Mista and Morientes: the predators in the box

Valencia CF will face Real Madrid CF this coming Saturday, 2 March at 21:00 at the Camp de Mestalla. Both clubs have shared numerous players throughout history. On this occasion, two strikers stand out: Miguel Ángel Ferrer 'Mista' and Fernando Morientes.

Miguel Ángel Ferrer ‘Mista’

'Mista' came up through the youth ranks at Real Madrid CF and joined Real Madrid Castilla, where he stayed for three seasons. He then signed for CD Tenerife and in the 2000-2001 season, he joined Valencia CF, where he became an important player for Rafa Benítez. 

Mista won 4 trophies (League 2001-2002, League 2003-2004, UEFA 2003-2004 and European Super Cup 2004-2005) in the 5 seasons (2001-2006) that he played for Valencia CF. He also scored 60 goals and provided 17 assists in those seasons. It is worth mentioning that 'Mista' was the top scorer of the 2003-2004 LALIGA season (19 goals) and in the UEFA Cup final against Olympique de Marseille he won the spot-kick that led to the first goal and scored the second one in the 2-0 win against the French outfit.

Fernando Morientes

The player from Cáceres joined Valencia in the summer of 2006 after winning the Champions League with Liverpool FC against Milan. Morientes shared the front line with a young David Villa making 114 appearances, scoring 35 goals and providing 7 assists in the 3 seasons (2006-2009) that he spent at Valencia CF.  

His great performance regained him a place in the Spanish National Team and, in addition, the striker from Cáceres was one of the central figures in the 2008 Copa Del Rey final, scoring one of the goals that gave the victory against Getafe CF (3-1). 

At Real Madrid CF, Morientes competed for 9 seasons and won 3 Champions League, 2 Spanish League titles, 3 Spanish Super Cups, 1 European Super Cup and 2 Intercontinental Cups.