16 September 1992 is a date etched in Valencia Club de Fútbol's memory for a historic defeat at Mestalla. In the first leg of the UEFA Cup first round, Guus Hiddink's side lost 1-5 to a Napoli team coached by Claudio Ranieri, on a night dominated by Uruguayan striker Daniel Fonseca.
Fonseca, who had been close to signing for Valencia in the summer of 1989, executed a personal 'vendetta' by scoring all five of the Italian team's goals. Valencia's sole strike came from Roberto Fernández, in a starting eleven that featured Sempere; Quique Sánchez Flores, Belodedici, Camarasa and Giner; Tomás González, Roberto Fernández, Fernando Gómez and Leonardo Araújo; with Penev and Álvaro Cervera up front. Arroyo and Eloy Olaya came on in the second half.
The return leg in Italy ended with another 1-0 win for Napoli, with Fonseca on the scoresheet again, sealing Valencia's elimination with a 6-1 aggregate score. This match is remembered as one of the toughest chapters in the club's European history, particularly due to the individual masterclass from a player who could have worn the Che shirt.
Today, Valencia sit 17th in La Liga with just four points from six games, following a run of one win and four defeats in their last five matches.
More detail at Marca - Primera
