Atletico victory gives France Champions League boost
Atletico Madrid's 3-0 win over Marseille in Wednesday's Europa League final was a sore one for their opponents, but it does mean some good news for French sides ahead of next season's Champions League.
Atletico Madrid’s French forward Antoine Griezmann (C) celebrates with the trophy with his family, (from L-R) his brother Théo Grizemann, his wife Erika Choperana, his baby Mia Griezmann, his father Alain Griezmann and his mother Isabelle Lopes, after the UEFA Europa League final football match between Olympique de Marseille and Club Atletico de Madrid at the Parc OL stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon on May 16, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by FRANCK FIFE has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Atletico Madrid’s French forward Antoine Griezmann] instead of [Atletico Madrid’s Spanish forward Fernando Torres]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.
The winners of the Europa League are awarded direct qualification for next season’s Champions League group stage.
However, with the Spanish club already having secured qualification by virtue of their position in La Liga, that spot now passes onto the club finishing third in France’s Ligue 1.
That position is currently occupied by Lyon, but Marseille are just a point behind them and Monaco could yet drop from second spot, with the final round of matches in France to be played this weekend.
Previously the club finishing third in France’s top flight would have had to come through the third qualifying round and then the play-offs to make the group stage.
As of next season, the top four in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and the German Bundesliga are all guaranteed spots in the Champions League group stage.
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