The 2018 UEFA Europa League final was the final match of the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League, the 47th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 9th season since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup to the UEFA Europa League. It was played at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Décines-Charpieu, Lyon, France on 16 May 2018, between French side Marseille and Spanish side Atlético Madrid.

Atlético Madrid won the match 3–0 for their third Europa League title. As winners, Atlético Madrid earned the right to play against the winners of the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid, in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup. They also qualified to enter the group stage of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, but since they already qualified through their league performance, the berth reserved was given to the third-placed team of the 2017–18 Ligue 1, Lyon, as Ligue 1 was the 5th-ranked association according to next season's access list.

Venue

The Parc Olympique Lyonnais was announced as the final venue on 9 December 2016, following the decision of the UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Nyon, Switzerland.

Background Marseille reached their third final after a 3–2 aggregate win against Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg, clinched after extra time. They lost the final in both previous occasions (1999 and 2004). This was also their fifth final in all seasonal UEFA competitions, having also played in two European Cup/Champions League finals (winning in 1993; and losing in 1991).

Atlético Madrid also reached their third final after a 2–1 aggregate win against English side Arsenal. They won the final in both previous occasions (2010 and 2012). This was also their ninth final in UEFA seasonal competitions, having played in three European Cup/Champions League finals (losing in 1974, 2014 and 2016) and three Cup Winners' Cup final (winning in 1962; and losing in 1963 and 1986).

The two teams had played each other twice in the Champions League. Atlético Madrid won the first match, while the second was drawn in the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage.

Previous finals In the following table, finals until 2009 were in the UEFA Cup era, since 2010 were in the UEFA Europa League era.

TeamPrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners) Marseille2 (1999, 2004) Atlético Madrid2 (2010, 2012)

Route to the final

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away). MarseilleRound Atlético MadridEuropa LeagueChampions LeagueOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legQualifying phase (EL, CL)Bye? Oostende4–24–2 (H)0–0 (A)Third qualifying round Domžale4–11–1 (A)3–0 (H)Play-off roundOpponentResultGroup stage (EL, CL)OpponentResult Konyaspor1–0 (H)Matchday 1 Roma0–0 (A) Red Bull Salzburg0–1 (A)Matchday 2 Chelsea1–2 (H) Vitória de Guimarães2–1 (H)Matchday 3 Qarabağ0–0 (A) Vitória de Guimarães0–1 (A)Matchday 4 Qarabağ1–1 (H) Konyaspor1–1 (A)Matchday 5 Roma2–0 (H) Red Bull Salzburg0–0 (H)Matchday 6 Chelsea1–1 (A)Group I runners-upFinal standingsGroup C third placeEuropa LeagueOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legKnockout phaseOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg Braga3–13–0 (H)0–1 (A)Round of 32 Copenhagen5–14–1 (A)1–0 (H) Athletic Bilbao5–23–1 (H)2–1 (A)Round of 16 Lokomotiv Moscow8–13–0 (H)5–1 (A) RB Leipzig5–30–1 (A)5–2 (H)Quarter-finals Sporting CP2–12–0 (H)0–1 (A) Red Bull Salzburg3–22–0 (H)1–2 (A)Semi-finals Arsenal2–11–1 (A)1–0 (H)

Pre-match Ambassador

The ambassador for the final was former French international Eric Abidal, who played three seasons at Lyon and later won two UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona.

Ticketing With a stadium capacity of 57,000 for the final, a total amount of 23,000 tickets were available to fans and the general public, with the two finalist teams receiving tickets (number to be confirmed) each and with the other tickets being available for sale to fans worldwide via UEFA.com from 15 to 22 March 2018 in four price categories: €150, €100, €70, and €45. The remaining tickets were allocated to the local organising committee, UEFA and national associations, commercial partners and broadcasters, and to serve the corporate hospitality programme.

Officials On 7 May 2018, UEFA announced that Dutchman Björn Kuipers would officiate the final. It was the second time he was appointed for a UEFA Europa League final, as he had already been the referee in the 2013 final. He was also the referee for the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final, which Atlético lost to Real Madrid in extra time. He was joined by his fellow countrymen, with Sander van Roekel and Erwin Zeinstra as assistant referees, Danny Makkelie and Pol van Boekel as additional assistant referees, and Mario Diks as reserve assistant referee. The fourth official for the final was Szymon Marciniak from Poland.

Opening ceremony French DJ duo Ofenbach performed at the opening ceremony preceding the final.

Match

Summary In the 21st minute, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa miss-controlled a pass out from goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, the ball came to Gabi who passed into Antoine Griezmann who scored with a low shot into the bottom left corner. Marseille captain Dimitri Payet left the match due to injury in the 32nd minute. It was 2–0 in the 49th minute when Antoine Griezmann dinked the ball past the advancing Steve Mandanda and into the bottom left from inside the penalty area after a pass from Koke. Gabi got the third goal in the 89th minute with a low right foot finish from the right after another pass from Koke.

Details The "home" team (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held after the semi-final draw, which was held on 13 April 2018, 12:00 CEST, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

GK 30 Steve MandandaRB 17 Bouna SarrCB 23 Adil RamiCB 19 Luiz Gustavo LB 18 Jordan Amavi CM 29 André-Frank Zambo AnguissaCM 8 Morgan SansonRW 26 Florian ThauvinAM 10 Dimitri Payet (c) LW 5 Lucas Ocampos CF 28 Valère Germain Substitutes:GK 16 Yohann PeléDF 2 Hiroki SakaiDF 6 RolandoMF 4 Boubacar KamaraMF 27 Maxime Lopez FW 11 Kostas Mitroglou FW 14 Clinton N'Jie Manager: Rudi Garcia GK 13 Jan OblakRB 16 Šime Vrsaljko CB 24 José GiménezCB 2 Diego GodínLB 19 Lucas Hernandez RM 11 Ángel Correa CM 14 Gabi (c)CM 8 Saúl ÑíguezLM 6 KokeCF 7 Antoine Griezmann CF 18 Diego CostaSubstitutes:GK 25 Axel WernerDF 3 Filipe LuísDF 15 Stefan SavićDF 20 Juanfran MF 5 Thomas Partey FW 9 Fernando Torres FW 21 Kevin GameiroManager: Germán Burgos

Man of the Match: Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid)

Assistant referees: Sander van Roekel (Netherlands) Erwin Zeinstra (Netherlands) Fourth official: Szymon Marciniak (Poland) Additional assistant referees: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands) Pol van Boekel (Netherlands) Reserve assistant referee: Mario Diks (Netherlands)Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Seven named substitutes, of which up to three may be used.

Statistics

+First halfStatisticMarseilleAtlético MadridGoals scored01Total shots64Shots on target11Saves01Ball possession61%39%Corner kicks00Fouls committed87Offsides01Yellow cards11Red cards00

+Second halfStatisticMarseilleAtlético MadridGoals scored02Total shots68Shots on target13Saves11Ball possession50%50%Corner kicks16Fouls committed102Offsides02Yellow cards21Red cards00

+OverallStatisticMarseilleAtlético MadridGoals scored03Total shots1212Shots on target24Saves12Ball possession56%44%Corner kicks16Fouls committed189Offsides03Yellow cards32Red cards00

See also 2018 UEFA Champions League final 2018 UEFA Super Cup Atlético Madrid in European football Olympique de Marseille in European football 2017–18 Atlético Madrid season 2017–18 Olympique de Marseille season

Notes

References

External links UEFA Europa League (official website) UEFA Europa League history: 2017/18 2018 UEFA Europa League final: Lyon, UEFA.com