Atletico Madrid put the frustration of their early Champions League exit behind them by successful the Europa League for the third time in 2017-18.
Diego Simeone’s males benefited from their switch ban being lifted on the flip of the yr, and with Diego Costa and Vitolo eligible to play, they defeated Arsenal within the semi-final earlier than recording a complete 3-0 victory over Marseille within the remaining. Arsenal made their debut within the competitors for the primary time of their historical past after failing to qualify for the Champions League for the primary time beneath Arsene Wenger, who would depart the membership in the summertime.
CHANGES
Arsenal, Atalanta, Fastav Zlín, 1899 Hoffenheim, İstanbul Başakşehir, Koln, Lugano, Milan, Ostersund, Actual Sociedad, Pink Star Belgrade, Vardar and Vitesse made their Europa League group stage debuts, although Milan and Pink Star had participated within the UEFA Cup group stage beforehand.
AC Milan spent in extra of €185 million within the shut season; in addition to the coup of signing Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus – Andre Silva, Andrea Conti, Lucas Biglia, and Matteo Musacchio have been introduced in, whereas Franck Kessie and Nikola Kalinic have been signed on mortgage with obligations to purchase. Their exuberant spending would ultimately see them punished by Monetary Truthful Play.
SUMMARY
4 groups efficiently progressed via the Europa League group stage with out shedding a match – Zenit, RB Salzburg, AEK Athens, and Atalanta. Atalanta have been probably the most spectacular staff within the group stage, scoring 14 objectives in a gaggle that contained Premier League facet Everton, who have been demolished 5-1 by the Italian outfit.
Inside the group stage, Arsenal and Actual Sociedad recorded the most important victories, defeating BATE and Vardar 6-0 respectively. It was a desperately poor efficiency from the German Bundesliga sides; Hoffenheim, Koln, and Hertha BSC have been all eradicated on the group stage.
The knockouts noticed elite groups drop all the way down to the competitors after being knocked out of the Champions League, together with the likes of Atletico, Dortmund, Napoli, Celtic, and RB Leipzig.
It could be Napoli and Leipzig who would throw up probably the greatest matches of the final 32, because the German facet progressed narrowly 3-3 on away objectives.
Within the final 16, Atletico solidified their favourites tag by destroying Lokomotiv Moscow 8-1 over two legs whereas Arsenal, regardless of struggling a torrid time domestically, gained some respite from their followers after knocking out Milan 5-1 on combination. Elsewhere, RB Salzburg impressively eradicated Dortmund.
The quarter-final stage was probably the most entertaining in historical past, with an unimaginable 31 objectives scored over the 4 two-legged affairs. Salzburg continued to make waves, and on this spherical knocked out Lazio 6-5.
On the enterprise finish of the competitors, the draw threw up Marseille versus Salzburg and Atletico versus Arsenal.
Marseille and Salzburg couldn’t be separated after 180 minutes and penalties seemed inevitable however Rolando made himself a hero for the Ligue 1 facet by scoring within the 116th minute, to clinch victory for the French facet, 3-2.
Arsenal will look upon their semi-final towards Atletico as a missed alternative, because the Gunners handed up quite a few probabilities on the Emirates Stadium, having to accept a 1-1 draw. Within the second leg, the Colchoneros displayed all their expertise, with Diego Costa scoring the clinching purpose.
The ultimate befell at Parc Olympique Lyonnais with Atletico entering into as favourites. Marseille, trying nervous on the again, gifted the Spanish outfit the lead when Franck Zambo Anguissa misplaced possession to Gabi, who threaded a move via for Antoine Griezmann to open the scoring. Issues went from dangerous to worse for Marseille as their inspirational captain, Dimitri Payet, was pressured off with an damage which might additionally see him miss the upcoming World Cup.
Diego Simeone’s males took benefit of Marseille reeling from Payet’s absence, and went on to comfortably win 3-0, with Griezmann getting one other and Gabi scoring in what proved to be his final look as captain of Atletico.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN
Though Atletico didn’t play within the group stage, the Frenchman nonetheless discovered himself simply two objectives behind the highest scorers. His value was proved within the remaining.
TOP GOALSCORER
CIRO IMMOBILE, ARITZ ADURIZ – 8 GOALS
TEAM OF THE SEASON
OBLAK; BONUCCI, GODIN, SARR, LAINER; GABI, BRUNO FERNANDES, SAMASSEKOU; GRIEZMANN, PAYET, IMMOBILE.
GOAL OF THE SEASON
PAYET exchanges a one-two with Thauvin earlier than shifting into the penalty space with a stepover and ending with a beautiful strike with the skin of his proper foot.
KEY MOMENT OF THE SEASON
Payet’s damage within the remaining meant Atletico wanted no encouragement to push on, whereas Marseille have been crestfallen.
