Atletico bid to erase pain of finals past in Marseille

After painful defeats in recent continental finals, Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid are determined to justify their status as favourites in Wednesday's Europa League showpiece against Marseille in Lyon.

Atletico lost in extra time to Real Madrid in the Champions League final of 2014, having been seconds away from victory in 90 minutes, and then lost on penalties to their city rivals in the final of the same competition two years later.

An exit from this season's Champions League in the group stage came as a big surprise for a formidable side spearheaded by Antoine Griezmann in attack, but they have put that behind them to close on glory in Europe's less prestigious competition.

Atletico are looking to win the Europa League for the third time in nine seasons, after triumphing in 2010 and again in 2012, shortly after 'Cholo' Simeone was appointed coach. "We can't wait for the final to come around," full-back Juanfran told Radio Marca as Atletico target a first trophy since 2014, when they won La Liga.

"With 'Cholo' lots of things have changed at Atletico. Everything we have experienced in these last few years we will remember forever. I hope we can get another little medal."
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"We know how tough it is. Of course, that's an added source of motivation, and if we do win the final, our names will be written into the club's history books forever."