This week sees the first of the two big UEFA finals taking place as Atletico 
Madrid make the short journey to Lyon in France where they will take on Olympique Marseille in the final of the Europa League.
In this article, we are going to bring you a little taster of what is to come by previewing the final and then we will give you our choice of tips for the game, focusing mainly on which team will win, what the correct score of the game will be and which player will likely be the first goalscorer in the contest.
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Regardless of which offer you take, you can then enjoy some outstanding soccer betting over the next few weeks and months with big games such as the FA Cup Final, the Champions League Final, the three Football League Playoff Finals and of course, this summer’s World Cup Finals in Russia all to enjoy.
For now, let’s turn our attention to the Europa League final and preview this most intriguing of matchups.
Europa League Final
- Current Holders – Manchester United
Atletico Madrid v Marseille
- Date – Wednesday 16th May
- Venue – Groupama Stadium, Lyon
- Capacity – 59,186
- Kick Off – 7.45pm
- Referee – Bjorn Kuipers (Netherlands)
- Live? – On BT Sport
How Atletico Reached The Final
This will be Atletico’s fourth final in the past six years in European competition. They began this season in the Champions League Group Stages, but dropped into the Europa League following Christmas after finishing third place in their group, starting their campaign in the Round of 32 stage.
Champions League Group Stage
- V Chelsea – Lost 1-2 at home, Drew 1-1 away
- V AS Roma – Won 2-0 at home, Drew 0-0 away
- V Qarabag – Drew 1-1 at home, Drew 0-0 away
Europa League
- Round of 32 – V Copenhagen – Won 1-0 at home, Won 4-1 away
- Round of 16 – V Lokomotiv Moscow – Won 3-0 at home, Won 5-1 away
- Quarterfinals – V Sporting Lisbon – Won 2-0 at home, Lost 0-1 away
- Semifinals – V Arsenal – Won 1-0 at home, Drew 1-1 away
Star Man in the Europa League – Diego Godin (Dc)
While many of the plaudits may go to the likes of attacking players like Griezmann, Saul or Diego Costa, Atletico’s success under Simeone has been built on a rock solid defence and Godin is the key component of that. The experienced Uruguayan is the rock on which the defence is built and he and his compatriot Giminez form a huge barrier barring the way to Oblak’s goal. No team in the Europa League has scored more than one goal against Atletico thus far this season over two legs.
How will Atletico likely line up?
Atletico will likely play a 4-3-3 formation in the final starting with the very talented Jan Oblak in goal. Three of the back four places are certainties with Lucas Hernandes deputising at left back for the injured Felipe Luis, while Diego Godin and Jose Giminez form a fantastic partnership in central defence.
The only question is at right back where Sime Vrslajko could return from suspension in the second leg of the semi-final, although the talented Ghanaian Thomas Partey could also deputise there as he did in the home leg with Arsenal.
If Partey doesn’t play right back then he will likely play in a three-man central midfield position alongside Saul Niguez and Gabi, although Koke would come in if Partey is moved to the full back role.
Up front, Angel Correa will play a wider left hand side role with Antonio Griezmann playing a right side role flanking Diego Costa in attack, although both wide players can and will drop deeper into midfield to help defend as well as create attacks.
How Marseille Reached The Final
This will be Marseille’s first European final for a good while since they lost the 2004 UEFA Cup Final 2-0 to Valencia. The French side have twice finished as runner up in this tournament (1999 and 2004) and manager Rudi Garcia will be hoping his side can go one better. They began their road to the final in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League in the summer.
Europa League Qualifiers
- V Oostende – Home won 4-2, Away drew 0-0
- V Domzale – Home won 3-0, Away drew 1-1
Europa League Group Stage
- V Konyaspor – Home won 1-0, Away drew 1-1
- V Red Bull Salzburg – Home drew 0-0, Away lost 0-1
- V Vitoria Guimares – Home won 2-1, Away lost 0-1
Marseille finished 2nd in their group behind Salzburg to qualify
Europa League Knockout Stage
- Round of 32 – V Braga – Home won 3-0, Away lost 0-1
- Round of 16 – V Athletic Bilbao – Home won 3-1, Away won 2-1
- Quarterfinals – V Red Bull Leipzig – Home won 5-2, Away lost 0-1
- Semifinals – V Red Bull Salzburg – Home won 2-0, Awat lost 1-2 (after extra time)
Star Man in the Europa League – Dmitri Payet (AMLC)
The ex-West Ham man has been the creative brilliance behind many of Marseille’s top performances in the competition, particularly at home against Atletico Bilbao and also Red Bull Leipzig in the latter stage of this competition. Technically brilliant on the ball Payet has both created goals and scored them to play a huge role in Marseille reaching the final and he is going to be crucial to the French side’s chances of landing a win here.
How will Marseille likely line up?
I expect Rudi Garcia to go with his favoured 4-3-3 formation for this game, although this can at times revert to a more 4-4-1-1 formation when Marseille want to play a bit more defensively. Steve Mandanda is fit again and it is a straight choice between him and Yohan Pele in goal. The back four will likely feature Hiroki Sakai at right back, Rolando and Adil Rami as the two centre halves and Jordan Amavi will likely continue at left back. Luis Gustavo will play as the main defensive midfielder behind Lucas Ocampo and Bouna Sarr, if he is fit. If Sarr is not fit then Maxime Lopez will likely deputise. Payet will play on the right hand side of an attacking midfield role with Florent Thauvin playing just behind their main striker Kostas Mitroglu.
One possible switch could be for Garcia to play a more customary 4-4-2 formation, with Payet and Ocampo the wide midfielders and Thauvin deputising for the injured Sarr, allowing the in-form Valeri Germain to come in and partner Mitroglu up front.
Europa League Final Tips
- Match Winner – Atletico Madrid to win to nil – 29/20 with Coral Sport
In truth, as talented as Marseille’s attack is, I cannot see how they can get a way past Atletico’s superb defence. However, I can see Atletico’s strikers giving Marseille plenty of problems and as such, I think the most sensible bet here is for Atletico Madrid to win and Marseille to not find the net.
- Correct Score – Atletico Madrid to win 2-0 – 6/1 with Coral Sport
As I said in the analysis above, I don’t see Marseille puncturing that Atletico defence and as a result, I see Atletico taking a first half lead in this game and then as Marseille push on to equalise, I think the Spaniards will then hit them on the break to clinch a 2-0 victory.
- First Goalscorer – Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid) – 4/1 with Coral Sport
If Atletico are not going to concede then the first goalscorer will be one of their players and while Griezmann or even Saul Niguez may be the preferred bets here, I think Diego Costa’s record of scoring goals in crucial games cannot be ignored. The fact he is a much better value 4/1 than Griezmann also makes him a great option here.
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