đŸŽ„ AtlĂ©tico cruise to Europa League final victory over Marseille | OneFootball

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OneFootball

Dan Burke·16 May 2018

đŸŽ„ AtlĂ©tico cruise to Europa League final victory over Marseille

Article image:đŸŽ„ AtlĂ©tico cruise to Europa League final victory over Marseille

An Antoine Griezmann brace helped AtlĂ©tico Madrid to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Marseille in Wednesday evening’s Europa League final in Lyon.

Two goals either side of half-time along with a late strike from captain Gabi meant Diego Simeone’s side lifted their first piece of silverware since the 2013/2014 La Liga title, and the third Europa League in the club’s history.


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Article image:đŸŽ„ AtlĂ©tico cruise to Europa League final victory over Marseille

It was Marseille who had the first big chance of the game when ValĂšre Germain was slipped clean through on goal but the striker could only blaze a gilt-edged opportunity over the crossbar.

But after an opening period which yielded little else in terms of goalmouth action, Atlético got themselves in front thanks to an absolute gift in the 21st minute.

A horrible first touch from Marseille’s AndrĂ©-Frank Zambo Anguissa fell dangerously into the path of Gabi, and Griezmann cooly slotted the Spaniard’s through ball past goalkeeper Steve Mandanda to break the deadlock.

Marseille were then dealt a huge blow when Dimitri Payet was forced off with an injury after 30 minutes. The Frenchman had passed a late fitness test on the morning of the game after struggling with a hamstring problem, but he had to be replaced by 20-year-old Maxime Lopez after leaving the field in tears.

And just four minutes into the second half, Griezmann compounded Marseille’s misery by making it 2-0 with his second goal of the night.

After Gabi had almost caused the l’OM defence a problem moments earlier, Koke fed Griezmann and the Frenchman lifted a delicate lob over Mandanda and into the back of the net to set Simeone’s side firmly on course for victory.

The goal was Atleti’s 200th in UEFA competition.

The La Liga side had a penalty appeal turned down after the ball appeared to strike Luis Gustavo on the arm, before Marseille went close to halving the deficit when Kostas Mitroglou’s glancing header cannoned back off the inside of the post.

But in the 88th minute, Gabi put the result beyond doubt when he converted Koke’s pass with a super finish across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.

Griezmann has been heavily linked with a summer switch to Barcelona and if his match-winning performance in this final proves to be his last game for the Rojiblancos, it wasn’t a bad way to sign off.