On A Day Like Today: Valencia CF's last-gasp 1947 LaLiga title win

On April 13th, 1947, Valencia CF became LaLiga champions for the third time in their history. The team, coached by Luis Casas Pasarín, took a comprehensive 6-0 win over Sporting Gijón at Mestalla on the final matchday of the season, through a hat trick by Amadeo and goals from Igoa, Epi and Morera. However, they were also relyng on other results around Spain going in their favour, as title tivals Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club were all required to drop points.

Neither side would win their games. Atletico lost their derby against Real Madrid 2-3 at home, whilst Athletic were held to a draw by Deportivo La Coruña away. In the pre-internet days, the fans were relying on information from those two games to get to them at Mestalla, roaring with delight when the news came through.

Valencia CF had experienced disappointment in the previous three seasons, losing a trio of consecutive Copa del Rey finals. They ended the jinx with a LaLiga title win that was a highlight of the 1940s for them.

The lineup that day was: Ignacio Eizaguirre, Álvaro Pérez, Luis Díaz, Antonio Puchades, Cayetano Menarguez, Vicente Asensi, Vicente Morera, Silvestre Igoa, Epi Fernández, Amadeo Ibáñez and Vicente Giraldós.