Europa League final, Olympique Marseille vs Atletico Madrid, highlights: Los Rojiblancos win title

Atletico Madrid win the Europa League

8 - Since the start of the 2013/14 campaign, Spanish clubs have won eight of the possible nine @ChampionsLeague and @EuropaLeague trophies combined, with Manchester United’s win in this competition last season being the only exception. Rules pic.twitter.com/yOoqYtfi7v

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 16, 2018

Atletico Madrid win the Europa League

5 - Only Sevilla (five) have won more @EuropaLeague / UEFA CUP titles than Atlético de Madrid (three as @LFC, @juventusfc & @Internazionale). Sky pic.twitter.com/98Y2uw3Fo0

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 16, 2018

Atletico Madrid win the Europa League

After losing two Champions League finals, Atletico finally get their hands on a European trophy as Fernando Torres and Gabi lift the Europa League trophy together. A huge occasion for Torres, who like Antoine Griezmann, has won his first piece of silverware with Atletico.

Atletico Madrid win the Europa League

A word on the runners-up. They were outclassed in the final, but that doesn’t detract from their wonderful European campaign. They didn’t sign stars in the summer, but rather seasoned players, the likes of Luiz Gustavo and Steve Mandanda. They wobbled at the start of the campaign but came good playing some good football. Marseille have not won the European Cup since 1993, mind you that was the Champions League,  and they will have to wait a little longer. However, with careful planning, they can regain their status as one of France’s leading clubs. Meanwhile, the Europa League trophy has been brought onto the field and the stage.

Atletico Madrid win the Europa League

The Atleti players form a guard of honour as the Marseille team go up on the podium to collect their runner-up medals from the presentation party lead by UEFA president Alexander Ceferin. You’ve got to feel bad for the OM players. Dimitri Payet, still tearing up, takes off his medal as soon as it’s put around his neck.

Atletico Madrid win the Europa League

Fernando Torres gets a late run-out, a classy gesture by Diego Simeone. At 34, he is surely leaving the club. The one-time teenage captain replaced two-goal hero Griezmann. It matters little and referee Bjorn Kuipers blows the whistle, greeted by a huge roar from the Atleti end. As the beats are turned up a notch, Atletico celebrate. They truly deserved their 3-0 win on the night, displaying all the hallmarks of the well-organized and ruthless team that they have been for the last couple of years under their Argentine coach. They soaked up the pressure, scored and never looked like relinquishing the lead. It may all have been textbook, but it remains very impressive.

Atletico Madrid win the Europa League!

It’s all over in Lyon as a brace from Antoine Griezmann and a late goal from Gabi sees Atletico Madrid beat Marseille 3-0 and claim their third Europa League title.

90+1` Marseille 0-3 Atletico Madrid

A late flourish from Marseille. Valiant until the end and their fans are jumping up and down again. They are giving it their all. That means more pyrotechnics behind the goal. This is a genuine football atmosphere. Mitroglou’s header, Amavi’s attempt. Clinton Njie is also teed up. And that is a prime example again of how not to play Atletico. Gabi kills off the game with a third at the other end. Clinical. Marseille fans are heading for the exits now.

90` Marseille 0-3 Atletico Madrid

There’s time for Atleti legend Fernando Torres to make an appearance in the final as he comes on for Antoine Griezmann for the final two minutes.

89` GOAL! Gabi makes it 3-0 for Atletico!

It’s surely all over for Marseille now. Costa squares the ball to Koke who slides in a pass to an unmarked Gabi in the box. The Atletico skipper makes no mistake and smashes the ball into the back of the net!

83` Marseille 0-2 Atletico Madrid

It’s going to be a long end of the match for Marseille. Atletico are so much better. They play and act as a team. Marseille, at best, are muddled. Their swath of faded Premier League stars are no match for the unison of Simeone and co. It’s almost a funeral march for Marseille, but there is Mitrogolou! Header against the woodwork from Morgan Sanson’s cross. ‘Aux armes’ shout the Marseille fans. They have found their voice again. That would have been a lifeline for the French. Nine minutes of regular time left.

80` Marseille 0-2 Atletico Madrid

How did that now go in! Kostas Mitroglou’s header beats Jan Oblak in goal but the ball bounces off the inside of the post much to Atletico Madrid’s relief! Still 2-0 to Atleti with 10 minutes left!

72` Marseille 0-2 Atletico Madrid

It has been one-way traffic at the moment with Atletico Madrid laying siege to the OM box. Uncharacteristic from Simeone’s side who generally like to sit back and absorb the pressure in big matches. Marseille can’t find a way out of the box.

78` Marseille 0-2 Atletico Madrid

It’s all gone flat. The tension and the zeal of the first 50 minutes have evaporated. Marseille can no longer compete with the Spaniards, who were favourites from the outset. Atletico could not have scripted it better. They are playing the ball around, keeping possession in their ranks. It’s not yet a demonstration, but Marseille’s fans are awfully quiet. Garcia with a last throw of the dice now – Greek striker Kostas Mitroglou replaces Valere Germain.

75` Marseille 0-2 Atletico Madrid

6 - Griezmann has scored in his two first touches in opposite box vs Marsella & has scored in all #UEL ties for @atletienglish this season (six goals). Brace pic.twitter.com/Ic17uoCrXx

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 16, 2018

74` Marseille 0-2 Atletico Madrid

Easy as you like for Atletico. Full control and almost running down the clock, though one feels they may score more. Marseille look impotent, out of ideas and without the spine to hit back. It’s like they are a spent force. Just under 20 minutes left and the French will need a proper miracle now.

58` Marseille 0-2 Atletico Madrid 

That’s an attacking sub by Rudi Garcia. He has little choice, but the class difference is beginning to show. Atletico, it seems, were off-colour in the first half. They are now all over Marseille, whose fans have gone – understandably – very quiet.

54` Marseille 0-2 Atletico

That’s game over. Well, Atletico had won the final the moment Griezmann opened the score in the 21st minute, but the Frenchman has struck again. A lightning fast attack, crowned with a delightful, little chip that left Steve Mandanda flapping at the ball. Gorgeous finish. World class. It’s a cruel game for Marseille, but that goal was outstanding and the embodiment of Madrid’s strength and years’ of perseverance with a singular philosophy. That said, what a hole in the French midfield. Koke had so much time and space. Shall I repeat it? Madrid and Griezmann have their hands on the cup.

51` Marseille 0-2 Atletico Madrid

That goal has forced Rudi Garcia into making a change and one comes the young and talented Clinton Njie who replaces Ocampos.

49` GOAL! Griezmann scores his second of the night!

What a start to the second half for Atleti! Koke spots Griezmann’s run into the box and the Frenchman dinks it over the advancing Mandanda to send the Atleti fans wild.

47` Marseille 0- 1 Atletico Madrid

That was a dramatic first half for Marseille. A bright beginning followed by calamity after calamity. Atletico are within touching distance of their third Europa League victory. What can the French muster in the second half? Atletico have made a change with Juanfran coming on after the break for Sime Vrsaljko.

46` Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

Change for Atletico as Sime Vrsaljko, who was booked in the first half, comes off for Juanfran.

HT. Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

84,5% - Atlético de Madrid have kept 49 cleansheets at the half time of their 58 games in all competitions this season. Smooth pic.twitter.com/ixEHNmHJWi

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 16, 2018

HT! Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

Peep! Peep! It’s halftime. Marseille will rue Valere Germain’s wastefulness early on. You simply don’t get many chances against Simeone’s rearguard. Griezmann’s opportunistic, but clinical, strike altered the game. The Spanish could play their favourite game – sit deep, protect the lead and transition quickly. Payet’s injury was a hammer blow for OM. They lost their rhythm. It’s been sterile ever since from Marseille as the half petered out – and that’s just the way Atletico wanted it.

45` Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

C’est foutu? A good way to practice your French, but the Spanish are in cruise control now: a goal up and Payet, who can unlock any defence with one pass, out of the game. Atletico mirror their coach: tidy, at times classy, slightly dirty and never shy of exploiting mistakes. It’s an uphill battle for Garcia and co.

43` Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

11 - @AntoGriezmann has had a hand in more goals than any other @atletienglish player in European competition this season (11 - seven goals and four assists). Prince pic.twitter.com/lxr2LTzHLZ

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 16, 2018

39` Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

Textbook Atletico, so what do Marseille do? The game very much remains end to end. But more drama for Marseille. It’s been a tough opening 30 minutes for Garcia’s team. Dimitri Payet’s thigh no longer wants to comply. He holds his head in his hands and departs in tears. A terrible sight and Marseille replace their captain with Maxime Lopez. Is that also the end of Payet’s World Cup dreams? In the stands, Marseille fans are unrelenting. They have calmed down a bit, but behind the goal, more pyrotechnics come out and there is a banner that reads ‘UEFA mafia.’ Feisty!

37` Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

The second yellow of the night goes to Jordan Amavi and frankly, it’s a harsh one. The left-back attempts to block Vrsaljko’s cross but the Atleti man goes down after putting in a decent cross. Foul but didn’t warrant a card.

35` Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

Atleti win a fortunate free kick just as OM went on the counter. Sanson charges past Gabi who goes down off the lightest of touches and the referee obliges with a free kick for the Spaniards. Harsh on OM. Never a free kick IMO.

31` Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

3 - A French player has scored in each of the last three Europa League finals : Gameiro with Sevilla v Liverpool in 2015/16, Pogba with Manchester United v Ajax in 2016/17 & Griezmann v Marseille. Hurray. pic.twitter.com/sJlHCXUNaH

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 16, 2018

30` Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

Poor, loose pass from  Mandanda, Anguissa clumsy as well under pressure. You can’t make those mistakes at this level. Griezmann was absolutely clinical. Will his finals hoodoo with Atletico Madrid come to an end tonight? Remember that he missed a crucial penalty against Real Madrid three years ago in Milan in the final of the Champions League. The French striker has never won any major trophy with Atletico. He is heavily linked with a move to FC Barcelona at the end of this season, so this may well be his last chance for silverware – and off all places in Lyon, the club, who rejected a young Antoine over his lack of height.

28` Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

The Frenchman strikes against the French team. Some players you just know will score in a one-on-one and Griezmann is one of them.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 16, 2018

23` Marseille 0-1 Atletico Madrid

Vrsaljko becomes the first player to go into the referee’s book for a foul on Ocampos. Payet stands over the set piece on the left and after the ball ping-pongs in the box, Ocampos sends a looping header which, fortunately for Oblak, lands on the top of the goal.

21` GOAL! Antoine Griezmann scores!

Atletico Madrid were struggling. Koke and Correa had to track back a lot against Marseille’s attacking full-backs. In the midfield, Cameroonian Zambo Anguissa has been impressive. He couples a good physique with technique. Payet is involved. The French dominate possession…gooaaal. That’s quintessential Atletico Madrid: on the back foot, barely in the game, but in the lead. Almost a copy from their away goal to Arsenal in the semis. And, commentator’s curse, it’s Anguissa who loses possession. Marseille silenced.

20` Marseille 0-0 Atletico Madrid

Not much respite for Atletico. Marseille are well on top, but that is – does one need to be reminded? – a very dangerous position to be in against Simeone’s team. The Argentine coach is in the stands following his four-match suspension in the semi-finals. German Burgos is his replacement on the touchline. Fair to say, he doesn’t have the same animo.

19` Marseille 0-0 Atletico Madrid

OM have made most of the attacking moves tonight particularly down the right with Thauvin and Sarr. Mandanda has had nothing much to do so far.

15` Marseille 0-0 Atletico Madrid

Smoke is wafting across the pitch giving the match a 1980s feel. Marseille very dominant in these opening stages, backed by their supporters. They won’t be able to keep this tempo for the 90 minutes. It’s key to seize your chances against Atletico Madrid. Dimitri Payet, the assist king, fed Germain. Then Adil Rami had a volley from the edge of the box. Positive from the French, but despairing at the same time.

9` Marseille 0-0 Atletico Madrid

Well we can’t say we didn’t see that coming! Diego Costa does what Diego Costa does best. The Spanish forward goes in for an aerial ball with Adil Rami but gets more of the defender than the ball. The OM players go up in arms and referee Kuipers has a word with Costa.

4` Marseille 0-0 Atletico Madrid

What a miss from Germain! Thauvin and Payet open get behind the Atleti midfield with a quick exchange of passes before Payet sets Germain free. However, with only Jan Oblak to beat, Germain lobs it over goal.

2` Marseille 0-0 Atletico Madrid

Everything in football is content today, so the Spanish went for a banner ‘Atleti forever’. The French had other ideas with plenty of pyrotechnics. UEFA won’t be happy about that, but the fans won’t care. Game on.

1` Marseille 0-0 Atletico Madrid

Referee Bjorn Kuipers blows the whistle and OM get us underway. The air is thick with smoke with fans setting of flares.

Marseille vs Atletico Madrid

The view from the press box. It’s the opening ceremony. Let’s keep it short and get on with the action. It always feels a bit forced and corporate. Let’s get on with the game. 

Marseille vs Atletico Madrid

No need to remind you that these two teams have a different philosophy. Everyone knows what to expect from Atletico Madrid – grit, commitment, outstanding defending and lethal attacking. It’s a cliched description, but that’s what Diego Simeone’s charges stand for. His side can easily protect the lead, Marseille simply can’t. Their defence is a weak point and they had to reshuffle with Brazilian midfielder Luiz Gustavo, one of the team’s mainstays, playing at the heart of the defence. Will it be a third Europa League for Atletico Madrid or a first for Rudi Garcia, Marseille and French football?

Marseille vs Atletico Madrid

Before we kick off at Lyon, there’ll be an opening ceremony featuring the French musical duo, Ofenbach. Accompanying them are dancers who won France’s Got Talent. After a rather poorly-received performance, Barcelona legend Eric Abidal brings out the coveted Europa League trophy. The teams are out and we’re moments away from kick-off!

Marseille vs Atletico Madrid

Does it really matter that this is a second-tier European competition? The naysayers are out in numbers, but it’s an easy route to the Champions League. Arsenal and Arsene Wenger would have loved to be here. Manchester United saved their season last year by winning this competition. So, don’t discard the Europa League so easily. Ah! Hear, hear, the Atletico Madrid fans singing for a first time – to tunes of their club anthem.

Walls.

1v1 - Steve Mandanda 🇫🇷 v Jan Oblak 🇸🇮in all competitions in 2017/18 :

Walls.#OMAtletico pic.twitter.com/993E3zH4NL

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 16, 2018

Marseille vs Atletico Madrid

European Cup finals, in particular, the Europa League final, which is a bit less corporate than the Champions League final, make one nostalgic. It’s a grand day out for all fans involved as they travel and hike thousands of miles to back and support their team. In 1986 25,000 Atletico fans travelled to the Stade de Gerland by bus only to see their team beaten 3-0 by Dynamo Kyiv. Last year Manchester and Ajax fans flocked to the Swedish capital, this time Spanish and Marseille fans have taken over Lyon. Security has been tight, but the atmosphere friendly, with both sets of fans in good spirits, and voice.

Marseille vs Atletico Madrid

Hello and welcome from Lyon. It’s a mild evening in France. The clouds have cleared and this should be another fine evening of European football. With just 30 minutes left until kick-off, I can tell the noise the Marseille fans are producing is absolutely deafening. They are vastly outnumbering their Spanish counterparts. Both teams had an official allocation of 11,500 tickets for this showpiece game, but it seems the OM fans have snapped up a few more! This atmosphere is joyous to be in.

History on Atleti’s side

1 - Atlético de Madrid have only lost one of their 12 games against a French opponent in European competitions (W6, D5), in Lens on 9 March 2000 in the return leg of the UEFA Cup Last 16 (4-2). Model. #OMATM pic.twitter.com/PtQdmOcW8S

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 16, 2018

Who gets your vote?!

Who will have the biggest impact on the #UELfinal?

Griezmann or Payet? pic.twitter.com/p80NJ6Dtme

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 16, 2018

Here’s how Marseille line-up!

Dimitri Payet will be the dangerman for the Ligue 1 side with Florian Thauvin and forward Valere Germain. Former Bayern man Luiz Gustavo starts in defence with Adil Rami and the duo will be tasked with stopping Greizmann and Costa tonight.

⚽️ STARTING XI: UEFA @EuropaLeague final 🏆

Here are the 1⃣1⃣ players tasked with bringing a second European title to Marseille!

ALLEZ OM! ⚪️🔵#OMAtleti | #OurStoryContinues | @atletienglish pic.twitter.com/7oVgTAsiy4

— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) May 16, 2018

Watch Firstpost correspondent Samindra Kunti preview the final with noted sports reporter Roy Jankelowitz live from Lyon!

Here’s how Atletico Madrid line up!

Antoine Griezmann and Diego Costa lead the Atletico attack. Juanfran is only fit to start from the bench with Diego Simeone opting for Sime Vrsaljko, who was sent off in the first leg of their semi-final against Arsenal. 

🏧👥 | STARTING LINE-UP
THESE 1⃣1⃣ ATLÉTICOS on the pitch and MILLIONS of 🔴⚪🔴 fans cheering us on like always❗❕#AúpaAtleti #OMAtleti #UELFinal pic.twitter.com/u2Hcw2NidO

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 16, 2018

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s live blog of the Europa League final between Olympique Marseille and Atletico Madrid.