having picked up a uefa champions league winners' medal on his last trip to glasgow, valencia cf goalkeeper césar sánchez hopes to "create more good memories" away against rangers fc.
valencia cf goalkeeper césar sánchez has fond memories of glasgow. his last outing in scotland's largest city yielded a uefa champions league winners' medal, when he started for real madrid cf in their 2002 final triumph against bayer 04 leverkusen at hampden park – and now eight years later and five kilometres away at ibrox, he is hoping for another successful outcome as his current side visit rangers fc in group c.
"i have very good memories of this place," said the former spain international, whose team lie a point behind rangers and manchester united fc in third. "hopefully, we can create more good memories against rangers. we want a positive result to ensure we progress from the group."
césar was impressed by the hair-raising hampden atmosphere that evening and anticipates a similar ambience on matchday 3. however, the 39-year-old goalkeeper insists he and his valencia team-mates must embrace it, rather than allowing it to diminish their powers.
"the atmosphere in the final was incredible and we know this is a very special place to play," césar added. "a couple of our players were here last week when spain faced scotland [in uefa euro 2012 qualifying] and they said it was fantastic. it is something special here, but it doesn't have to be a negative for us. we have to try to impose our style on the game and, in fact, the atmosphere can have the opposite effect; it can put pressure on the home side.
"i like to be positive," a typically upbeat césar continued, before underlining the potential importance of the fixture as the teams approach the midway stage of the group phase. "we have come here to get a good result and make life as easy as possible. it's another big game for us and we are ready, but we must also be careful. this competition is like a sprint. if you make a mistake in the group stage, you may not have the chance to put it right."
while rangers are undefeated this term, valencia are seeking to rectify a rare blip in their own form following a 2-1 liga defeat at fc barcelona on saturday. however, césar chose to extract only positives from that loss. he said: "for 45 minutes, we controlled the game at the home of possibly the best club side in the world. perhaps we let our concentration slip in the second half, but i believe this team is moving in the right direction."
home midfielder maurice edu headed in at both ends as rangers and valencia shared the group c spoils in an absorbing meeting at ibrox.
maurice edu went from rangers fc hero to villain with a headed goal at both ends in a thrilling draw against valencia cf.
the midfielder gave the scottish titleholders a deserved lead after 34 minutes but undid his good work when he put through his own net 45 seconds into the second half. a point apiece leaves rangers a point clear of valencia in second place in group c – the return at mestalla in a fortnight could prove decisive.
walter smith again fielded the tried and trusted 4-5-1 formation that worked so well in previous uefa champions league encounters with manchester united fc and bursaspor. the compact rangers defence was soon being tested as valencia made a bright start with some neat interplay.
alejandro domínguez seized on a loose pass and struck a fierce shot which allan mcgregor did well to collect. the hosts were struggling to keep possession, allowing pablo hernández to work a one-two with juan mata but his work was undone by a wayward shot over the bar.
rangers eventually gained a foothold and were left to rue a spate of missed chances in a frantic spell. richard foster's dangerous cross flew just too far ahead for steven naismith to properly connect, and barely a minute later naismith centred for kenny miller at the back post but the striker headed straight at césar sánchez.
rangers continued to bamboozle their opponents with quick passing complemented by the raucous atmosphere at ibrox. saša papac almost lifted the roof off when his long-range shot was tipped over by sánchez. at the other end mata embarked on a mazy run through a wall of blue and crossed to the far post where david navarro headed just wide.
edu showed more accuracy when he out-jumped sánchez to head vladimír weiss' corner beyond sánchez. the united states international was unlucky not to double rangers' lead on the stroke of half-time when he sent a fierce shot crashing off the foot of the post. that disappointment was nothing compared to moments after the restart when he contrived to head tino costa's free-kick past mcgregor.
unai emery's visitors laid siege to the rangers goal with a series of dangerous crosses tormenting the defence, and should have gone ahead when mata ran onto a hernández cut-back only to drill just over. the closing stages made for compelling viewing but both teams had to settle for a point in the end.
yardımcı hakemler: renato faverani (ita), andrea stefani (ita)
4. hakem: andrea romeo (ita)
çizgi hakemleri: mauro bergonzi (ita), antonio damato (ita)
rangers: allan mcgregor (gk), david weir (c), saša papac, maurice edu, steven davis, kenny miller, richard foster, steven naismith, steven whittaker, vladimír weiss (dk. 88 kyle lafferty), madjid bougherra
yedekler: neil alexander (gk), john fleck, andy webster, andrew little, gregg wylde, kyle hutton
teknik direktör: walter smith (sco)
valencia: césar sánchez (gk), bruno saltor, david navarro (c), mehmet topal, alejandro domínguez (dk. 46 roberto soldado), juan mata (dk. 85 vicente), aritz aduriz, pablo hernández, ricardo costa, jérémy mathieu, tino costa (dk. 76 manuel fernandes)
yedekler: miguel ángel moyà (gk), hedwiges maduro, david albelda, éver banega
teknik direktör: unai emery (esp)
goller: dk. 34 maurice edu (1-0) dk. 46 [kendi kalesine] maurice edu (1-1)
sarı kartlar: dk. 29 madjid bougherra, dk. 66 maurice edu, dk. 78 david weir (c) (rangers) dk. 59 aritz aduriz, dk. 83 juan mata (valencia)
