Van Bronkhorst speaks!
Jonathan Wilson on a defining moment for Frankfurt (and Rangers)
Time to sign off; I’ll leave you with Sid Lowe’s match report. Thanks for joining me and for all your tweets and emails. Auf wiedersehen!
Rafael Borré stood alone in front of a sea of blue. All that and it came to this. One shot to secure Eintracht Frankfurt’s first European trophy in 42 years. The forward ran up and struck the ball into the net, beyond Allan McGregor, to win a dramatic penalty shootout and send the supporters in white at the other end of the ground wild. Rangers’ fans meanwhile, fell silent for the first time: 50 years they had waited for a European trophy; who knows how much longer they will have to wait for another chance.
A 1-1 draw, a glorious 118th-minute chance, saved by Kevin Trapp, and it had gone to penalties. Aaron Ramsey had been sent on to take one, only to watch it saved by the Eintracht keeper. It had been a crazy ride, and now it was over in the cruellest way. So close, but defeated at the last. A long, hot, wild evening finally turning away from them.
Here are the post-game thoughts of the Rangers manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst: “Of course I’m very disappointed. You play the final, you’re very close – but when you don’t win, you go from high to very low. I’ve had those moments in my career, it hurts. We have to look ahead – it feels difficult now – but we have to get ready for Hearts on Saturday.
“I said to the players, ‘we came so far, we deserved it’. I’m very proud of them; we gave everything, today as well. The emotions are very down, but we have to change that quickly ... we showed today [we deserve to be here], but next year we have to start again. We start from zero, and will work hard to get silverware next season.
Here is the moment Eintracht Frankfurt lifted their first European trophy for 42 years ...
The moment everyone associated with Eintracht Frankfurt has dreamt of! 🏆
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 18, 2022
The Eagles are flying! 🤍#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/9eBooIIFVN
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Imagine no longer – here is some post-game footage. Quite the party at the Deutsche Bank Park tonight.
JAAAAAAAAAAAAAA #SGE #SGEuropa #SGERFC pic.twitter.com/YS3NaiUpAQ
— Christoph Voigt (@Spucktier) May 18, 2022
Sebastian Rode collects the Uefa Cup, joins his teammates on the Uefa standard-issue ceremonial plinth, and hoists the historic trophy high into the air. One can only imagine the scenes back in Frankfurt, where the club’s home ground is packed out with fans.
Frankfurt fans celebrating their equaliser back at the Deutsche Bank Park 👏#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/YMURdSIndw
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 18, 2022
On the other hand, this is ultimately Eintracht Frankfurt’s night – they bounced back from going behind, and were faultless in the penalty shootout. It’s a tough, tough way to lose a major final – but it’s not a lottery.
Eintracht are the first German team to win this trophy since Schalke in 1997, to deliver the club’s biggest night since 1980. They went through the tournament unbeaten, and have earned their place in next season’s Champions League group stages.
A lot of Rangers fans have headed for the exits, but those who remain are applauding the players as they go up to collect their runner-up medals. I really feel for them – they were the better team over the 120 minutes, and had a golden chance to score a winner at the death.
Steven Davis: “It’s a huge disappointment, but at the same time I couldn’t be more proud of the team and the fans for getting here. We know how difficult it is to get here, and we left everything out on the pitch. It’s a sore one to take – but I just want to say thank you to the fans, it’s been an incredible journey. We have another final on Saturday [the Scottish Cup v Hearts] but it’ll take some time to get over.”
“We’re so disappointed to lose like that,” says John Lundstram. “Penalties are a lottery, anyone can miss – but we feel like we’ve let all the fans down, who have come out here to support us. We’re so, so, so heartbroken. I thought we were the ones pushing for the goal in extra time.” He is clearly completely devastated, it’s hard to watch.
“Does this strategy of bringing someone on just to score a penalty in a shootout ever work?” asks Patrick Crumlish. I’m sure it has worked, but it just feels like a bad idea to me, expecting a player to step off the bench in the middle of an epic battle like that.
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers (5-4 on penalties)
Borré steps up – and drills his penalty into the top corner! A roar erupts from the other end of the ground. Eintracht Frankfurt are Europa League champions! Borré has tears in his eyes as his teammates pile on to him by the corner flag. They didn’t put a foot wrong in the shootout – but what a cruel way for Rangers’ dream to come to an end.
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Eintracht Frankfurt 4-4 Rangers: Roofe scores! In off the post, and Rangers stay alive. But Rafael Santos Borré will have the chance to win it for Eintracht ...
Eintracht Frankfurt 4-3 Rangers: Kostic scores! McGregor goes the right way but it’s right in the bottom corner, almost unstoppable – and now Kemar Roofe has to score!
Ramsey misses his penalty!
Eintracht Frankfurt 3-3 Rangers: It’s a poor effort, down the middle and saved by Trapp – and it’s advantage Eintracht ...
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Eintracht Frankfurt 3-3 Rangers: Kamada scores! Kamada belts the ball in off the post ... now it’s Aaron Ramsey’s turn ...
Eintracht Frankfurt 2-3 Rangers: Arfield scores! Scott Arfield is up next ... Trapp goes the right way but can’t get a glove on his effort, whipped into the left corner!
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Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 Rangers: Hrustic scores! The substitute looks nervous, but sends McGregor the wrong way, tucking his effort inside the post!
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 Rangers: Davis scores! Steven Davis steps up and fires into the roof of the net ...
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers: Lenz scores! The centre-back is booed and whistled as he waits, but tucks the ball into the corner.
Penalty shootout
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-1 Rangers: Tavernier scores! No messing from the Gers captain, who grabs the ball, marches down to the spot, takes a one-foot run-up and slots down the middle!
Both managers are on the pitch for a chat with the referee before the penalty shootout. The captains stay for the coin-toss – and Tavernier wins it. The penalties will be taken in front of the Rangers fans, and their team will go first ...
“I hope that late change won’t end up being a Fashion faux pas for Rangers,” honks Peter Oh.
Full time (aet): Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers
We’re going to penalties!
120 mins (ET): Not quite – his effort gets up and over the ball, but lacks the pace to beat Trapp, who saves at his near post! And time is up ...
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119 mins (ET): Now Rangers have a free kick, 20 yards out, to the right of goal. James Tavernier is over it. Is this the moment?
118 mins (ET): WHAT A CHANCE FOR RANGERS! How have they not scored here? Roofe charges down the right, looks up and crosses low for Kent, who will surely tap in ... but Kevin Trapp makes a miraculous save! From the rebound, Davis aims for the top corner, but Jakic gets his head to it and the ball flies a few inches over!
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117 mins (ET): Another change with penalties in mind – here comes Aaron Ramsey! The unfortunate player hauled off is Fashion Sakala, who has only been on since the 74th minute.
116 mins (ET): Both sets of players look absolutely shattered now, and who can blame them? Borna Barisic is hurt and unable to continue – and Kemar Roofe is on to replace him ...
114 mins (ET): At the other end, it’s Jakic’s turn to line up a long-range effort – and this one has the keeper worried as it swerves in the air, zipping just over the bar!
112 mins (ET): Ryan Kent is teed up by Lundstram and has a shot from 30 yards, which is well struck but comfortable enough for Trapp ...
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110 mins (ET): Knauff slaloms in from the right, but slips as he shoots. The ball deflects wide to Kostic, and from the delivery, Kamada goes down under pressure from Bassey. There wasn’t a lot in that, and the referee isn’t interested.
107 mins (ET): At the other end, substitute Hrustic almost makes an immediate impact, dragging his shot just wide of the far post with McGregor on his heels.
106 mins (ET): Straight from the kick-off, Barisic gets forward and strikes at goal, with Trapp awkwardly palming the ball down before collecting.
Extra-time, second half
Here we go. Djibril Sow is off for Eintracht, replaced by Ajdin Hrustic.
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I think the German commentators said that two Frankfurt fans has fallen down from the stand. Do you know anything about this?
— Gitte (@mumShield) May 18, 2022
There has been no mention of this on my feed, but if I hear any news, I will pass it on. Hope anyone involved in the incident is OK.
Half-time in extra-time: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers
We’re fifteen minutes away from a penalty shootout, but the game is stretched enough that a winner doesn’t feel totally implausible either. Don’t go anywhere!
104 mins: To borrow a phrase just used on BT’s commentary, the referee has been consistent – he’s consistently refused to give yellow cards for yellow-card offences.
103 mins (ET): Knauff’s attempted chip through to Hauge bobbles off Bassey’s elbow but even Eintracht’s penalty appeals look tired now. Sakala relieves the pressure well, flicking the ball past Lenz and forcing the defender to drag him down. No booking.
102 mins (ET): Steven Davis runs on to Arfield’s cut back, but his shot from the edge of the area is closed down.
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100 mins (ET): A change for each side as we hit triple figures. N’Dicka is replaced by Christopher Lenz at centre-back, while Van Bronckhorst sends James Sands on. He replaces the goalscorer, Joe Aribo, in a move that suggests a shift to a back three.
99 mins (ET): Kent bursts down the left, but his cross towards Sakala is cleared away and Eintracht break through Knauff. Bassey is there once again, harrying the winger until he fires a hurried shot into the stands.
95 mins (ET): Uh oh, Bassey slips in his own half – and Borré is racing in behind him. He’s one on one, albeit from a narrow angle ... but Bassey somehow hauls himself back, and makes a superb challenge!
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94 mins (ET): N’Dicka fends off Sakala but looks to be limping after doing so – bad news for a Frankfurt backline that is already looking a little patched up.
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93 mins (ET): Arfield shoots from some 25 yards out, his effort well struck but always heading over the bar.
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Extra time: 92 mins Eintracht win a corner – their 10th of the game. Like the nine that came before, they can’t do much with it, and Rangers clear away.
On that subject, here’s Ben Bernards: “All in all a pretty mediocre loan output from Aaron Ramsey at Rangers. Some injuries, of course. Now not even getting on in a European final. I’ll wager he sinks a penalty in the shootout though, having come on in the 105th minute.”
Extra time, first half
Another change for Rangers: Glen Kamara is going off, replaced by Scott Arfield. Still no sign of Aaron Ramsey.
Full time! Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers
Extra time it is, after Rafael Santos Borré cancelled out Joe Aribo’s opener. It remains very much up for grabs; more soon.
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94 mins: Rangers have the ball deep in Frankfurt territory, but their opponents break, a long pass swept wide towards Kostic. Goldson has to get across, and does so, before being clattered by the Serb, who is another player fortunate not to get a booking.
92 mins: We’re into the second minute of five added on. I think we’re going to extra time, folks.
90 mins: Now a half-chance for Rangers as Glen Kamara runs onto the ball in the area – but his nervy effort is blocked comfortably enough. Rode is replaced, with Kristijan Jakic – a regular during Eintracht’s run to the final – coming on for the captain.
89 mins: Sakala gives the ball away in midfield and it’s worked out wide to Kostic, who sets himself and unleashes a cross-shot that evades McGregor’s dive, fizzing beyond Kamada and wide of the far post!
88 mins: Hauge gets free of his marker and tries to play in Borré, but the ball is overhit, much to the forward’s frustration ...
“Steven Gerrard must have been both furiously celebrating that Rangers goal while having an immense amount of sympathy for the unfortunate Tuta,” notes Thomas Stratford. It was very similar to that slip – a full-body air lunge, as if shoved by an invisible hand.
82 mins: Hasebe, usually a midfielder but stationed at centre-back since coming on, gets in another tussle with Sakala, who eventually shoots straight at Trapp from a tight angle.
80 mins: Both sides are just taking a moment, catching their breath after a helter-skelter second half that has featured not one, but two, goals so far.
78 mins: Hasebe slips under pressure from Sakala, but gets a reprieve as the referee blows up for a foul. Why is that half of the field so slippery? And did anyone see Ally McCoist during the break?
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76 mins: Rangers are not quite on the ropes, but they’re in the vicinity as Rode tees up Hauge in the area – but his looping effort from an angle is off target.
Looking at the goal again, it’s hard to work out what Goldson was doing at the near post – he seems to step away from the ball, rather than thunking it into the stand, and that allowed Borré to steal in behind him.
Game 🔛
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 18, 2022
Rafael Borré breaks free in the Rangers area to slam the ball past Allan McGregor!
Nothing the veteran stopper could do about that one. #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/apPKKAe0ul
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73 mins: The first two Rangers changes: Fashion Sakala is on for Wright, with Steven Davis – who played in the 2008 final defeat to Zenit – replacing Ryan Jack.
72 mins: There’s no cooling in the temperature of this match (see what I did there?) with Scott Wright booked after a contretemps with Evan N’Dicka.
Eintracht make a second change, with young Scandinavian talent Jesper Lindstrøm replaced by young Scandivanian talent Jens Petter Hauge.
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“You have to feel for Glasner,” writes Kári Tulunius. “You set up your team to negate the opponent’s attack, it succeeds to a nearly fun-killing degree, and then one of your players falls over for no reason and you’re down 1-0.” He’ll be feeling much better now, as the players take a second cooling break.
It’s Rafael Santos Borré who scores, but the architect is Filip Kostic, who fizzes a terrific low cross from tight on the touchline. The Rangers back line are slow to react, and Borré steals in to sweep home at the near post. Game on!
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GOAL! Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers (Borré 69')
They had looked short of inspiration, but in a flash, Eintracht Frankfurt are level!
Here is a clip of the opening goal – with apologies if you aren’t able to view it in your location:
ARIBO IS IN, AND HE SCORES! ⚽️
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 18, 2022
Rangers lead in the Europa League final and the travelling Glaswegians go wild! 🔥
Lift-off for Gio's men!#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/wdDdTMSAI8
66 mins: A big chance for Kamada, who benefits from a defensive slip at the other end – but tries to lift the ball over McGregor, landing it on the roof of the net!
Initital reports suggested there had not been much trouble in Seville – but this footage shows there was at least one pre-game scuffle, with rival fans throwing chairs:
61 mins: The Rangers fans, nervy and quiet since half-time, are now in full-on party mode as Touré gets treatment for a head injury. That came from a clash with Aribo, for which the Rangers forward is booked.
59 mins: Tuta has gone off – possibly due to embarrassment – replaced by Makoto Hasebe, which will likely lead to a change of shape. Eintracht almost level straight away, Lindstrom’s shot chested clear by Bassey – there’s more big appeals for a penalty, but this time they are unwarranted.
It has come out of nothing – Trapp’s clearance is headed forward by Goldson and then flicked back by Sow – but as Tuta moves to control the ball, he trips himself up, and suddenly Joe Aribo is in on goal! He takes a touch, opens his body up – and fires low beyond Trapp. Behind him, the Rangers fans go absolutely wild, and understandably so!
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GOAL! Eintracht Frankfurt 0-1 Rangers (Aribo 56')
We have a goal! Repeat, we have a goal ... and it’s Rangers who take the lead!
55 mins: ... and Rangers get a clear sight on goal at the other end, Aribo teeing up Ryan Kent – but he blazes his shot high and wide!
54 mins: Replays show Goldson doesn’t get the ball, and makes contact with Borré – but there’s no overrule from VAR. I think that’s a penalty. Rangers may have got away with one there ...
52 mins: Borré breaks into space beyond Goldson, who tries to toe-poke the ball behind but appears to clip the Colombian, who goes down in the area! But the referee points only for a corner ...
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50 mins: Kamada, yet to really impose himself on the game, is flagged offside. Rangers move upfield, Aribo linking up with Lundstram, but his pass towards Tavernier is overhit.
48 mins: Frankfurt are pushing hard for an opener now, and they go mighty close as Lindstrom turns and shoots. His effort clips Kamara’s heels and flies just wide of the post, with McGregor wrong-footed by the deflection.
47 mins: Those resourceful Frankfurt fans managed to set off a load of red flares, filling one end of the stadium with smoke. There’s also a couple of crafty banners unfurled – one of which appears to say “eff Uefa”. It’s quickly pulled down by a watching steward.
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46 mins: Knauff cruises down the right flank, but his cross is cut out, and Rangers clear the corner.
We go again
Both sides head up the steps and back on to the pitch for the second half. No changes from either manager, and in this half, both teams are playing towards their own fans.
What happened to running tracks round pitches @niallmcveigh? The fans in Seville look closer to the players than coaching staff at most grounds.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) May 18, 2022
Long-distance runs to celebrate with fans would be a treat in the VAR age. Which gives me an excuse to share this gem from the A-League.
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“One of the worst finals you’ll ever see,” fumes John Ryan. “We could be here till next Wednesday waiting for a goal.”
Ah c’mon now, it’s not been that bad – but having sat through Arbroath v Inverness last Friday, and then the (admittedly entertaining) FA Cup final, I’m starting to forget that goals are actually possible in open play.
Half time! Eintracht Frankfurt 0-0 Rangers
It’s been intriguing, if not electrifying, with both teams feeling each other out. Eintracht have had the better chances, but Rangers have steadied after a shaky start. It’s still very much up for grabs.
50 mins: Frankfurt win a late corner, but Rangers do enough to clear it away. And that’s your lot for this half ...
48 mins: Lundstram is now further forward, joining Jack and Kamara in midfield. Knauff tries to wriggle free down the right flank, but Barisic sees him off with a well-timed tackle.
47 mins: Ryan Jack has a go from the edge of the area, and it’s a decent effort, arrowed towards the far corner but ultimately dipping too late.
45 mins: There will be six added minutes, after that long spell of treatment required for Rode early on.
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44 mins: Bassey stoops to head a corner clear, narrowly avoiding contact with a high boot as he does so.
43 mins: Tavernier loses the ball and drags back Kostic – but the easy-going man in the middle, Slavko Vincic, keeps his yellow card in his pocket.
42 mins: Barisic plays the ball into Aribo’s feet, and he tumbles over on the edge of the area. The referee waves his appeals away, and replays show he muscled in on Tuta before going over, the centre-back not doing much more than standing still.
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39 mins: Rangers have grown into the game in the last 10 minutes, and Tavernier has another chance to whip in a free kick - but it drifts beyond Lundstram at the far post. They keep the ball and move it around midfield, to whistles from the wall of white ahead of them.
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37 mins: Bassey is pulled back by Lindstrom, ending a brief spell of Frankfurt pressure. Rangers move back upfield, and Wright’s low cross is cleared away.
35 mins: Barisic with the ball in from the left, which loops onto the head of Lundstram. It’s an awkward chance but he gets it on target, forcing Kevin Trapp to tip over the bar. The corner comes to nothing, Tavernier penalised for lunging in on Kostic.
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34 mins: Rangers push up, pressing Evan N’Dicka and forcing the defender to concede a corner. Nothing comes from it initially, but Ryan Kent collects the ball and slaloms past Sow, who drags him down. Another set-piece opportunity ...
“Sebastian Rode might end the night not only with a medal but a nice head scar that he can tell his grandchildren was earned against the hard men of Glasgow,” writes Justin Kavanagh of John Lundstram’s early challenge, a textbook example of the ‘Glasgow press’.
31 mins: Kostic has a go from distance, his effort pinging the side netting. Moments later, he pounces on a weak Tavernier header and races fully 70 yards downfield – but drags his shot wide of the far post.
29 mins: Eintracht win a free-kick, and Kostic’s delivery puts Bassey in a tight spot. The centre-back bundles behind at the far post with two players in white closing him down. From the corner, Lindstrom’s half-volley skids through a crowd but eventually hits Kamada, who is offside.
27 mins: Time for a much-needed cooling break on a hot, humid night in Seville. Mine’s a Sprite.
25 mins: Joe Aribo goes close for Rangers! More impressive work from Wright, who picks out the forward with a pass before being cleaned out by N’Dicka. The referee plays advantage, and Aribo curls his effort a yard wide of the far post. N’Dicka, somewhat improbably, doesn’t appear to have been booked.
“Never seen someone take as long to decide which way to kick as Tavernier did there,” says Dan Christmas of the coin-toss. The Rangers captain did make the right call in the end, I think – they will play towards their fans in the second half.
22 mins: Sow has a sight of goal from 25 yards, but fires well over. Rangers just need to stem the tide here – they’re struggling to do much outside their own half.
20 mins: Big save from McGregor! It’s one he would expect to make, but he did well to spring across and turn Knauff’s near-post shot wide. From the corner, Lindstrom’s shot ricochets into the side netting. Frankfurt in the ascendancy here ...
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18 mins: After Lindstrom makes a foray down the left, Rangers break and Wright tries to prod through the high back line – but Aribo is offside.
16 mins: In addition to the managers, there’s quite a contrast between the fans. The Rangers contingent started off louder, but Frankfurt’s ultras have counter-pressed in organised fashion and are making most of the noise now. Decked out in white caps, white shirts and black and white scarves, they look like a monochrome edition of Where’s Wally.
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“I’ve been thinking about the two managers,” writes Kári Tulunius. “On the one hand there’s Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who has the glittering career, youthful good looks, and name, of a 500-year-old vampire count, a player who scored one of the classic World Cup semifinal goals.
“On the other there’s Oliver Glasner, who played almost his entire career for a local, small-town club, SV Ried, and won a couple of Austrian Cups. They were born a year apart, and couldn’t have had more different playing careers, but now they’ve led two fine old institutions to their biggest match in generations.”
13 mins: Rangers are lined up in similar fashion to their semi-final against Leipzig, with Lundstram dropping into a back three, Jack and Kamara in central midfield, and Kent and Wright operating either side of Aribo.
11 mins: The first opening of the game comes Frankfurt’s way, as Glen Kamara is dispossessed. Kamada finds space to the left of goal, but delays his shot, allowing Lundstram to get back before McGregor saves from a narrow angle. Sow has a go from distance, but big Al is right behind it.
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9 mins: It’s been a combative start, with Aribo going down in the area to no avail, before Djibril Sow is penalised for a foul in midfield ...
7 mins: Rode requires extensive bandaging as the VAR official reviews the footage. There is no booking for Lundstram, which is a little fortunate – even if his foot was not outrageously high.
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5 mins: Eek, this is a nasty moment early on as John Lundstram’s high boot connects with Sebastian Rode. It looked purely accidental, but as Rode stooped to head away, Lundstram clipped his head – and the Frankfurt captain is down with a cut on his forehead.
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4 mins: Wright turns and slots a tidy pass into Aribo’s path, but he is cut off quickly by Tuta. From the throw-in, Tavernier has a chance to cross, but overhits his effort.
2 mins: Frankfurt start on the front foot, Knauff pinging in a cross from deep. Calvin Bassey gets in a block to end the game’s first attacking move.
Kick-off
The referee, Slovenia’s Slavko Vincic, blows his whistle. Here we go!
Both teams are out on the pitch – Rangers in blue, Eintracht in all-white. Players collectively take the knee, greeted by applause from around the ground. It’s time ...
Harriet Osborn will be keeping an eye on Filip Kostic: “I’m always impressed when I watch him play.” The Serbian wing-back will be a big threat down the left; James Tavernier has a big job on his hands to keep him quiet.
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The stands are full now, with the blue of Rangers edging the white of Frankfurt slightly - maybe 60-40. It’s already noisy, just wait for kick-off.
“With no Scots blood and living a short lorry-queue from the English Channel, I’m still up for Rangers tonight. Big Vase! Best story since Fulham,” says Nick Major.
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Giovanni van Bronckhorst gives his pre-game thoughts: “We prepared well, the boys look sharp and ready for the game. I was quite clear how to set up when I watched Frankfurt – it’s a great game, a great atmosphere, and we’re finally here!”
“The fans will give us a lot of energy, the more [here] the better. We haven’t prepared differently to other games, we keep to a routine. The pressure is there, we are one step from the prize, but we are focused on the game and ready to go.”
In goal for Rangers tonight, the one and only Allan McGregor. He joins Dino Zoff and Edwin van der Sar in an exclusive club – the only 40-year-olds to play in a major men’s European final. Ewan Murray had a chat with him earlier in the week:
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Today’s Fiver is all about the fun and games in Seville:
How are the nerves, lads?
Rangers players soak up the atmosphere 😎@RangersFC | #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/oAFBWqKGkr
— #UELfinal (@EuropaLeague) May 18, 2022
Gio van Bronckhorst has given Scott Wright the nod for tonight’s big game, with Kemar Roofe and Aaron Ramsey on the bench. It’s expected that Wright and Ryan Kent will operate either side of Aribo in a front three.
As for Eintracht Frankfurt, Oliver Glasner has stuck with the system that got them here, with Jesper Lindstrøm fit enough to slot in alongside Kamada, behind centre-forward Rafael Santos Borré. Martin Hinteregger is out injured, with Evan N’Dicka coming into the back three.
Joe Aribo leads the line for Rangers with Alfredo Morelos injured; it’s a proud day for Kinetic Foundation, the Croydon academy that helped Aribo build his professional career.
Fans of both sides are starting to take their seats inside the stadium, with kick-off just over an hour away.
The teams are in!
Eintracht Frankfurt (3-4-2-1): Trapp; Tuta, Touré, N’Dicka; Knauff, Rode (c), Sow, Kostic; Lindstrøm, Kamada; Borré.
Subs: Grahl, Jakic, Hrustic, Lammers, Hasebe, Ache, Chandler, Hauge, Da Costa, Lenz, Barkok, Paciência.
Rangers (4-3-3): McGregor; Tavernier (c), Goldson, Bassey, Barisic; Jack, Lundstram, Kamara; Kent, Aribo, Wright.
Subs: McCrorie, McLaughlin, Diallo, Davis, Ramsey, Sands, Roofe, Balogun, Sakala, Arfield, Lowry, King.
Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)
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Jacob Steinberg offers a tactical lowdown on Eintracht Frankfurt. Much like Rangers, the Bundesliga side have swept to the final by playing a reactive style that relies on wing-backs pushing upfield. Kamada aside, they may lack a little individual flair but as a hard-working, well-drilled collective, they add up to more than the sum of the part. Again, a lot like tonight’s opponents.
The road to Seville
When the Europa League group stages began in September, Eintracht were 25-1 to lift the trophy. Rangers, 50-1 outsiders, had begun their campaign in August. After an unconvincing 1-0 aggregate playoff win over Armenia’s Alashkert, they began their group campaign with defeats to Lyon and Sparta Prague.
Four points from two games against Brøndby got Rangers back on track before Steven Gerrard’s untimely departure. Giovanni van Bronckhorst stepped in to secure a knockout place with a 2-0 win over Sparta, only for the draw to pair them with Borussia Dortmund.
Travelling in hope rather than expectation, Rangers produced one of their best ever European displays to win 4-2 in Dortmund, and held on for a draw at home. Red Star Belgrade were defeated by an early onslaught at Ibrox, before a first-leg deficit to Braga in the quarter-finals was overturned in Glasgow in extra time.
Another Bundesliga side lay in wait in the last four, and after conceding a late goal in Leipzig, Rangers enjoyed another famous European night at home, with John Lundstram’s strike sealing a 3-2 aggregate win as Ibrox was shaken to its foundations.
Eintracht rolled through a tough-looking group, going through as unbeaten group winners and avoiding the playoff round. Their knockout campaign began in Seville with a 2-1 win over Betis, before meeting another Spanish side in tournament favourites Barcelona.
After Barça picked up a 1-1 draw in Germany, few expected Frankfurt’s run to continue – but they raced into a 3-0 lead at Camp Nou, backed by thousands of away fans. In the semi-finals, West Ham awaited – and Daichi Kamada’s fifth goal of the tournament sent them on their way to the final.
With so many rival supporters congregating in Seville, there have been concerns about fan trouble – but as Football Weekly regular Archie Rhind-Tutt reports, the atmosphere has generally been very cordial so far:
Made it through the heat to the Sanchez Pizjuan ahead of tonight aaaand guess what? The fans are mixing and enjoying themselves. Report on what I’ve seen and heard in Seville so far. 🥵🥳 pic.twitter.com/NCsUrWoQGP
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) May 18, 2022
Jonathan Wilson is in Seville, soaking up the atmosphere as thousands of fans fly in from Frankfurt and Glasgow. It’s extremely warm in southern Spain today – 35 degrees – so let’s hope everyone packed the sunscreen.
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Preamble
In the modern European football landscape of superclubs, tiered formats and clandestine coefficient chat, tonight offers an oasis. This final feels like a throwback to the continental classics of yore – two giant clubs with fervent fan bases making an unexpected return to the top table.
In the blue corner: Rangers, who lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972 before a long list of near misses, culminating in defeat to Zenit in the ill-fated 2008 Uefa Cup final. In the disastrous years that followed, Berwick Rangers was as close to a European away-day as they got. Few fans thought days like this would come again so soon.
In the red (black and white) corner: Eintracht Frankfurt, a side on the sharp end of one of the European Cup’s most famous scorelines. They also have one big continental pot in the cabinet – the 1980 Uefa Cup – but the years of turbulence since their heyday have earned them their “moody Diva” nickname.
Decades after their paths first crossed as pioneers in European football, the two sides meet again in Seville. The prize on offer for both is a second major European trophy – an opportunity that might not come again for another generation. Plus a place in the Champions League group stage next season; modern football still has its perks.
Kick-off at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán is 9pm local, 8pm BST.
