When Drogba drove Marseille to the UEFA Cup final

Rafael Benitez's Valencia proved too strong for Marseille back on May 19 2004, finding a way to shut down a certain Didier Drogba as they claimed a 2-0 victory in Gothenburg.

The Ivorian went into the game fresh from scoring a brace against Newcastle in the second leg of the semi-finals, taking his tournament tally up to six, just one adrift of Villarreal's Sonny Anderson in the race for the Golden Boot.

However, a 'Los Che' side boasting the likes of Santiago Cañizarez, Roberto Ayala, Carlos Marchena, David Albelda, Ruben Baraja, Vicente and Mista proved too strong as they shut out Droba on the way to claiming the title.

With a young Drogba leading the line and a fresh-faced Mathieu Flamini in midfield, it was the experienced Fabian Barthez between the sticks who committed a fatal error on the stroke of half-time.

As Mista raced clear, Barthez upended the forward, leaving Pierluigi Collina with little option but to point to the spot and give the stopper his marching orders.

Vicente converted the penalty to compound Marseille's misery, with Mista adding a second just before the hour-mark to seal the win.

 

February 8, 2018

14 years down the line, Dimitri Payet and co. have the chance to avenge that loss and expell the demons of that defeat against an Atletico side that know exactly what it takes to win the competiton.