Antoine Griezmann scored twice as
Atletico Madrid swept aside Marseille in Lyon to win the Europa League for the
third time in nine years. France forward Griezmann opened the scoring by
punishing Andre Zambo Anguissa's poor touch to coolly slot home, then casually
dinked in a second. Captain Gabi drilled in the third goal late on as Atletico
again lifted the trophy they also won in 2010 and 2012.
Another success for Diego Simeone
and Atletico, and another success for Spain in the Europa League. Eight of the
past nine winners of European competitions have been Spanish – and Read Madrid
could make it nine out of 10 in Kiev next week.
La Liga has also provided nine
winners of the Europa League in the past 15 years and this was a third in nine
seasons for Atletico, two of them under Simeone. It was not a final that will
live long in the memory. Atletico played as they tend to at their best, holding
their opponents at arm’s length, spoiling when they need to, and winning
comfortably without really seeming to extend themselves.
Atletico
have been one of Europe's most consistent teams in recent seasons, breaking
Barcelona and Real Madrid's stranglehold on La Liga by claiming the title in
2013-14. Second in the Spanish top flight with one match remaining, they are on
course for a top-three finish for the sixth straight season and have appeared
in two Champions League finals in that period, losing on both occasions to city
rivals Real.
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