Football. ua presents the announcement of the final of the Europa League 2017/18 between Marseille and Atletico.
In the final of the Europa League, two-time trophy winner Atletico will meet with the loser in two UEFA Cup finals by Marcel.
Marseille - Atletico Wednesday, 21:45, Lyon, Stade de Lyon. The arbitrator of the meeting is Bjorn Kuypers.
The long and thorny path of Marseilles to the final of the Europa League began in the third qualifying round. At the beginning of the season, few could imagine how far the "Provencals" would come, who suffered two painful defeats right before the start of the group stage. After an out-of-town humiliation from Monaco (1: 6), Rudy Garcia's team lost to Rennes at home with a score of 1: 3, which caused great indignation among the fans. So for the match of the first round against Konyaspor only 8 649 fans came, that for the Velodrome, which accommodates 67 thousand visitors, it became the worst indicator in the 21st century. Flags on the empty North Stand urged not only the resignation of head coach Rudy Garcia, but were directed against the American club owner Frank McCourt and President Jacques-Henri Eiro.
McCourt acquired Marcel in October 2016 and immediately promised to invest in the purchase of new players more than 200 million euros, saying that even 60 million purchases will not be a problem for them. But the promises remained just promises, and 60 million cost the entire summer transfer campaign. The team was joined on a permanent or temporary basis by far from the most high-profile names that the fans hoped for: Costas Mitroglou, Luis Gustavo, Steve Mandanda, Valer Germain, Florian Thoven, Clinton N'Jie, Jordan Amavi, Aimen Abdenenur and Adil Rami. It was the header of the latter that brought Marcel a minimal victory over Konyaspor, which unexpectedly became a turning point. Eight months later, Velodrome again in full throat supports their favorites, who will play in the European Cup final for the first time since 2004.
It was difficult to predict that at the end of the Europa League Atletico will play, but for quite different reasons. "Mattress" started the European Cup season in the group stage of the Champions League, where they unexpectedly took the third place after Roma and Chelsea, ahead of only Karabakh, with which the team Simeone played twice. Nevertheless, being in the European League, the "Indians" did not disdain the tournament, which won twice, and approached all matches in combat composition and mood.
For Atletico, a victory in the Europa League can be a very important event and it's not that the "Colchesteros" need to save the failed season. On the contrary, with the arrival of Diego Simeone, they managed to secure the title of "third force" in Spanish football and for the tour until the end of the season they took second place in La Liga, ahead of Real Madrid by three points. However, the last time the "mattress" won the trophy four years ago, and it was still under the "old guard" El Cholo. Since then, the composition of Atletico has rejuvenated, and the leading roles in the team came out players such as Saul Nygues, Koke, Antoine Grizmann, Jose Jimenez, Lucas Hernandez, Jan Oblak and others. Together, a new generation of trophies overhead has not yet raised, and this victory can give them much-needed impetus as the previous triumph in the European League, which was the starting point for the victory in the cup and the championship of Spain. Atletico has the opportunity to regain the status of a team that wins trophies, rather than simply imposing a fight.
Undoubtedly, in the role of underdogs in this confrontation will be Marcel. This is said not only by the bookmakers, but also by the performance of Rudy Garcia's team in matches with serious rivals in League 1, where the "Provencal" managed to score only two of the possible 18 points against PSG, Monaco and Lyon. On the other hand, they repeatedly demonstrated psychological stamina, gaining important points thanks to goals in the final five minutes, so that to bring sensation "white and blue" capable.
? Final of the Europa League: everything you need to know about the match Marcel - Atletico But, whoever wins, he will certainly make his name in the story. Marseille could become the first French club-winner of the UEFA Cup / Europa League, while Atletico will try to win his third European League Cup.
Approximate compositions:.
Marcel: Mandanda - Sakai, Rami, Luis Gustavo, Amawi - Zambo-Anghis, Sanson - Thoven, Pay, Ocampos - Germain Atletico: Clouds - Vrsalco, Jimenez, Godin, Lucas Hernandez - Koke, Saul, Gaby, Correa - Grismann, Diego Costa In doubt: Roland, Sarr, Mitroglou, Paye - ... Previous meetings:.
Previously, teams crossed in European competition only once - in the group stage of the Champions League 2008/09. Atletico's home under the leadership of Javier Aguirre beat Marcel Erik Gerets with a score of 2: 1, and on Velodromo teams played in a draw. The Madrid team then reached the playoffs from the second place, conceding Liverpool ahead, and Marcel finished third and continued the fight in the UEFA Cup, where he reached the quarter-finals.
Interesting Facts:.
- The final of the Europa League will bring down the clubs that won the debut prizes of the two main club tournaments of UEFA in their modern format. Atletico in 2010 won the first League of Europe, when she replaced the UEFA Cup, and in 1993, Marcel won the first draw of the Champions League;.
- Atletico will play in the European Cup final in Lyon for the second time. In 1986, in the final of the Cup Cup "mattress" on Gerlane lost to Kiev Dynamo with a score of 0: 3;.
- Marcel won only one match of the Europa League this season in a foreign field - against Athletic (2: 1);.
- Marseille twice in his history reached the final of the UEFA Cup, where in 1999 he lost to Parma (0: 3), and in 2004, he was defeated by Valencia (0: 2);.
- Atletico lost only one match of the Europa League this season in a foreign field - against Sporting (0: 1);.
- Atletico twice in his history reached the final of the European League, where in 2010 he beat Fulham (2-1), and in 2012, defeated Athletic (3-0);.
- Diego Simeone - the only coach from outside Europe who won the European League. In addition to it, it was done only by Portuguese and Spanish specialists. Rudy Garcia could become the first Frenchman to be subdued by this achievement;.
- Atletico for the third time reached the final of the Europa League. Thus, Madrid repeated the achievement of Seville and can catch up with their rivals in La Liga and the number of victories in the tournament. Sevilla has three wins, Atletico two;.
- This is the seventh final of the Europa League for Spanish clubs and the first for the club from France;.
- French clubs have never won the UEFA Cup / Europa League. In the finals, in addition to Marseille, participated Bastia (1977/78) and Bordeaux (1995/96);.
- Filipe Luis, Gaby, Diego Godin, Juanfran, Koke and Saul were players of Atletico when the club under the leadership of Simeone became the triumphant of the Europa League 2011/12. In the final match, only Saul did not take part;.
- Players Atletico Vitolo and Kevin Gameiro won in the European League three consecutive seasons in Seville (2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16).
The trainers say:.
Head coach of Marcel Rudy Garcia:.
"We do not have a lot of chances to win, but we will give a full. Match with Atletico - a great event for us. This is a club that has played in the last two years in the two finals of the Champions League. Club, which not so long ago won the Europa League. But the finale of the house in France is a fantastic opportunity for us. No French team has yet won this tournament. It would be great to be the first ".
Head coach of Atletico Diego Simeone:.
"Everything promises a great ending. Marcel added in the course of the tournament. Their coach has a rich selection of players and understands the game. Marcel is very dangerous, especially in midfield and attack. The match will be difficult, it's for sure.
As soon as we departed from the Champions League, we immediately became fired with the desire to win this tournament. Everyone began to call us favorites to reach the final. This increased our sense of duty and responsibility. And here we are. It is a pity that I can not be in the technical zone, but I totally trust Herman Burgos. We are thinking in the same vein and we have been working together for many years ".
forecast 1: 2 Taras Udut, Football. ua Author: Taras Udut.