1993 proved to be the breaking of a longstanding barrier, as Olympique de Marseille became the first French side to win the European Cup, a full 37 years after Frenchman Gabriel Hanot invented the competition.

A solitary goal from Basile Boli was enough for l’OM as they sent the superstars of A.C Milan back to Italy empty handed, much to despair of their vocal travelling support.

LOYAL FANS: Marseille supporters, draped in blue and white, cheer their team on.

The pre-match talk had been focused on two subjects. Firstly, whether Marseille could banish the demons of two years ago when they lost to Red Star Belgrade on penalties. Secondly, whether the French team possessed the ability to slay the goliath, star-studded Milan side.

For Milan, the match looked to be the cementing of their great destiny. Chairman Silvio Berlusconi had invested a mammoth £30 million over the summer, turning the ‘Rossoneri’ into world beaters. The squad was jammed with six foreign stars, twice the limit imposed by FIFA, and featured legends Marco Van Basten, Jean-Pierre Papin and Frank Rijkaard.

FOND FAREWELL: The world bids goodbye to football idol Marco Van Basten.

Milan Coach Fabio Capello named veteran Daniele Massaro upfront, ahead of Ruud Gullit and Papin. The two though, could only watch from the sidelines though as Massaro squandered three gilt-edge chances inside the opening 20 minutes. A sixth-minute header first shaved the post, before the striker forced a crucial reflex save from l’OM ‘keeper Fabien Barthez.

Despite the early Rossoneri domination, Rudi Voller sent the Italians scrambling near the half-hour mark. The German burst down the pitch with lightening pace, however he could only direct his shot at the feet of Sebastiano Rossi, much to the annoyance of Alen Boksic who was begging for the simple pass.

That chance only ramped up the pressure on Marseille’s defence as Milan pressed on for the opener. Van Basten, who was playing his final professional match, could have finished in a blaze of glory, but his audacious volley was matched by Barthez’s brilliant save.

As half-time beckoned, l’OM stepped up and silenced the vibrant Milan ‘Ultras’ in the crowd. Abedi Pele whipped in a delicious corner before reeling in delight as fellow African Boli climbed highest to thunder the ball goalwards.

FIGHTING FOR GLORY: Milan’s Franco Baresi and Marseille’s Alen Boksic battle it out for control of the ball.

Milan, noticeably shell-shocked by the goal, seemed thankful for the half-time whistle as Capello whisked his team into the dressing room to regroup. Strong words must have been said during the interval, as the Rossoneri returned to pitch visibly fired up, hoping to level the score quickly.

The passion in their eyes was indeed matched by their feet as Milan pelted Barthez with more shots from the restart. Marcel Desailly’s backline defended stoutly whilst launching numerous counter-attacks. In an effort to make the breakthrough, Capello replace a lacklustre Roberto Donadoni with Papin, but the Frenchman struggled to make an impact against his former side.

The clock ticked down, and the pressure seemed to get to the superstars of Milan. Having gone an incredible 58 matches unbeaten before the final, the prospect of defeat seemed too much for the Rossoneri. Papin could of sent the match into extra time, but his hooked shot from the right flew wide of the post.

Marseille to their credit, fractured the Italian side’s attack, never allowing them to recapture the fluid football they played in the first half. Upon the final whistle, came scene of both joy and heartbreak. Boli, who collapsed in tears after the heartbreak of 1991, proudly displayed a broad smile in front of the ecstatic l’OM faithful.

BEYOND WORDS: Marseille players fall to their feet in joy as they secure their first European Cup.

The distraught Milan team didn’t know where to look. Their fans’ deafening cheers were now distant memories. The players’ glum faces looked on at the sea of swirling blue and white flags. An incredible European campaign had come crashing down around them.

Boli described the feeling in one word: ”extraordinaire”. Marseille Chairman Bernard Tapie pronounced himself speechless before saying: ”French clubs have flirted with this trophy but it never wanted to smile on us. At last, a French victory. I was very confident before the match, but we also had some luck. This triumph makes up for previous disappointments.”

CHAMPIONS: Didier Deschamps lifts the trophy in front of the ecstatic Marseille fans.

The club’s coach, Raymond Goethals, agreed, saying: “We deserved to win the final two years ago, but this is more important because we have beaten the world’s greatest team.”

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 1993 FINAL IN MUNICH