OM-Milan: 30 Years On, Anecdotes From A Historic Evening
Those lucky enough to have experienced first-hand the madness surrounding Olympique de Marseille’s Champions League victory on May 26, 1993, will certainly still remember it. Basile Boli’s header gave France and OM their first major title on the European club scene. Since then, Olympique de Marseille remains the only French club to have won Europe’s most prestigious title. Led by captain Didier Deschamps and Coach Raymond Goethals, the Marseillais made it all the way to the Final to win one of European football’s major trophies. It’s a victory that would have given many challenges even to the best betting agent of our era. Here’s a look back at a dazzling epic, unequalled by any French club to date.
The very start of a dream
Olympique de Marseille’s first match in the group phase was against a tough opponent in the shape of Glasgow Rangers, who had eliminated reigning English champions Leeds United. Les Marseillais took the lead in the 31st minute through Alan Boksic. Rudy Völler followed up with a second goal, taking advantage of a defensive error ten minutes after the restart (55’min). It looked like Olympique de Marseille were going to win this match, but the Scots reduced the gap thanks to Mc Swegan (76’min) and then equalized 9 minutes from time with a goal from Hateley (81’min).
Olympique de Marseille then took on FC Brugge, whom they beat 3-0. For their third and fourth matches, L’OM faced CSKA Moscow in a two-legged tie. First, they traveled to Russia to face a tenacious team that eliminated Koeman’s FC Barcelona. Then the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw. In the return leg, the Phocéens managed to put 6 goals past their opponents, thanks in particular to goals from Voller, Pelé, and Desailly. The return phase got off to an excellent start, with OM continuing their unbeaten run in the group stage.
Then, there was just one match left, but before that, the group Final was clearly between Olympique de Marseille and Glasgow Rangers. For the return leg in Marseille, they failed as the home team to make the difference in a match that ended 1-1. Against Bruges, the Phocéens had to win if they wanted to qualify for the Final. OM managed to score early in the match thanks to Boksic (2’min) and went on to win (1-0). Olympique de Marseille were once again through to the Final, and that time the trophy was everyone’s goal.
A cheerful atmosphere
On Wednesday, May 26, 1993, two hours before the kick-off of the Champions Cup final between OM and AC Milan, Munich’s Olympic Stadium slowly slipped from a scorching spring afternoon into a warm evening of football. To the left of the press box, a blue-white section of the crowd was singing its hopes of a great evening.
The supporters’ associations were throwing the ball back and forth: “We are the Marseillais! And we want to win! Allez l’Ohème! Since the previous day, Bavaria has taken on a southern accent. Supporters’ buses and planes have been pouring in, bringing with them some 25,000 fans. Favorites on paper, the Italians are losing the pre-match in the stands. The people of Marseille felt that fate was to smile on their OM.
A meeting with destiny
The Swiss referee Kurt Roethlisberger blew his whistle to kick off a match of men. As the game wore on, OM forcefully asserted their ambition. It was in Munich, May 26, 1993, that every Marseillais will treasure forever. Olympique de Marseille faced Europe’s ogre, AC Milan, with a squad featuring the likes of Van Basten, Maldini, and Rijkaard. However, the Marseille players never wavered, despite being subjected to the Milanese style of play.
The physical, technical, and tactical tug-of-war turned in Marseille’s favor just before half-time, when a corner kick from Abedi Pelé led to a stunning goal from a determined Basile Boli (44th). In the second half, in the official stand, Bernard Tapie shouted instructions over the walkie-talkie to his lieutenant Jean-Pierre Bernès, seated on the bench with Coach Raymond Goethals.
OM held firm thanks to their flying goalkeeper, Fabien Barthez, who was so relaxed before the final that he fell asleep on the bus on the way to the stadium! The last Marseille defender hovered over the Milanese’s heads: Maldini, Baresi, Costacurta, Van Basten, Massaro can’t do it! OM won the final and Basile Boli made hearts beat faster as he made his way to the supporters’ stand, showing that Bari’s tears are no longer running down his cheeks. Marseille couldn’t let themselves be overwhelmed by a wave of pleasure that overturned everything in its path… Olympique de Marseille and France finally hold their first and only Champions League, the most prestigious competition in Europe, attracting millions of punters to open a betting account with a broker.