Europa League final preview: Marseille v Atlético
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Article summary
Possible line-ups, what the coaches say, form, expert opinion and more.
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Article body
- All you need to know about the final
- Marseille, Atlético contest 47th final in competition
- No French side has won UEFA Cup/Europa League
- Marseille meet two-time winners Atlético
- Atleti won previous finals in 2010 and 2012
Possible line-ups
Marseille: Mandanda; Sakai, Rami, Luiz Gustavo, Amavi; Anguissa, Sanson; Thauvin, Payet, Ocampos; Germain
Atlético: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Giménez, Godín, Lucas; Koke, Saúl Ñíguez, Gabi, Correa; Griezmann, Costa
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here
What the coaches say
Rudi Garcia, Marseille
We have a pretty small chance of winning but we are going to give it our all. Playing Atlético is a big event for us. This is a club who have played two Champions League finals in the past four years, a club that won the Europa League not long ago. But a final at home in France is a fantastic opportunity. No French side have ever won this trophy; it would be fantastic if we could be the first.
Diego Simeone, Atlético
Everything is set up for a great final. [Marseille have] been improving and they have a coach who has so many options at his disposal and a lot of nous. They're very dangerous, particularly in midfield and attack. It'll certainly be a tough game. As soon as we got knocked out of the Champions League, we immediately embraced this competition. Being widely billed as contenders to reach the final heightened our sense of duty and responsibility. And here we are.
Form guide
Guingamp 3-3 Marseille (Grenier 42 52p, Briand 70p; Germain 2, Thauvin 14 81)
The visitors let slip a 2-0 lead, with keeper Steve Mandanda sent off before they fell behind with 20 minutes to go. Florian Thauvin's second goal of the game, his 26th of the season, rescued a point. OM are fourth with one match to go.
Last 10 games (most recent first): DWLDWWWWDL
Getafe 0-1 Atlético (Koke 8)
Atleti need a point from their final game of the season against Eibar to seal the runners-up spot after Koke's sixth goal of 2017/18. The visitors were equally indebted to Jan Oblak, whose late penalty save capped an excellent showing.
Last 10 games (most recent first): WLWWDDLWLD
Reporters' views
David Crossan, Marseille (@UEFAcomDavidC)
Marseille are at their best – and most exciting to watch – when they play with freedom, as they did in demolishing Leipzig in the second leg of the quarter-final. The French side are underdogs without question but are in the mood to make history and have potential match winners in their ranks in Dimitri Payet and Thauvin.
Joe Walker, Atlético (@UEFAcomJoeW)
Simeone and his charges have big-game experience on their side, even if their more recent final appearances were unhappy ones. Ever since they were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League this has been Atleti's main focus this season, and with a fully-fit squad available the Spanish team are favourites to lift a third UEFA Europa League trophy in eight years. Their tenacious, streetwise football may be too much for Marseille.
Did you know?
- Although born in Macon, just 61km from Lyon, Griezmann has never played professional club football in his native France.
- This is Atlético's second UEFA final in Lyon; they lost 3-0 to Dynamo Kyiv in the 1986 European Cup Winners' Cup at the Stade de Gerland.
- Marseille have won eight of their nine European home games this season but just one of nine away from the Stade Vélodrome – a 2-1 victory at Athletic Club.
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