# 2017–18 UEFA Europa League
The 2017–18 [UEFA Europa League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-europa-league) was the ninth edition of UEFA's second-tier club competition under its current name, won by [Atlético Madrid](https://www.edgepedia.org/atletico-madrid), who beat [Olympique de Marseille](https://www.edgepedia.org/olympique-de-marseille) 3-0 in the final at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon on 16 May 2018.[1](https://athlet.org/football/europa-league/2017-2018/finals/final) The tournament opened on 29 June 2017 with a first qualifying round match between Armenia's Shirak and Slovenia's Gorica, whose Bosnian player Kapic scored the competition's first goal.[2](https://as.com/futbol/2018/05/16/uefa/1526430225_242994.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Champions | Atlético Madrid, beating Marseille 3-0 in the Lyon final (halftime 1-0)[1](https://athlet.org/football/europa-league/2017-2018/finals/final) |
| Scale | 190 participating teams, 472 matches, 1,215 goals[2](https://as.com/futbol/2018/05/16/uefa/1526430225_242994.html) |
| Top scorer | Ciro Immobile and Aritz Aduriz, 8 goals each[2](https://as.com/futbol/2018/05/16/uefa/1526430225_242994.html) • [15](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98d187491f-82d9601d5450-1000--2017-18-griezmann-inspires-atletico-to-glory/) |
| Final scorers | Antoine Griezmann twice, then Gabi late on[3](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98ccf1cec2-0418a5d239cc-1000/) |
| Prize money | €428.1m shared by 56 clubs; winners €6.5m, runners-up €3.5m[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/024a-0e9929415413-e2bd83398da2-1000--2017-18-uefa-europa-league-financial-distribution/) |
| Final venue | Stade de Lyon (Parc OL), capacity 56,500, 10 km east of Lyon[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98c298b3d9-e3234be6af4d-1000--all-you-need-to-know-uefa-europa-league-final/) |
| Final referee | Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98c298b3d9-e3234be6af4d-1000--all-you-need-to-know-uefa-europa-league-final/) |
## Format and entry
The group stage contained 48 teams, of which 32 came through qualifying and 16 were directly assured of places.[6](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/023c-0e97872dab5d-245998897f3a-1000--the-2017-18-europa-league-group-stage-as-it-stands/) Because the 2016/17 winners, Manchester United, qualified for the Champions League group stage instead, the automatic group-stage berth reserved for the Europa League titleholder passed to the Cup winner of the association ranked 13th in the access list.[6](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/023c-0e97872dab5d-245998897f3a-1000--the-2017-18-europa-league-group-stage-as-it-stands/) Direct entrants included Arsenal (coefficient 105.192), Zenit, Lyon, Dynamo Kyiv, Villarreal, Athletic Club, Lazio, and [AC Milan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ac-milan).[6](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/023c-0e97872dab5d-245998897f3a-1000--the-2017-18-europa-league-group-stage-as-it-stands/)
From 2018/19 the entry system was overhauled: 17 teams would gain direct group-stage entry, ten teams would transfer directly from the Champions League play-offs and third qualifying round, and every team eliminated in Champions League qualifying would receive a second chance in the Europa League.[7](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0242-0e16a85014cb-5ffe48223b95-1000--champions-league-and-europa-league-changes-next-season/) The 2017/18 season was the last under the previous access structure.
## Atlético's route
Atlético began the competition in February, after finishing third in their Champions League group, while Marseille's campaign had started the previous July in the third qualifying round.[8](https://fr.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Publications/uefaorg/General/02/56/86/71/2568671_DOWNLOAD.pdf) [Marseille](https://www.edgepedia.org/marseille) played 18 matches from 27 July to reach the final, eliminating Braga, Athletic Club, RB Leipzig, and Salzburg along the way.[9](https://as.com/futbol/2018/05/16/uefa/1526422990_552188.html)
The semifinals paired Atlético with Arsenal. The first leg in London ended 1-1 after an extraordinary opening: [Šime Vrsaljko](https://www.edgepedia.org/sime-vrsaljko) was sent off in the ninth minute, the earliest dismissal of an Atlético player in European competition, after two yellow cards, and coach [Diego Simeone](https://www.edgepedia.org/diego-simeone) was dismissed in the 12th minute by referee Clément Turpin.[10](https://as.com/futbol/champions/el-atletico-ya-tumbo-al-arsenal-en-2018-f202604-n/) Atlético survived with ten men and completed the job in the return leg.[10](https://as.com/futbol/champions/el-atletico-ya-tumbo-al-arsenal-en-2018-f202604-n/)
## The final
Marseille were the nominal home team by administrative draw, and the match was played on Wednesday 16 May with a 20:45 CET kick-off.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98c298b3d9-e3234be6af4d-1000--all-you-need-to-know-uefa-europa-league-final/) Dutch referee Björn Kuipers, 45, officiated; he had also taken the 2013 Europa League final between Chelsea and Benfica and the 2014 Champions League final.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98c298b3d9-e3234be6af4d-1000--all-you-need-to-know-uefa-europa-league-final/)
[Antoine Griezmann](https://www.edgepedia.org/antoine-griezmann) decided the match, scoring in each half, both times finishing one-on-one against goalkeeper [Steve Mandanda](https://www.edgepedia.org/steve-mandanda) after assists from Gabi and Koke.[11](https://as.com/futbol/2018/05/17/uefa/1526570284_275236.html) Gabi added a late third goal, his first for Atlético since August 2015 and his first in UEFA club competition since 2011; at 34 he became the oldest player to score in a UEFA Europa League final.[3](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98ccf1cec2-0418a5d239cc-1000/) Griezmann had scored in every knockout round before the final, against Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sporting CP, and Arsenal.[11](https://as.com/futbol/2018/05/17/uefa/1526570284_275236.html)
The title was Atlético's third in the UEFA Cup/Europa League era, after 2010 and 2012, equaling the three titles of Juventus, Inter Milan, and Liverpool in the competition's history; only Sevilla, with five, had won it more often.[2](https://as.com/futbol/2018/05/16/uefa/1526430225_242994.html) For Marseille it was a third UEFA Cup/Europa League final defeat, following losses in 1999 to Parma and 2004 to Valencia, and their first European final since 2004.[3](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98ccf1cec2-0418a5d239cc-1000/) • [12](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/european/europa-league-final-marseille-atletico-madrid-turned-luck-around-preview-a8352226.html) It was Atlético's fifth European final of the decade and Marseille's first since 2004.[13](https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Publications/uefaorg/General/02/56/86/70/2568670_DOWNLOAD.pdf)
## Money and rewards
UEFA distributed more than €428.1m to the 56 clubs that played in the 2017/18 group stage or knockout phase, up from over €423.1m in 2016/17.[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/024a-0e9929415413-e2bd83398da2-1000--2017-18-uefa-europa-league-financial-distribution/) Fixed payments included €2.6m for group-stage participation, €360,000 per group win, €600,000 for each group winner, €500,000 for reaching the round of 32, €750,000 for the round of 16, €1m for quarter-finalists, €1.6m for semi-finalists, €6.5m for winners Atlético, and €3.5m for runners-up Marseille; the remaining 40 percent of central revenue was allocated by the commercial value of each national TV market.[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/024a-0e9929415413-e2bd83398da2-1000--2017-18-uefa-europa-league-financial-distribution/) The total included a €28m surplus redistributed to group-stage clubs in proportion to their season earnings.[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/024a-0e9929415413-e2bd83398da2-1000--2017-18-uefa-europa-league-financial-distribution/) The winner also received a place in the following season's Champions League group stage, and the trophy itself, at 15 kg, is the heaviest of all UEFA silverware.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98c298b3d9-e3234be6af4d-1000--all-you-need-to-know-uefa-europa-league-final/)
## Aftermath
Days after the final, Griezmann was widely expected to join Barcelona, who could activate his €100m release clause, a figure the reporting described as below market value for a player rated among the world's top five over recent seasons.[14](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/atletico-madrid-europa-league-antoine-griezmann-transfer-barcelona-fernando-torres-diego-simeone-a8356071.html) The final also closed a chapter for Marseille, whose run to Lyon had been built under new owner [Frank McCourt](https://www.edgepedia.org/frank-mccourt), sports director [Andoni Zubizarreta](https://www.edgepedia.org/andoni-zubizarreta), and coach Rudi García, with [Dimitri Payet](https://www.edgepedia.org/dimitri-payet) contributing 3 goals and 7 assists in the competition.[9](https://as.com/futbol/2018/05/16/uefa/1526422990_552188.html)
## References
1. [Europa League 2017-18 Final, Athlet.org](https://athlet.org/football/europa-league/2017-2018/finals/final)
2. [El Atlético de Madrid juega su decimotercera final europea, AS.com](https://as.com/futbol/2018/05/16/uefa/1526430225_242994.html)
3. [Griezmann inspires Atlético to Europa League glory, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98ccf1cec2-0418a5d239cc-1000/)
4. [2017/18 UEFA Europa League financial distribution, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/024a-0e9929415413-e2bd83398da2-1000--2017-18-uefa-europa-league-financial-distribution/)
5. [All you need to know: UEFA Europa League final, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98c298b3d9-e3234be6af4d-1000--all-you-need-to-know-uefa-europa-league-final/)
6. [The 2017/18 Europa League group stage as it stands, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/023c-0e97872dab5d-245998897f3a-1000--the-2017-18-europa-league-group-stage-as-it-stands/)
7. [Champions League and Europa League changes next season, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0242-0e16a85014cb-5ffe48223b95-1000--champions-league-and-europa-league-changes-next-season/)
8. [Rapport technique de l'UEFA Europa League 2017/18, UEFA.com](https://fr.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Publications/uefaorg/General/02/56/86/71/2568671_DOWNLOAD.pdf)
9. [Atlético, Lyon te debe una copa, AS.com](https://as.com/futbol/2018/05/16/uefa/1526422990_552188.html)
10. [El Atlético ya tumbó al Arsenal en 2018, AS.com](https://as.com/futbol/champions/el-atletico-ya-tumbo-al-arsenal-en-2018-f202604-n/)
11. [Griezmann, con Falcao y Forlán entre los dobletes históricos, AS.com](https://as.com/futbol/2018/05/17/uefa/1526570284_275236.html)
12. [True grit: How Marseille turned their luck around to reach the Europa League final, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/european/europa-league-final-marseille-atletico-madrid-turned-luck-around-preview-a8352226.html)
13. [2017/18 UEFA Europa League technical report, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Publications/uefaorg/General/02/56/86/70/2568670_DOWNLOAD.pdf)
14. [Atletico Madrid's Europa League win is both a new beginning and a fitting end, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/atletico-madrid-europa-league-antoine-griezmann-transfer-barcelona-fernando-torres-diego-simeone-a8356071.html)
15. [0245 0e98d187491f 82d9601d5450 1000 2017 18 Griezmann Inspires Atletico to Glory, uefa.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0245-0e98d187491f-82d9601d5450-1000--2017-18-griezmann-inspires-atletico-to-glory/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Competitions and recurring events › UEFA competitions › UEFA club competitions › UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license