EINTRACHT Frankfurt are, very much like their opponents Rangers, unexpected Europa League finalists.
The Walstadion club have performed poorly in the Bundesliga this season under their Austrian manager Oliver Glasner and finished 11th in the table.
But in Europe they have been inspired; they went undefeated in the group stages and then beat Real Betis, Barcelona and West Ham in the kncokout rounds.
So how have they got to Seville? What are their strengths? Who are their key players? And how will they approach the game in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
Here, Ron Ulrich, a freelance journalist who works for Hessischer Rundfunk and Der Spiegel, and Ralf Weitbrecht, the sports editor of the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper, give their expert views.
Q: What has the reaction in Germany been to Eintracht reaching the Europa League final? Have Die Adler surprised their countrymen?
RW: In the build-up to the Europa League final, both Eintracht manager Oliver Glasner and goalkeeper Kevin Trapp have stated: "Eintracht have triggered euphoria in Germany - the whole of Germany is now an Eintracht fan." They are correct. The team has gained an incredible amount of support. The national broadcaster RTL will have record ratings this week.
RU: Eintracht have really surprised people in the Europa League. In the Bundesliga there have been some poor performances and they have struggled at home.
But it has maybe been no surprise. Ever since Eintracht reached the Europa League semi-final in 2019, they really celebrate these nights. That is in stark contrast to the likes of Borussia Dortmund or Bayer Leverkusen who view the competition as a downgrade.
Q: Assess the job that Oliver Glasner has done as Eintracht manager. How has he got Frankfurt to the final?
RW: Oliver Glasner has built on what his predecessors Niko Kovac and Adi Hütter started. He lets offensive, refreshing soccer be played. It is vertical rather than horizontal. His teams win 4-3, not 1-0.
It has also been important that Glasner has put his faith in a three-man defensive chain. His 3-4-2-1 system suits Eintracht much better.
On top of that, he is respected among his players because he is hardworking, authentic and honest. He is meticulous individual who is usually the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave in the evening.
RU: Oliver Glasner came in last summer and, early on this season, his side didn’t click. In the autumn, he changed his system from three at the back to four at the back and his team really lacked structure. Europe has changed everything.
He wants his team to break through the lines rapidly with vertical play and without taking too many touches. That is why he has he got quick players like as Ansgar Knauff, Filip Kostic and Jesper Lindström. The team has adapted to his ideas over time.
But the most important thing he has done is instil belief into his players. When they were watching the draw for the Europa League quarter-finals and semi-finals back in March, a lot of the players got up to leave the room after they got Barcelona.
Glasner advised them to stay. He said: ‘Now they are drawing who we will face in the semi-final’. He was confident Eintracht could beat Barça from the very first minute.
Q: What are the strengths of this Eintracht side?
RU: Eintracht are well-known for their physical play. They do not shy away from on-field battles. Thery are dangerous when they break through the lines. They are also famous for scoring in injury-time. They have done it four times in the Bundesliga and three times in the Europa League. That says a lot about their mentality.
Q: Who are Eintracht‘s most important players and why?
RW: The most important player is goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. He is currently as good as he has ever been in his career, perhaps even better than Bayern Munich and Germany mainstay Manuel Neuer. He's a safe backstop whose word carries a lot of weight in the team.
Left-back Evan Ndicka, who has become the most sought-after professional in the Eintracht side, has also made huge strides forward this season. Newcastle United are very interested in him. He may leave after the final. But if Frankfurt win and get into the Champions League he will certainly stay.
The loan deal with Ansgar Knauff and his club Borussia Dortmund was also profitable. Knauff has been the shooting star since he arrived at the end of January.
Jesper Lindström, who was named Bundesliga Rookie of the Year, has also made enormous progress this season.
If he is in the mood, Daichi Kamada is one to watch out for. He is a wonderful reader of the game, very much like the great Bayern and Germany player Thomas Müller. He can be a driving force behind the team, can be something of a genius in fact. He is capable of the unexpected.
RU: Evan N‘Dicka, their French centre half, is one of the best tacklers. Filip Kostic, the Serbian wing back cum winger who plays on the left side, has a laser shot. Djibril Sow, their Swiss midfielder, is the brain of the team. He had a pass accuracy of 97 per cent in the West Ham matches.
Daichi Kamada, their Japanese midfielder, is known by fans as Euro-Daichi because he only scores in European games. His is very much a man for the big stage.
Q: How much of a loss will Martin Hinteregger be for Eintracht?
RW: Hinteregger's loss has hurt Eintracht a lot. He is the undisputed favorite of the fans. His tears, shed three years ago at Stamford Bridge after he missed a penalty in the Europa League semi-final loss against Chelsea, were honest and he received a lot of sympathy.
But everyone can be replaced. Now it is the young Tuta who organises the defence and he has done well.
RU: Martin Hinteregger is the heartbeat of the team. Having said that, he was left on the bench at times earlier the season. Tuta is a more than adequate replacement in the centre of the back three. But Hinteregger is a leader both on and off the pitch and will be missed.
Q: How much of a boost will it be if Jesper Lindstrom is fit?
RU: Lindstrøm is also important. But, again, Jens Petter Hauge, who has been on loan from AC Milan, played his best game for Eintracht against West Ham. Eintracht have a good starting XI, but not a deep squad so every injury is keenly felt.
Q: What is the view of Rangers in Germany following their Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig?
RW: German football fans have the utmost respect for Rangers. That a traditional football club like Glasgow Rangers is going to meet a traditional club like Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final has pleased a lot of people.
Rangers deserved to knock both Dortmund and Leipzig out of the competition. But was that because of their fabulous strength at home? Now they are playing in Seville. And it is hot.
RU: Rangers’ win over Borussia Dortmund really surprised everyone in Germany. Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke stated before the knockout round play-off matches that he wanted them to win the Europa League. Then Rangers destroyed them.
Every German reporter who went to Ibrox for the semi-final against RB Leipzig adored the atmosphere. That result went down very well here because many people dislike the Red Bull franchise. They prefer to see traditional clubs like Rangers do well. Eintracht supporters are looking forward to playing them in the final.
Eintracht took 30,000 away fans to Barcelona for the quarter-final and will take about 50,000 to Seville for the final. But even Eintracht board member Axel Hellmann expects more Rangers supporters.
