That happened 13 years ago and saw both teams relegated from the French first division.

Valenciennes have only just returned to the top flight for the first time since they paid a heavy price for helping Marseille fix a match during the 1993 season.

Marseille finished top of the tree that year but were later stripped of their title and relegated.

Although it took Valenciennes 13 seasons to return to Ligue 1, they were never a big club in the first place and arguably it is Marseille who have been hit the hardest.

At the time they boasted names such as Didier Deschamps, Fabien Barthez, Marcel Desailly, Alen Boksic and Rudi Voller.

They claimed the Champions League crown that year, the first French club ever to do so, and were regarded as one of European football's heavyweights.

But it was in fixing their final and decisive fixture of the domestic season against Valenciennes, in order to concentrate on the European final against AC Milan, that Marseille's demise began.

Despite heading back to the top flight just two years after their enforced relegation, Marseille have never since won their domestic title and are currently a long way from being able to put up a sustained challenge to Lyon, the dominant force in France.

Marseille currently sit eighth in the table, despite a stunning start in which they took 16 points from the first 18 on offer.

So the visit of Valenciennes will bring back uncomfortable memories for the Mediterranean outfit, despite the universal denials.

Goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso was 11 at the time of the scandal.

"I had just arrived at the club, I was a fan, even in division two," he said.

"But today we're not going to talk about the past which we have already suffered a long time ago.

"This match is remarkable, yes, but only because we have to take three points -- that's all."

However, not everyone was singing from the same songsheet.

Striker Toifilou Maoulida said: "We have to win this match for our supporters because it was from this moment (the 1993 match against Valenciennes) that we started to have problems."

Valenciennes also want to forget the past.

"Everyone is making a meal out of this but there are no more players or managers from that time," said Valenciennes president Francis Decourriere.

More important for both sides will be the matter of three points.

Marseille's early season promise has faltered and they need to kick-start their Champions League push, although without star player Franck Ribery who has a groin injury that could sideline him until the new year.

Valenciennes sit only three points and places above the relegation zone.

Five-in-row champions Lyon will expect a smooth ride at rock-bottom Sedan as they look to defend a 10-point lead over Lille, who travel to fifth-placed Sochaux.

Under-fire Paris St Germain boss Guy Lacombe sees his side entertain Bordeaux, who themselves are struggling after last season's second place finish.

Fresh from a morale-boosting 4-0 win at Troyes last week, Monaco will look to continue their rise off the bottom of the table as they host Lorient.
Fixtures
Saturday
AS Nancy v Troyes, Lens v Nantes, Monaco v Lorient, PSG v Bordeaux, Rennes v Le Mans, Sedan v Lyon, Sochaux v Lille, St Etienne v Nice
Sunday
Auxerre v Toulouse, Marseille v Valenciennes