While Atletico is seeking to add yet another title to its collection, Fulham has never hoisted a major trophy and has only become a regular in English topflight competition this past decade.

Fulham's only previous appearance in a final ended in defeat in the 1975 FA Cup but players have embraced the underdog tag this season to surprise the likes of Juventus, Hamburg and trophy holder Shakhtar Donetsk.

Manager Roy Hodgson saved the club from relegation from the Premier League just two years ago. Last season, he led Fulham to its record high league finish of seventh place.

After the veteran coach's diligent work on tactics, technique and confidence, a group of relatively unheralded players heads to Hamburg confident of overturning another more illustrious club.

“When we started out, we didn't even think about reaching the final,” Fulham defender Brede Hangeland said. “It was almost a distraction from the league. But the closer you get the more you think about it and I think when we beat Juventus, we started thinking 'why not go all the way?' “I still think it's great just that we got to the final and if we win it it's a bonus. Obviously, we'll try to do our best but the important thing is to go out and enjoy it like a normal game.” And that means once again being a huge underdog.

While Atletico has Uruguay striker Diego Forlan and lauded Argentina forward Sergio Aguero, Fulham has Bobby Zamora — a forward who has yet to play internationally and until this season had never scored more than 13 goals in a season with a topflight club.

“We've been underdogs in every round so we're definitely underdogs in this game,” Fulham midfielder Jonathan Greening said. “You look at Madrid's team and, on paper, everyone would say they should beat us.

“But we've surprised a few teams this year and hopefully we can do it again on Wednesday.” Zamora is among the players whose careers have been turned around by Hodgson and his touch, strength and hugely improved positioning has brought him 21 goals this season — including eight in a Europa League campaign that began back in July.

Zamora is struggling with an Achilles problem but is likely to play at least some part Wednesday unless he is in extreme pain.

“He's massively important for us,” Greening said. “He's been great all year and he bangs goals in for us. His Achilles is responding to treatment, so fingers crossed he'll declare himself fit before the game because we need him.

“If it was me, I'd be wanting to play even if it was a broken leg, so he's desperate to get out there.” Hodgson suggested after Sunday's 4—0 loss at Arsenal in the Premier League's final round that UEFA may consider postponing the final if the ash cloud from the still—erupting Icelandic volcano continued to disrupt airports across Europe.

That would have given Zamora and winger Damien Duff more time to recover from injury, but flights into northern Germany were operating normally Monday morning.

Fulham had to travel to Hamburg by road and ferry last month for its semifinal against the German team.

But Atletico, which oddly has won just two of 14 European matches this season, has its own injury problems.

Goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo out because of a knee injury sustained during Saturday's 1-1 league draw against Racing Santander.

Asenjo, who has been backup to David de Gea for much of the season, is set to have knee surgery Tuesday on the damaged ligament and will almost certainly also miss the Copa del Rey final against Sevilla on May 19.

Atletico was eliminated from the Champions League group stage and has advanced from the past three rounds, including a semifinal against Liverpool, only on away goals.

Meanwhile,  Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli will officiate Wednesday's Europa League final between Atletico Madrid and Fulham in Hamburg.

Rizzoli has handled eight Champions League matches this season, including the quarterfinal return leg between Manchester United and Bayern Munich at Old Trafford.

UEFA says the 39-year-old Rizzoli will be in charge Wednesday alongside fellow Italians Cristiano Copelli, Luca Maggiani and Gianluca Rocchi, who will be the fourth official.

The two additional assistants are Italians Paolo Tagliavento and Andrea De Marco.