The last European away trip left a bitter taste, as the Maksimir side let qualification slip away just a minute from time. The goal conceded right at the end pleased one party most of all: the Austrians. On the final matchday of the Champions League group stage, the Blues travelled to Marseille. The hosts had already secured a place in the knockout phase, while the Maksimir side were fighting for third place. That would have guaranteed their European season would continue, as they would have moved into the round of 32 of the UEFA Cup. For that scenario, the Zagreb side needed a win in Marseille and "at least" a point for Manchester United against Austria's Sturm at Old Trafford. Manchester eventually won 2-1. But the 2-2 in Marseille meant that Sturm took third place after all. Even if the Blues had made it through the group, they still would not have secured a "European spring", since they would have played their first UEFA Cup ties before the New Year.

Croatia were led in this match by coach Marijan Vlak, who stepped in after Osvaldo Ardiles was dismissed. Olympique practically handed them chances throughout the match, and the hosts played without several regular starters, yet the Zagreb side fell just short...

Mihael Mikić shook the hosts' net six minutes from time. Croatia led 2-1 at that moment and had qualification in their hands. However, pure defending in the closing minutes invited wave after wave of Marseille attacks, one of which ended in a goal a minute from time.

The hosts threatened in the 33rd minute. Ibrahima Bakayoko caused danger in a scramble close to the six-yard box, and goalkeeper Tomislav Butina managed to parry the ball. Daniel Montenegro rushed in and, from six metres on the left, aimed at an empty net, but Stjepan Tomas arrived at full sprint and, with a sliding tackle, cleared the ball off the goal line. The Blues tried as well, with Robert Prosinečki, Daniel Šarić, Mario Cvitanović and Edin Mujčin all shooting. However, their strikes from between 16 and 20 metres ended either in the goalkeeper's hands or just wide of the goal.

Croatia took the lead three minutes before the end of the first half. The Zagreb side's attack was a long one. Mario Cvitanović finally crossed from the left flank into the penalty area, practically from beside the corner flag. Tomo Šokota managed to pass it back into the six-yard box, and Mujčin masterfully placed it into the goal with his left foot, first time, from 12 metres.

However, in the 53rd minute the score, instead of 2-0 to Croatia, was suddenly turned into 1-1. The Blues launched a counterattack, and Šarić sharply cut a ball in from the right into the six-yard box. It went past the goalkeeper, and Tomo Šokota, falling, slammed it into the net from half a metre. But the assistant referee flagged for offside. A counterattack by the hosts followed. Christophe Dugarry got past a defender on the left and ran into the penalty area. The ball deflected off a block, after which the home striker got to it again, this time with his head, and lobbed it over the onrushing Butina from five metres on the left, at a completely tight angle, in front of goal. There Bakayoko ran in and fired it into the empty net.

The finish brought a series of thrills. First, in the 81st minute, Kaba Diawara received a high, cleared ball. He first controlled it in the air with his left foot and then, with his next touch, also with his left, spectacularly attempted a scissor kick. It was from 12 metres on the left side, and the ball flew past the far post. The Blues went ahead again in the 84th minute. Šarić brilliantly broke down the right, slipping past two defenders, and cut a low ball into the middle. Mikić, falling, scored with a first-time strike from six metres to give the lead and, it seemed, qualification to the Blues.

However, after this goal Croatia's players withdrew in front of their own penalty area, allowing the French to pile on the pressure, which brought them the equalising goal in the 89th minute. After a scramble in the penalty area, in a move from a free kick awarded for a dubious foul, Sebastien Perez headed the ball from the edge of the box into the six-yard area, where Diawara got to it and, also with his head, steered it into the goal.