizares rushed to the edge of the area to clear from Ibrahimovic. Ayala went close with a header after the restart, while an acrobatic Stankovic finish at the far post whistled wide. Julio Cesar caught a mercifully central Moretti headed attempt from a promising position. Ayala charged down a long-range Olivier Dacourt piledriver and Crespo volleyed Maicon's assist over. The former Chelsea man was extremely disappointing and was replaced by Julio Cruz, then Luis Figo came on for Dacourt to sit behind the strikers. Vicente returned from a knee ligament injury in place of Morientes. David Villa fired off target with his left foot and Angulo's first touch let him down totally clear on goal from the penalty spot, but Ibrahimovic wasted a counter-attack. Julio Cesar was secure on a Viana cross-shot and Fabio Grosso replaced Maxwell. Inter went closer than anyone to an opener on 75 minutes. Materazzi rose to get his head to a free kick and only Carlos Marchena's goalline clearance kept Valencia's clean sheet intact. Moments later they had another fine chance on the counter-attack with a hesitant Cruz, who was closed down by Albiol's desperate tackle as he pulled the trigger just inside the area. Joaquin went on a solo run from midfield only to fire wide, but substitute Grosso had two excellent scoring opportunities, both charged down by defenders from close range. There were panicked scenes in the Inter area, as Julio Cesar spilled a seemingly harmless Vicente effort, then soon after Villa sprung the offside trap only to attempt a cutback rather than go for goal from eight yards. Valencia were pouring forward in the final minutes to put the game beyond doubt and Marchena's daisy-cutter clipped the upright. Materazzi got into a scuffle with players in stoppages, but at the final whistle the Nerazzurri went mad.
Burdisso seemed to start the trouble in a row with Carlos Marchena, but was then punched by David Navarro, who had come off the Valencia bench. Cruz and Cordoba literally chased down Navarro to give flying kicks as he ran away. The fight continued into the locker room with police and officials all piling in.
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