The Camp Nou has never been an easy stadium for Valencia or anyone else. However, the club ché has achieved sounded victories in the Barça Coliseum, such as the comeback in half an hour (3-4) in 1999, with a double by Piojo López and a goal by Burrito Ortega, that of Mendieta’s “really incredible goal” (Los Planetas dixit), the several nights that Piojo made Van Gaal bitter, or the last (1-2), in 2016, with a goal from Rakitic, on his own goal, and Santi Mina.
Further in time there was two black and white victories at the Camp Nou with more repercussions for Barça than for Valencia. Triumphs that caused earthquakes in the foundations of the Barcelona coliseum. The last was in the 1987-88 season, when Valencia won 0-1, with a goal from Arroyo. After that game there was a seismic movement in Can Barça that was about to be carried away to President Núñez. The president’s resignation was called for after a disastrous start to the season. As in these cases, it was the technician, Terry Venables, the one who was finally fired after Valencia stormed the Camp Nou, on September 20, 1987. Barcelona hired Luis Aragonés.
Something similar happened in the course 1979-80. In the quarterfinals of the Recopa de Europa, Valencia won 0-1, with a goal from Pablo, in the first leg of the quarterfinals. After that defeat he was dismissed Joaquin Rifé as Barça coach. That Cup Winners’ Cup was finally won by Valencia at Arsenal, on penalties.
Valencia also finished off his predecessor in office, the French Lucien muller, although this time the black and white triumph in Mestalla. In the second leg of the second round of the Copa del Rey in the 1978-79 season, Valencia came back from the tie in extra time and ended up winning 4-0 (Diarte, Bonhof (2) and Felman). Barça had won 4-1 in the first leg. Cup elimination ended the firing of the French and Valencia ended up lifting that title at the Bernabéu against Real Madrid (0-2), with Kempes’s historic double wrapped in the Senyera.
In the season 1980-81, Valencia also stormed the Camp Nou (0-3) causing another earthquake in Can Barça. Valencia left Kubala mortally wounded, who was fired a month later. A victory for Valencia today could lead to the dismissal of Ronald Koeman.
