Atletico Madrid thrashed fellow Spanish club Athletic Bilbao 3-0 on Wednesday to take home the coveted Europa League trophy for the second time in three seasons.
An Atletico Madrid 1-0 victory over Valencia for a 5-2 aggregate win and a 3-1 Athletic Bilbao conquest over Sporting Lisbon in the semi-final second leg for a 4-3 aggregate on Thursday have set the stage for an all-Spanish May 9 final in Bucharest.
Spain enjoyed a triple triumph Thursday in the Europa League. Athletic Bilbao as drew 2-2 to Germany's Schalke 04 to qualify for the semi finals; Valencia trounced AZ Alkmaar, and Atletico Madrid triumphed over Hanover 96.
Europa League champions Atletico Madrid defied the odds to beat Inter Milan, the Champions League title holders, in the European Super Cup on Friday, denying the Italian club a record fifth trophy this year.
Sevilla won the King’s Cup for the second time in four years on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid. Diego Capel put his side ahead within the first five minutes, while Jesus Navas sealed the vicory with a second goal in stoppage time.
Uruguay striker Diego Forlan (photo left) scored two goals, including an extra-time winner, to give Atletico Madrid a 2-1 win over Fulham in the Europa League final in Hamburg on Wednesday and hand them their first trophy for 14 years.
Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan (pictured) scored in extra time to dash Liverpool's last hopes of a title this season and set up a final clash with Fulham, who fought back from a goal down to beat Hamburg at Craven Cottage.
Liverpool must overturn a one-goal deficit against Atletico Madrid in their Europa League semi-final second leg to set up a final clash against either Fulham or Hamburg.
Atletico Madrid’s Diego Forlan scored the only goal in their first leg clash against Liverpool to defeat the English side 1-0 in the Europa League semi-final. Elsewhere, the Hamburg and Fulham match ended 0-0.
