Atletico won the inaugural Europa League in 2010 after the competition superseded the UEFA Cup and won again in 2012. Real Madrid has knocked off Atletico in the Champions League in each of the last four seasons – the final 2014, 2016, quarter-final 2015 and semi-final 2017. There was no Champions League shortcut for Olympique Marseille. Bastia (78), Bordeaux (96) and Olympique Marseille (99 and 04) have all failed to clear the last hurdle. Winning the Europa League offers Olympique Marseille the best route to next seasons Champions League.

Source: Forbes May 15, 2018 18:22 UTC