Valencia 2 Fiorentina 0

Fiorentina crashed to a 2-0 defeat in Valencia and are now in a real fight to try and join holders Manchester United in the quarter finals of the competition.

United host the Florence club at Old Trafford next Wednesday and the Italian side will need a massive change in attitude and tactics to mount any threat to the Premiership side's excellent European form.

The Italian defence was undone by some great touches from Romanian star Adrian Ilie. He scored a great first goal to help the Spanish side's confidence and it was a fine effort. A cross from Carboni reached Ilie inside the penalty area and he turned to face the target and swept in a volley that second choice Taglialatela in the Florentine goal could not get near.

Valencia's 34th minute advantage was compounded when their second half domination brought a deserved penalty award. Parma AC target Gaizka Mendieta converted the spot kick to increase a lead that only a Di Livio free kick which hit the net but was ruled out for offside and a Batistuta shot against the post had come close to threatening.