 Match programme cover | |||||||
| Event | 1997–98 UEFA Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Date | 6 May 1998 | ||||||
| Venue | Parc des Princes,Paris | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Ronaldo(Inter Milan)[1] | ||||||
| Referee | Antonio López Nieto (Spain) | ||||||
| Attendance | 44,412[2] | ||||||
←1997 1999 → | |||||||
The1998 UEFA Cup final was afootball match played atParc des Princes inParis, France on 6 May 1998 as the conclusion to the1997–98 UEFA Cup. It was the first time that the UEFA Cup final was played as a single leg at a neutral venue.
The match was played between two Italian teams –Lazio andInter Milan. Inter won the match 3–0 to win the UEFA Cup for the third time – a joint record withJuventus at the time.
Inter Milan were one of the most successful Italian football teams. They had won theEuropean Cup twice in1964 and1965 and theUEFA Cup twice in1991 and1994.[3][4]
Lazio had never played in a European final before. Their previous best run was to the quarter-finals of the1994–95 UEFA Cup.[3][4][5]
Since the inaugural edition in1971–72, the UEFA Cup final had been played over two legs on a home and away basis. From the 1997–98 season, the final would be played as a single leg at a neutral venue.[3]
| Lazio | Round | Inter Milan | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | |
 Vitória de Guimarães | 6–1 | 4–0 (A) | 2–1 (H) | First round |  Neuchâtel Xamax | 4–0 | 2–0 (H) | 2–0 (A) |
 Rotor Volgograd | 3–0 | 0–0 (A) | 3–0 (H) | Second round |  Lyon | 4–3 | 1–2 (H) | 3–1 (A) |
 Rapid Wien | 3–0 | 2–0 (A) | 1–0 (H) | Third round | RC Strasbourg | 3–2 | 0–2 (A) | 3–0 (H) |
| Auxerre | 3–2 | 1–0 (H) | 2–2 (A) | Quarter-finals |  Schalke 04 | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 1–0 (H) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (A) |
 Atlético Madrid | 1–0 | 1–0 (A) | 0–0 (H) | Semi-finals | Spartak Moscow | 4–2 | 2–1 (H) | 2–1 (A) |
Lazio qualified for the1997–98 UEFA Cup by finishing fourth in the1996–97 Serie A.[6]
In the first round, Lazio faced Portuguese sideVitória de Guimarães. They won 4–0 in the first leg at theEstádio D. Afonso Henriques inGuimarães on 16 September 1997 and 2–1 in the second leg at theStadio Olimpico inRome two weeks later to progress 6–1 on aggregate.[7]
Lazio faced Russian sideRotor Volgograd in the second round. After a 0–0 draw in the first leg at theCentral Stadium inVolgograd on 21 October 1997, Lazio progressed with a 3–0 win (3–0 on aggregate) in the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico two weeks later.[7]
In round three, Lazio faced Austrian sideRapid Wien. Lazio won the first leg 2–0 at theErnst-Happel-Stadion inVienna on 25 November 1997 and progressed to the quarter-finals 3–0 on aggregate after winning the second leg 1–0 at the Stadio Olimpico two weeks later.[7]
French clubAJ Auxerre were Lazio's opponents in the quarter-finals. After winning the first leg 1–0 at the Stadio Olimpico on 3 March 1998, Lazio advanced to the semi-finals following a 2–2 draw (3–2 on aggregate) in the second leg at theStade de l'Abbé-Deschamps inAuxerre two weeks later.[7]
Lazio facedAtlético Madrid of Spain in the semi-finals. Lazio won the first leg 1–0 at theVicente Calderón Stadium inMadrid on 31 March 1998 and progressed to the final after a goalless draw (1–0 on aggregate) in the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico two weeks later.[7]
Inter Milan qualified for the1997–98 UEFA Cup by finishing third in the1996–97 Serie A.[6]
Neuchâtel Xamax of Switzerland were Inter Milan's opponents in the first round. Inter Milan won the first leg at theSan Siro inMilan 2–0 on 16 September 1997 before winning the second leg at theStade de la Maladière inNeuchâtel two weeks later by the same scoreline (4–0 on aggregate).[7]
In the second round, Inter Milan faced French clubOlympique Lyonnais. After losing the first leg 2–1 at the San Siro on 21 October 1997, Inter Milan came back to win the second leg 3–1 at theStade de Gerland inLyon two weeks later to progress 4–3 on aggregate.[7]
They would return to France in the third round to playStrasbourg. Again, Inter Milan lost the first leg – 2–0 at theStade de la Meinau inStrasbourg on 25 November 1997 – and again they came back to win the second leg at the San Siro 3–0 (3–2 on aggregate) two weeks later to progress to the quarter-finals.[7]
In the quarter-finals, Inter Milan faced German clubSchalke 04. After winning the first leg 1–0 at the San Siro on 3 March 1998, the second leg atParkstadion inGelsenkirchen two weeks later went toextra time after finishing 1–0 to Schalke 04 (1–1 on aggregate) in 90 minutes. Inter Milan scored the only goal of extra time to progress to the semi-finals 2–1 on aggregate.[7]
Russian sideSpartak Moscow were Inter Milan's opponents in the semi-finals. After winning the first leg at the San Siro 2–1 on 31 March 1998, Inter Milan won the second leg at theCentral Dynamo Stadium inMoscow two weeks later by the same scoreline (4–2 on aggregate) to reach the final.[7]
          Lazio |    Inter Milan |
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Man of the Match: Assistant referees: | Match rules
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