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Valencia and Marseille try for UEFA Cup title
Updated: 2004-05-18 17:29:09
Gothenburg, Sweden (Sports Network) - The UEFA Cup final to be held on Wednesday night in Sweden will showcase current Spanish champions Valencia against French side Olympique de Marseille.
Valencia earned its place in the final when they bested Spanish rival Villareal, 1-0, in the second leg of the semifinals at the Mestalla. Mista slotted a penalty in the corner of the net during the first half for all that Valencia needed to earn a trip to the final. The two clubs played to a scoreless draw in the first leg at Villareal.
This is not the first time Valencia has reached the final of a European competition as this will mark the third time in four years that the Spanish club has been in the final of either the UEFA Cup or Champions League tournaments. In the 2000 Champions League final they were matched up against Real Madrid, and lost 3-0. They met the same fate in the 2001 Champions League final when they lost to Bayern Munich in penalties after a 1-1 draw. Still, the experienced gained from those matches can only serve as an advantage for those that are still around.
The experience factor is a major reason Valencia is favored to walk away with the title. That and its recently acquired La Liga title. Valencia is now hoping to garner its second trophy of the season with many of the same players that suited up in one, or both, of those previous Champions League final failures.
Goalkeeper Santiago Canizares, defenders Amedeo Carboni, Roberto Ayala, Fabio Aurelio and Mauricio Pellegrino, midfielders Pablo Aimar, David Albelda and Ruben Baraja, and forward Juan Sanchez were all on the Valencia squad in 2001 that suffered the heartbreaking loss to Bayern. The group does not want to fall short this time around and will do everything in their power to head home happy.
Mista's confidence and relaxation are just two requirements for the Spanish side to prevail in this important event. Valencia's top scorer, netting 17 goals in domestic play and four in UEFA Cup play, Mista is one of the newcomers to the squad and the pressure of a top-flight championship game.
Mista has credited his newfound confidence to a relaxation book that team physician Francisco Ayestaran loaned to him. The book has apparently done wonders in helping the Spanish international increase his concentration level and stress. If the 25-year-old striker can find the back of the net in the biggest match of his career to date, it could result in the book flying off the shelves.
Valencia has earned its spot in the final by disposing of all six clubs (AIK Solna, Maccabi Haifa, Besiktas, Genclerbirligi, Bordeaux, and Villareal) that stood in its path.
Marseille has not seen the success that Valencia has this year in domestic play as they currently sit in seventh place in the French Ligue 1. But with Monaco representing France in the Champions League final, the strength of the league is blatantly apparent.
The French side will fight through the entire 90 minutes of the final, much like it has in each of its previous matches in UEFA Cup play, with hopes to finish this year's competitions with a trophy. Also, a victory on Wednesday night would guarantee themselves of a position in next season's European competitions.
Marseille last tasted the joy of a title in 1993 when they won the Champions League title. Sadly, the French squad has not been able to attain the same success since.
Didier Drogba, the French Ligue 1 Player of the Year, has been cleared by the club physician to participate in the final and should provide a positive boost for the club. Drogba has been sidelined for over a week due to a bruised hip, but it does not appear serious enough to keep him out of this vital match.
During Marseille's meeting with Monaco over a week ago, Drogba and Monaco's Julien Rodriguez ran into each other. The collision resulted in a bruised hip that has sidelined Drogba ever since.
During European play this season, Drogba has beaten the defense and the keeper 11 times, scoring the majority of his team's 18 goals in Europe. Marseille has argued that Drogba is not the only offensive threat on the team, but his great instinctive nature puts him in position to be on the receiving end of the quality chances created by his teammates.
Drogba scored in the 18th and 82nd minutes at Stade Velodrome, helping Marseille post a 2-0 win over Newcastle United in the second leg of the semifinal matchup between the teams. Two weeks prior to that match the two clubs had played to a 0-0 draw back in England.
Marseille joined the competition in the third round after being eliminated from the Champions League. To reach the final they had to beat four teams (Dnipro, Liverpool, Internazionale, and Newcastle).
Preliminary lineups for Wednesday night:
Valencia: Marseille:
Canizares Barthez Carboni Beye Ayala Meite Marchena Hemdani Torres Ferreira Albelda Batlles Baraja N'Diaye Vicente Marlet Aimar Flamini Rufete Meriem Mista Drogba
