The new image was given a great boost by Bordeaux's progress from the Intertoto that first year to the UEFA Cup final. In the second year of the new look competition, only Karlsruher of the 3 'winners' (Karlsruher SC, Silkeborg and Guingamp, UEFA having decided to add another UEFA cup place) made it past the UEFA Cup 1st Round, succumbing eventually to Brøndby in the 3rd Round. The following year, of the 3 French winners, Auxerre performed best being beaten by eventual finalists Lazio in the quarter finals while both Bastia and Lyonnais were knocked out the 2nd Round in what was a disappointing year for French teams in Europe in general.

However, Bologna's achievement in 1998 in reaching the UEFA Cup Semi-Finals from the Intertoto ensured a surge in interest from clubs throughout Europe, desperate to share in the big cashfalls promised by the new season's competitions. The mighty Juventus, following their dismal domestic season in 1998, deigned to qualify for the new look UEFA Cup via the Intertoto last year and were only stopped in their march to the final by a rampant Celta Vigo in the 4th Round. The other 2 winners, West Ham United and Montpelier were both ejected in the 2nd Round.