Preview
The UEFA Europa League final is—finally—here! The ultimate game of Europe's second-tier club tournament will take place on Wednesday as Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers, two underdogs in their own right, prepare to do battle for the trophy and a spot in the UEFA Champions League next season.
With the game taking place in Seville, Eintracht Frankfurt fans have flocked to Spain in great numbers for the second time this season, having done so in their showdown with Barcelona in the quarterfinals. Yes, the German side faced the almighty Blaugrana in this competition en route to the final and emerged triumphant despite all the odds, hence why their journey has been a brilliant underdog tale.
In the group stage, Die Adler only had to beat out Olympiacos, Fenerbahce, and Antwerp to top Group D, which was an accomplishment, but one that pales in comparison to the hurdles they faced in the knockout stage. As a result, Oliver Glasner's side were given a bye to the round of 16 where they faced a tricky Real Betis side, beating the Spanish outfit 3-2 on aggregate to set up a David vs. Goliath showdown against Barcelona.
Having crashed out of the UEFA Champions League in the group stage, the Catalan giants found themselves demoted to the Europa League, hence this fixture. A gallant performance at home saw Frankfurt register a 1-1 draw in the first leg, meaning everything was to be decided in the second leg. There, the German side pulled off an unexpected result, registering a shocking 3-2 victory at the Camp Nou to eliminate one of Europe's powerhouses.
Things weren't easy in the semifinal as well as Kamada and Co. faced West Ham, another favorite for the title, in the penultimate stage. Regardless, the Bundesliga side found the strength to triumph once again, winning 2-1 in London and 1-0 back home (3-1 on aggregate) to book their ticket to Seville.
This game is significant for Eintracht Frankfurt for two reasons. Not only would it be their first European success since 1979–80, with that triumph also coming in the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League, but it would secure them a ticket to the Champions League, which they failed to achieve after finishing 11th in the German top-flight. Form isn't on their side, however, having won only six times in their last 20 outings, hence their Bundesliga finish.
Rangers, on the other hand, can enter this clash knowing that they have secured UEFA Champions League football through their domestic league. However, they are only second in the Scottish Premiership, meaning they are on course to enter the qualifying round, which they can negate altogether if they win on Wednesday, as that would secure them a ticket straight to the group stage next season.
Just like their opposition, the Gers' route to the final has been nothing short of impressive. Unlike the Eagles, Tavernier and Co. were unable to win their group and thus had to go through this season's Knockout Round Playoffs, where they faced none other than Dortmund. Van Bronckhorst's side won 4-2 at the Signal Iduna Park before drawing 2-2 at home against a Haaland-less BVB. After that came clashes with Red Star Belgrade and Sporting Braga in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, which they won 4-2 and 3-2 respectively. In the semis, they too faced one of the favorites for the title, taking on an RB Leipzig side led by the sensational Christopher Nkunku.
After losing 1-0 away, Rangers booked their spot in the final, winning 3-1 in front of an electric Ibrox crowd, with their spectacular home support being a staple in their journey to the ultimate game. With the match being played at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, Rangers will not be able to create the same atmosphere, but with four wins out of their last five games, the Scottish giants should enter with all the confidence in the world in their pursuit of a first European title since their European Cup Winners' Cup success in 1971-72.
Team news
Eintracht Frankfurt: Martin Hinteregger picked up a hamstring injury early on in the clash with West Ham and will miss the final. Diant Ramaj is also out while Jesper Lindstrom and Danny da Costa face a race against time to recover for this tie. Highly-rated center-back Evan Ndicka also picked up an injury scare but the defender is expected to be fine for the final.
Rangers: Filip Helander and Alfredo Morelos will, unfortunately, play no part in the final. Additionally, Ianis Hagi, who had hoped to recover in time for this crucial game, is also out for the Scottish giants. Kemar Roofe also faces uncertainties but Joe Aribo and Ryan Jack, who picked up knocks in the semifinal victory over RB Leipzig, should be back in time for this showdown.
Key stats
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Eintracht Frankfurt are yet to lose a UEFA Europa League game this season, winning seven and drawing five.
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Rangers, on the other hand, have lost five of their 14 fixtures in this competition this season, winning six and drawing three.
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The Eagles are only the third team to reach the Europa League final with an unbeaten record, following in the footsteps of Chelsea (2018-19) and Villarreal (last season). In both previous instances, the unbeaten team went on to win the final as well.
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These two teams met in the semifinals of the 1959-60 European Cup, with the German outfit triumphing by a whopping 12-4 aggregate score line.
Broadcast listings
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
