French clubs failed to secure any wins. After Dortmund eliminated PSG in the Champions League semi-final, Olympique de Marseille faced a similar fate in the Europa League. Despite a 1-1 draw at home, Marseille lost 3-0 to Atalanta in Bergamo on May 9.
As a result, Atalanta will compete in their first-ever European final. On May 22 in Dublin, they will face either Bayer Leverkusen or AS Roma.
It could have been a great story for Marseille, especially after the city celebrated the Olympic flame passing through.
However, a few hundred kilometres away, Jean-Louis Gasset’s players couldn’t match the effectiveness of Atalanta. Lookman scored in the first half, Ruggeri added another after halftime, and Touré sealed the win in stoppage time.
For Olympique de Marseille, their European aspirations end here. They need to quickly regroup if they aim to experience similar nights next season. Currently 9th in Ligue 1 with three matches left, they must finish in the top seven to qualify for European competition.