The Primera Liga champions lost to Real Madrid in 2000 and Bayern Munich, in a penalty shootout, a year later and the pain of those defeats still haunt the Mestalla.

Eight of the present Valencia squad played in the 2001 defeat in Milan. This time the Spaniards have the incentive of completing a league and European double and put the gloss on a superb season.

Valencia last tasted European glory in 1980 when they defeated Arsenal in the Cup Winners' Cup final. They previously won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the forerunner to the UEFA Cup, in 1962 and 1963.

This season's title success was built on a rock-solid defence as well as a potent strikeforce.

With one game remaining, they have conceded just 26 goals in 37 league matches while their tally of 71 goals scored, spearheaded with 19 from Mista, has only been matched by Real Madrid.

"For the game against Olympique we are going to change as little as possible for the final because up to now it has worked very well," said Valencia coach Rafa Benitez."

Valencia's miserly defence is sure to be tested by Marseille's outstanding striker Didier Drogba, should the Ivorian recover in time from a hip injury that threatens his participation in the final.

Drogba's first season at the Velodrome since a summer move from En Avant Guingamp has yielded 32 goals overall, including 11 in Europe.

His exploits have earned him the Ligue 1 player of the year award and his importance to the side was none more evident than in the semi-final second leg when two superb strikes against Newcastle secured Marseille a place in the final.

Drogba has been rested since picking up the injury and coach Jose Anigo will be desperate the Ivory Coast international can play some part against Valencia.

Marseille, European champions in 1993 and beaten finalists in the UEFA Cup six years later, entered the competition at the third round stage after a disappointing Champions League campaign in which they finished a well-beaten third in their group.

While they have played less games than Valencia in their run to the final, their passage has included the impressive scalps of Liverpool and Inter Milan.

A 1-0 win in the San Siro over Inter in the second leg of the quarterfinals to complete a 2-0 aggregate win was proof that Marseille will be no pushovers in Gothenburg.

Anigo, a former Marseille player and head coach of the the club's youth academy, has revelled in the top job since taking charge in mid-January when Alain Perrin was sacked following a disappointing run of results.

The return of France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has also coincided with Marseille's strong showing in Europe.

The French number one re-joined his former side on-loan from Manchester United in January and signed a two-year permanent deal in April.

Barthez is no stranger to European success with Marseille, part of their European Cup winning side that defeated AC Milan 1-0 in Munich.