Marseille and Atletico Madrid will battle it out in the final of the Europa League at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon on Wednesday.
The French coastal side will be hopeful of making count whatever 'home' comfort it can muster to claim its first major European title since 1993. The Europa League final also offers Marseille the best chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League as it sits fourth in the Ligue 1 table with the final round matches left to play.
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For Atletico, the match is another shot at putting things right in a decider after failing to get over the line in the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals. It will, however, have to do so without its talismanic manager Diego Simeone on the touchline, who is serving a touchline ban.
Marseille's Dimitri Payet referred to opposition's Antoine Griezmann as 'Mister Plus' owing to his high output while scoring and creating goals. Griezmann has 27 goals and 13 assists in all competitions this season. Although, it is Payet's teammate Florian Thauvin who has managed to better the overall contribution with 26 goals and 17 assists.
Team news
Marseille's goalkeeper and skipper Steve Mandanda is expected to return from a season-ending thigh injury, which kept him out of the previous two rounds. Striker Kostas Mitroglou could miss the match and centre-back Rolando, the goal-scoring hero in the semifinal against RB Salzburg, is struggling with a knock.
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Atletico forward Vitolo (hamstring) returned to training before the team's departure for Lyon. Left-back Filipe Luis is expected to return to the lineup from an injury.
Possible line-ups
Marseille (4-2-3-1): Mandanda; Sarr, Rami, Luiz Gustavo, Amavi; Sanson, Lopez ; Thauvin, Payet, Ocampos; Germain
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Vrsaljko, Savic, Godin, Lucas; Koke, Saul Niguez, Gabi, Correa; Griezmann, Costa
Stats
Marseille and Atletico Madrid have only faced each other twice in a competitive setting. Both the matches came in the group stages of the 2008 Champions League final with Atletico winning at home before drawing 0-0 in Marseille.
READ: Simeone not interested in banishing Champions League final ghosts
Atletico has a 100% record in the finals of the Europa League with wins coming in 2010 and 2012. Marseille, on the other hand, lost both its finals in 1999 and 2004 when the competition was called UEFA Cup.
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