2002–03 Valencia CF season

Valencia CF did not succeed in defending their La Liga title, finishing in slumped 5th place. Los Che also got to the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League, where former coach Héctor Cúper and Inter got the upper hand over Valencia and Rafael Benítez. The main player during the season was Pablo Aimar, who was the only player making waves in the season, where the previously solid defense did not perform as previously.

Valencia CF

2002–03 season
Manager	Rafael Benítez
La Liga	5th
Champions League	Quarter-final
Copa del Rey	Second round
Top goalscorer	Pablo Aimar (8) John Carew (8)
Home colours Away colours

Squad

Goalkeepers

• Santiago Cañizares
• Andrés Palop
• David Rángel

Defenders

• Ángel Amarilla
• Fábio Aurélio
• Amedeo Carboni
• Mauricio Pellegrino
• Miroslav Đukić
• Roberto Ayala
• Carlos Marchena
• Curro Torres
• David Navarro
• Anthony Réveillère
• Javier Garrido

Midfielders

• Francisco Rufete
• Gonzalo de los Santos
• David Albelda
• Kily González
• Rubén Baraja
• Angulo
• Pablo Aimar
• Vicente

Attackers

• Salva
• John Carew
• Juan Sánchez
• Mista

Competitions

La Liga

Main article: 2002–03 La Liga

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
3	Deportivo La Coruña	38	22	6	10	67	47	+20	72	Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
4	Celta Vigo	38	17	10	11	45	36	+9	61
5	Valencia	38	17	9	12	56	35	+21	60	Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
6	Barcelona	38	15	11	12	63	47	+16	56
7	Athletic Bilbao	38	15	10	13	63	61	+2	55

Source: LFP
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head points; 3rd head-to-head goal difference; 4th head-to-head away goals scored; 5th goal difference; 6th number of goals scored; 7th Fair-play points

Matches

• Mallorca-Valencia 0-2
• 0-1 Gonzalo de los Santos  11'
• 0-2 Rubén Baraja  57'
• Valencia-Recreativo 3-0
• 1-0 Vicente  10'
• 2-0 John Carew  88'
• 3-0 John Carew  90'
• Málaga-Valencia 2-2
• 1-0 Manu  26'
• 2-0 Mikel Roteta  30'
• 2-1 Mista  47'
• 2-2 Angulo  90'
• Valencia-Rayo Vallecano 3-0
• 1-0 Mista  34'
• 2-0 Rubén Baraja  45' (pen.)
• 3-0 Angulo  86'
• Valencia-Celta Vigo 0-1
• 0-1 Vágner  90'
• Atlético Madrid-Valencia 1-1
• 0-1 Mauricio Pellegrino  40'
• 1-1 Javi Moreno  75'
• Valencia-Athletic Bilbao 5-1
• 1-0 Pablo Aimar  5'
• 2-0 John Carew  7'
• 3-0 Pablo Aimar  28'
• 4-0 Pablo Aimar  43'
• 5-0 Fábio Aurélio  48' (pen.)
• 5-1 Tiko  81'
• Espanyol-Valencia 0-1
• 0-1 Fábio Aurélio  74'
• Valencia-Betis 1-1
• 0-1 Marcos Assunção  70'
• 1-1 Pablo Aimar  81'
• Osasuna-Valencia 1-0
• 1-0 Iván Rosado  6'
• Valencia-Valladolid 2-0
• 1-0 Mista  10'
• 2-0 Mista  30'

Alaves-Valencia 0-0

Copa del Rey