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Marseille 0-3 Atletico: Ruthless Spaniards crowned Europa Kings

Diego Simeone was still serving his four-game touchline ban but it did not dither his wards as Atletico Madrid emerged winners of the Europa League for the third time in eight years courtesy a 3-0 victory against Marseille at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon.

Atico Madrid players celebrate

Diego Simeone was still serving his four-game touchline ban but it did not dither his wards as Atletico Madrid emerged winners of the Europa League for the third time in eight years courtesy a 3-0 victory against Marseille at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon.

A goal completely against the run of play a quarter of the way through from Antoine Griezmann gave the 2010 and 2012 winners something to hold on to, and the Frenchman doubled his tally early in the second period.

A Konstantinos Mitroglu header against the post aside, Atletico expertly saw things through and added a third goal late on from skipper Gabi to cap a ruthless display.

Using the familiar surroundings to their advantage, having travelled just a few hours up the A7, Marseille started by far the more dominant side.

Valere Germain, preferred to the unfit Konstantinos Mitroglou up top, was slipped through on goal by Dimitri Payet just six minutes in, only to miscue his shot wide of the target with just Jan Oblak to beat.

After playing the ball out from the back, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa got caught in possession and, a Gabi through-ball later, Greizmann was in on goal and tucked the ball past returning goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.

Fernando Torres lifts the Europa Cup with Atletico teammates in his final European game for the club

Marseille, dealt a further blow when their main attacking threat in Payet limped off the field 35 minutes in, were unable to find their rhythm in the remainder of a first half that petered out.

On each of the last 15 occasions that Los Rojiblancos have led in this competition they have gone on to win the match, and they were as good as over the line with four minutes of the second half played.

Griezmann latched on to Koke’s pass, took the ball inside Jordan Amavi and dinked it over Mandanda for his sixth goal in this season’s Europa League.

There was no way back for the French side as Captain Gabi sealed victory for Atletico with a third goal to end the match 3-0 and crown Diego Simeone’s men Europa League champions.

 

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