Man Utd history v French sides in Europe before Lyon tie
Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille and Nantes were group-stage opposition between 1999 and 2002 and, while Bordeaux were defeated home and away, Ferguson’s men often found things a little tougher on the road, in hostile atmospheres.
William Gallas scored the only goal as Marseille became the first French club to beat us, while United were reliant on a stoppage-time penalty from Ruud van Nistelrooy to rescue a point at Nantes.
Ruud was again the main man in 2004, breaking Law’s European scoring record as United recovered from two goals down to draw with Lyon, before registering in the return at the Theatre of Dreams – alongside a more unlikelier source of goals in Gary Neville.
Les Gones were the premier French club at this time, winning seven straight championships, but couldn’t get the better of the Reds, losing a Champions League knockout tie in 2008 when Carlos Tevez’s late away goal tipped the balance in our favour.
