Soccer/Valencia - 2 Marseille - 0: Valencia, twice beaten finalists in the Champions League in 2000 and 2001, finally made the transition from European bridesmaid to the Continent's centre of attention last night.
Thanks in no little way to the recklessness of Fabien Barthez, who was sent off in first-half injury-time for an ugly hack at the Valencia striker Mista, Valencia were able to complete a memorable double.
They won the Spanish title for the second time in three seasons a fortnight ago and, after those defeats in Paris and Milan there was an added sweetness to Valencia here in Gothenburg making good on their promise to make it third time lucky in Europe.
Barthez, all in red, saw a card of the same colour from referee Pierluigi Collina, for his lunge at Mista. It gave Valencia a penalty converted by the hitherto quiet Vicente, and it gave Valencia freedom.
Thirteen minutes into the second half Mista made it 2-0 and while the 10 men of Marseille were impressively valiant, their key man Didier Drogba was frustrated.
The gales that buffeted the west coast of Sweden yesterday morning and afternoon had subsided a bit by kick-off. There was a stiff breeze blowing towards Barthez's goal in the first half nevertheless, though given Valencia's determination to play the ball along the ground, this was not the explanation for the Spaniards' initial surge at Marseille.
The wind was part of the reason why the lively Mista tried a shot from 40 yards on 14 minutes. Before that Mista had been part of the build-up that led to Barthez tipping an effort from David Albelda around the post.
As well as displaying their fleetness of foot, though, Valencia also showed their physical powers, the centre-halves Carlos Marchena and Roberto Ayala were willing to leave the boot in and worry about the consequences.
Marseille increased their activity in the Valencia half partly due to the bright midfielder Camel Meriem. Influential in the semi-final against Newcastle, the lithe Meriem was providing the link between midfield and attack.
He had two shots himself and in the 16th minute supplied the centre that Steve Marlet met with a diving header. In training, Marlet would surely have done a lot better.
With Demetrius Ferreira having a smart and solid first half on the Marseille right, Vincente was making no impact on the left.
But then, on the stroke of half-time, the game erupted. A bad clearance from Marseille gifted possession to Curro Torres. His cross from the right was deep and just beat the jump of Abdoulaye Meite.
Mista was waiting to pounce behind Meite. Taking the ball down skilfully, Mista was one on one with Barthez. A jink and Mista was round Barthez but the Frenchman left out a foot and Mista went to ground. There was malice rather than clumsiness in Barthez's action; he deserved to be dismissed.
It meant the substitute goalkeeper, 20-year-old Jeremy Gavanon, had to come on and Marseille's coach Jose Anigo bizarrely called for Meriem to depart. Gavanon then faced Vicente, who sent the young keeper the wrong way.
Marseille continued to pass and move with confidence, the sharp Ferreira having the first shot after the interval. But then Ferreira slipped in another attack and Valencia broke swiftly.
Almost instantly Vicente was free on the left. Looking up and seeing Mista peeling away from the lone French defender in the middle, Vicente delivered the required pass. Befitting a man with 19 goals in La Liga, Mista buried the ball beyond Gavanon with an arrogant lash of his left foot. The contest was over.
VALENCIA: Canizares, Curro Torres, Ayala, Marchena (Pellegrino 86), Carboni, Rufete (Aimar 64), Albelda, Baraja, Vicente, Angulo (Sissoko 83), Mista. Subs Not Used: Rangel, Sanchez, Garrido, Xisco. Booked: Vicente, Carboni. Goals: Vicente 45 pen, Mista 57.
MARSEILLE: Barthez, Meite, Hemdani, Beye, Dos Santos, Ferreira, N'Diaye (Celestini 84), Flamini (Batlles 71), Meriem (Gavanon 45), Marlet, Drogba. Subs Not Used: Christanval, Vachousek, Ecker, Cicut. Sent Off: Barthez (45). Booked: Marlet, Drogba.
Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy).
