The final you don’t expect. Yes, because on the turf of the ‘Sanchez-Pizjuan’, contending for the second continental competition, in the end there will be neither Barcelona nor Borussia Dortmund. Nor the multiple champions of the event – and hosts – Sevilla. Not to mention Napoli, Porto and Lazio: other possible protagonists who abandoned the cup with enormous and unjustified anticipation. It was reckless, indeed, to predict the unlikely match between Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt and Scotland’s Rangers in the last act of the 2021-22 Europa League.
Surely not two clubs who assiduously frequent the elite of European football, but who in the distant past have also raised something important at international level. Eintracht, for example, managed to win the old Uefa Cup in the 1979-80 season, beating their German compatriots Borussia Monchengladbach in the all-German double final thanks to the away goals rule, now abolished.
Even more faded memories for Rangers, whose only title won outside Scottish territory remains the defunct 1971-72 Cup Winners’ Cup: in the final in Barcelona, the Scots triumphed 3-2 over Dinamo Moscow. From these numbers one can guess the desire to return to winning ways in Europe on the part of two passionate fans, undoubtedly among the warmest and liveliest on the continent. And the precedents? Only two, both in the semi-finals of the ‘then’ Champions Cup in 1959-60: Eintracht won by a staggering 12 goals in the first leg and return against the Scots.
The Eintracht players’ celebration after reaching the final ©️Ansafoto
“Good thing the Europa League exists.” Oliver Glasner, coach of Eintracht Frankfurt, is probably thinking this. The first season on the bench of the Adlers, for the former Wolfsburg coach, cannot be described in one single way. Yes, because the Rossoneri have been extraordinary outside Germany and at the same time disappointing in the Bundesliga. Winning the Europa League, in fact, would mitigate the bitterness for a championship certainly not in line with previous ones.
Trapp and his teammates finished in eleventh position, a result that will not allow them to return to Europe next year, unless they triumph on the night in Seville: in that case they would qualify directly for the Champions League group stage.
In the continental arena, on the other hand, Eintracht’s path is one of applause: they are still undefeated and in the knockout phase they knocked out two formidable opponents such as Betis (round of 16) and West Ham (semi-final). But the real masterpiece came in the quarter-finals, where against all odds they took the illustrious scalp of Barcelona, conquering the Camp Nou 2-3. They can count on a well-rehearsed game and from the midfield upwards they rely on interesting offensive elements such as Kostic, Kamada, Borré and former Milan player Hauge. They tend to shine in the possession phase but can also be solid when needed.
How Rangers get there
Lundstram’s joy after qualifying goal against Leipzig ©️Ansafoto
Rangers have also been betting on the Europa League for a few weeks now. In the Premiership they were forced to abdicate in favour of arch-rivals Celtic, who returned to the throne of Scotland last week. The Gers’ season had started with the painful farewell of Steven Gerrard, who left in the autumn to answer the call of Aston Villa. But the former Liverpool mainstay left the team in good hands: his replacement, Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst, immediately proved equal to his predecessor.
It is also to his credit that Rangers made their way through Europe, eliminating Borussia Dortmund, Red Star, Braga and Leipzig by often exploiting the home factor. The ‘secret’ of Tavernier and his team-mates is undoubtedly the magical atmosphere at Ibrox, a place where it is never easy to play for any opponent. Rangers return to play a continental final after 14 years (and a painful failure in between): in 2008 they were defeated by Zenit at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium.
The latest line-up news
Some formation problems for Glasner, who will have to do without a starter like Hinteregger, injured in the semi-final against West Ham, in the Sevilla final. There is also concern for the other starting defender N’Dicka, who came off as a precaution in the last league match against Mainz. The German coach will in any case repropose his 3-4-2-1 with Hauge and Kamada behind the Colombian Borré. Other defections are those of Ramaj, Lindstrom and da Costa.
On the other side, van Bronckhorst hopes to recover striker Roofe, who will most likely start from the bench. Morelos and Helander, who are both injured, should not be there. In midfield there is the doubt Jack, while in attack the starters will be Wright, Aribo and Kent, with outside-goleman Tavernier employed at full-back.
John van Bronckhorst ©️Ansafoto
The Prediction
Eintracht Frankfurt are slight favourites. The Germans have eliminated important opponents along the way and seem to have a few more arrows in their bow than the Scots. Who outside their ‘habitat’ become more vulnerable. Nevertheless, they remain two unpredictable teams, who are both in a good moment and who, above all, practise offensive football. The conditions are in place for a vibrant, intense and goal-rich final, at least three goals in total.
Eintracht Frankfurt-Rangers matchday squad
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (3-4-2-1): Trapp; Touré, Tuta, N’Dicka; Knauff, Sow, Rode, Kostić; Hauge, Kamada; Borré.
RANGERS (3-4-3): McGregor; Goldson, Lundstram, Bassey; Tavernier, Jack, Kamara, Barišić; Wright, Aribo, Kent.
Vote
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1