After all Champions League final participants have been determined, it is time to clarify which two teams will advance to the Europa League final.
Without a doubt, just like last week, the biggest hype surrounds London's "Arsenal" and Madrid's "Atletico". The teams will face off in Madrid at 22:05.
It is clear that "Atletico" will play in the Champions League next season, but the struggling "Arsenal" has only one option to qualify for the strongest league in the Old Continent. The "Gunners" need to win the Europa League.
There is also a big incentive for this, as after 22 years Arsene Wenger is retiring from the coach's position.
Path to the semi-finals
Arsenal started the season in the Europa League and topped the group stage, leaving behind Belgrade's "Red Star", "Cologne" and BATE. In the first knockout stage, Arsenal faced the Swedish team "Ostersund".
In the first match, a victory was won 3-0, but in the second match the English team lost 1-2.
Arsenal had an easier time in the quarter-finals than expected. Facing "AC Milan", the "Gunners" won the first match 2-0, and the second match 3-1.
Arsenal faced few problems in the quarter-finals. In the first match,"Arsenal" beat Moscow's CSKA 4-1, while in a closely contested second leg, they played to a 2-2 draw.
Meanwhile, "Atletico" started the season in the Champions League and finished third, dropping down to the Europa League. "Atletico" fell behind "Roma" and London's "Chelsea".
In the first round, "Atletico" easily beat "Copenhagen" with an aggregate score of 5-1.
In the quarter-finals, the Madrid team had some difficulties. In the first leg, they won 2-0 against "Sporting", but lost the return leg 0-1. Nevertheless, they advanced to the next stage.
First match
The teams in London played defensively, a result that did not satisfy the "Arsenal" team. Despite playing with ten men from the 10th minute, "Atletico" was unable to capitalize while Arsenal failed to expand their lead.
Antoine Griezmann's goal in the closing minutes proved decisive. After the match, Arsene Wenger stated that it was a very poor result and the chances in Madrid had diminished.
Teams' results
Arsenal came into the first leg after a solid 4-1 victory against "West Ham". However, following the draw with "Atletico", they suffered a defeat in the "Premier League". The London team lost 1-2 to "Manchester United".
Meanwhile, "Atletico" entered the first leg after a 0-3 loss to "Real Sociedad" and a goalless draw with "Real Betis". However, last weekend they bounced back with a 1-0 victory over "Alaves".
Teams' news
There are no new injuries among the ranks of Arsenal. Henrikh Mkhitaryan missed the first leg due to a knee injury, but he played against "Man Utd" last weekend.
Alex Iwobi picked up an injury in the weekend match, but still traveled to Madrid. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ineligible to play due to Europa League regulations, while Mohamed Elneny and Santi Cazorla are still sidelined with injuries.
Diego Costa is expected to be available again for Atletico. The striker did not play in London as he had recently recovered from a thigh injury. However, D. Costa played in "La Liga" last weekend.
Defender Filipe Luis has been included in the squad and could make his first appearance since March when he broke his leg. However, it is clear that he will not start as Diego Simeone confirmed that the defender is not ready to play 90 minutes.
Predicted starting line-ups
Atletico: Oblak; Hernandez, Godin, Jiminez, Savic; Koke, Correa, Partey; Gameiro, Griezmann, Costa.
Arsenal: Ospina; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal; Xhaka, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Mkhitaryan; Lacazette.
Interesting facts
Arsenal has not won in Spain in six attempts, having suffered two defeats and played four draws. The last time Arsenal secured a victory in Spain was in February 2006 when they beat "Real Madrid" in the Champions League.
The last two times Arsenal played a draw in the first leg of a semi-final match in European tournaments, they progressed to the final and became champions.
However, the last five times a team reached the European tournament semi-final away and played a draw, they always advanced to the final.
In the last 17 matches at home in European tournaments, Atletico lost only once and played to a draw only three times. However, that defeat was against another English team - Chelsea.
This will be Arsene Wenger's third final in European tournaments with Arsenal. In 2000, Arsenal played in the UEFA Cup final, and in 2006, they were in the Champions League final. However, on both occasions, the London team lost the final match.
