The Spanish UEFA Cup winners overcame European champions Porto to win the European Super Cup in Monaco’s Stade Louis II.

Ruben Baraja and Marco di Vaio scored in either half as the Ranieri’s side displayed the credentials that also saw them take the Spanish League title last season, although Ricardo Quaresma’s superb drive late on gave Porto some hope.

Porto missed the probing influence of Deco, their old playmaker who has moved to Barcelona, but still showed enough threat to be a force to be reckoned when Jose Mourinho takes Chelsea back to play his old team in the Champions League.

Valencia began the stronger and central midfielder Baraja tried his luck from the edge of the box only to see his shot swerve high into the stand.

Porto hit back and Maniche, the Portuguese midfielder who was one of the outstanding players of Euro 2004, struck a volley from an acute angle bringing a reaction save out of Santiago Canizares and when Carlos Alberto tried to stab in the loose ball Amedeo Carboni was in to block the danger.

Carlos Alberto drove in a free-kick, but too straight.

The Brazilian caused Valencia trouble every time he ran at them. One such run saw him feed Maniche who picked out Helder Postiga with the outside of his boot but the striker showed his old Tottenham form with a bad miss with his header.

Di Vaio, one of a trio of Italians brought in by Ranieri, missed with an equally straightforward header at the other end but Valencia were not denied for long.

In the 32nd minute Curro Torres swung over a cross from the right wing and Baraja, on the run into the penalty box, found the top corner with a terrific header.

Baraja had another opportunity early in the second half but missed his kick completely, then Canizares came to the rescue again after Porto’s danger man Carlos Alberto cut inside one challenge and unleashed a fierce drive.

Di Vaio, who had been a spiky irritant for Porto’s defenders, then virtually wrapped the game up in the 67th minute.

The Italian striker caught Carlos Alberto dwelling in midfield – somewhat ironically given his influential display until then – and as Rodriguez Vicente took the ball down the left flank di Vaio sped to the far post to head the winger’s cross firmly past Vitor Baia.

Porto started to look increasingly fragile as Baraja was denied another goal, first by Pepe’s challenge and then, from the ensuing corner, by the crossbar after a strong downward header that bounced high off the pitch.

From out of nothing, though, substitute Quaresma gave Porto hope with an astonishing strike from 30 yards that soared into the top corner with Canizares left sprawling.

Porto had 12 minutes to try to retrieve the game but failed to create a significant opening and Valencia ended the match comfortably in control.