Frankfurt – Rangers. Surprise guests, Eintracht Frankfurt and Glasgow Rangers face off in a Europa League final that is more open than ever.
A warning of high heat hovers over Seville and not only because the thermometer is racing and a spring heat wave is crushing southern Europe. Beyond the 30 degrees announced at kick-off at 9 p.m., Seville is preparing for a hot night, as Andalusia likes them, a night of fervor. Because at least 130,000 Scots (80,000) and Germans (50,000) invaded the city on the banks of the Guadalquivir to attend the Europa League final between the reborn Glasgow Rangers, back from purgatory 10 years after being thrown into the abyss of the Scottish D4, and on the other Eintracht Frankfurt, in pursuit of vanished greatness. A surprise final between two clubs that have not won anything on the European scene for 50 and 42 years respectively. But a deserved final as everyone demonstrated their qualities throughout this European campaign.
On the one hand, Eintracht Frankfurt crossed the competition without ever failing, in particular offering themselves the scalp of FC Barcelona in the quarter-finals and becoming the third team to reach the final without defeat after Chelsea, two years ago, and Villarreal last year (the two had won the trophy, editor’s note). Only once did the Germans shudder, it was in the round of 16 when Nabil Fekir’s Betis Sevilla pushed him into extra time. Half an hour under high tension at home after which the unfortunate Rodriguez scored against his camp (121st), avoiding the lottery of penalties. In difficulty in the Bundesliga (11th), Frankfurt is betting everything on this competition to still believe in Europe next season and save the present. Passed over the saddle of Red Star Belgrade then, they also had to extricate themselves from a perilous extension against Braga in the quarters before turning the situation around against Leipzig in the semis, showing all the character of James Tarvernier and his teammates . “We are one step away from glory and we want to bring the cup home. We will give our all on the pitch and make everyone proud,” says the Rangers right-back, symbol of his team and top scorer in the competition with his 7 goals.
This last step will certainly be the highest and the hardest to climb but nothing indicates that the two teams will tremble, they who have become accustomed to scoring in each match. “We are going to see two teams who have a similar style of play and who will be carried by their fans. It will be one of the most interesting finals for a long time,” said German goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. His coach is finer in the analysis of the Scottish opponent. “I see Rangers as a mixture of West Ham and Barcelona. The Dutch influence of the coach in their construction game, but with the British mentality. We will have to deliver a great performance”, explained Oliver Glasner. Respect and distrust shared on the bench opposite. “They are very well organized and play in the same system as Leipzig, they are quick on transitions and can be quite dangerous. It will be exciting”, warns Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who succeeded Steven Gerrard on the bench last fall. Rangers. Exciting in more ways than one because in addition to a trophy which the two clubs sorely lack, it is a ticket for the Champions League, its prestige, its challenge and the financial windfall that this represents, which is being played tonight in Seville. Something to heat up the atmosphere even more on the sidelines of this final, which is more open and indecisive than ever.
The Europa League final between Einracht Frankfurt and Glasgow Rangers will take place from 9 p.m. at Sevilla FC’s usual home, Ramon Sanchez-Pizjaun.
The Europa League final between Einracht Frankfurt and Glasgow Rangers will be broadcast live on W9 and Canal Sport.
The Europa League final between Santos Borré’s Einracht Frankfurt and James Tavernier’s Glasgow Rangers will be streamed on the MyCanal platform.
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