After painful defeats in recent continental finals, Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid is determined to justify its status as favourite in Wednesday’s Europa League showpiece against Marseille in Lyon.
Atletico lost in extra time to Real Madrid in the Champions League final of 2014, having been seconds away from victory in 90 minutes, and then lost on penalties to its city rival in the final of the same competition two years later.
An exit from this season's Champions League in the group stage came as a big surprise for a formidable side spearheaded by Antoine Griezmann in attack, but it has put that behind it to close on glory in Europe's less prestigious competition.
Atletico is looking to win the Europa League for the third time in nine seasons, after triumphing in 2010 and again in 2012, shortly after 'Cholo' Simeone was appointed coach. “We can't wait for the final to come around,” full-back Juanfran told Radio Marca as Atletico targets a first trophy since 2014, when it won La Liga.
‘Another little medal’
“With 'Cholo' lots of things have changed at Atletico. Everything we have experienced in these last few years we will remember forever. I hope we can get another little medal.”
Read: Payet feels ready for Europa League final
It would be a first, and possibly last major medal as an Atletico player for Griezmann, who was raised not far from Lyon but has spent his whole career in Spain. The 27-year-old forward joined Atletico from Real Sociedad on the back of its title success in 2014, but could soon be on his way to Barcelona.
Read: Simeone & Co. look to recreate magic of 2012
Griezmann and Diego Costa will lead Simeone's attack as Atletico returns to Lyon, where it lost 3-0 to Dynamo Kiev in the final of the now defunct Cup Winners' Cup in 1986.
Home advantage
Atletico has had plenty of heartbreak in European finals down the years, as has Marseille. The French club has previously appeared in four, losing three, the exception being its victory over AC Milan in the inaugural Champions League final in 1993.
Rudi Garcia’s team was not expected to make it this far, having started its European campaign in the qualifying rounds last July.
But after rousing wins over RB Leipzig in the last eight and Salzburg in the semifinals, OM and their passionate fans are now dreaming of glory on home soil. “Those who won the Champions League in 1993 are still heroes because nobody else has done it since,” Dimitri Payet told UEFA.com .
“We know how tough it is. Of course, that's an added source of motivation, and if we do win the final, our names will be written into the club's history books forever.”
Hoping for surprise
Marseille is also battling for a top-three finish in the French league, and the fear is that fatigue will be a factor as it tries to break down Atletico's brilliant defence. “They are a big club, a super team with great players and a great coach. They are used to playing in big European matches. They are clear favourites but we will do everything to create a surprise,” winger Florian Thauvin told sports daily L'Equipe .
Payet is “optimistic” he will shake off a minor muscle problem to feature in Wednesday's game, where Marseille will hope to have a big support behind them. Only around 11,500 of its fans will officially be in attendance, however, but several thousand more should make the three-hour trip to Lyon.
Authorities are preparing for the threat of trouble, with a big rivalry developing in recent years between Marseille and Lyon.
Since reaching the final, Marseille fans have taunted Lyon and its outspoken president Jean-Michel Aulas with chants of: “We're going to smash up your house.”
There will be 1,250 police officers deployed in the city and around the Groupama Stadium, where Wednesday's match will start at 8:45pm (1845 GMT).
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