Eintracht Frankfurt vs Rangers: Road to Seville - UEL Preview

Frankfurt vs Rangers.

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Rangers: Road to Seville - UEL Preview

Izuchukwu Akawor 20:10 - 17.05.2022

Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers will be looking to outwit each other in a bid to final lift a European title after so many years.

German club Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers FC of Scotland are both guests at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan on Wednesday for the 2021/22 Europa League final.

Both clubs come into this encounter looking to put an end to their long wait for continental glory.

However,  while these two aren't strangest to each in UEFA competitions, this is the first time both teams are meeting at this stage of the competition.

The last time they met was back in 1960, when Frankfurt put six goals past the Gers over two legs to run away with a win in the semi-final.

That said, do you remember how these two got to book their tickets to the final?

Here is a quick look at their various Road to Seville and of course, other things you need to know about this final tomorrow.

Road to Seville - Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)

Frankfurt last won this competition 42 years ago when it was known as the UEFA Cup and will be looking to celebrate another continental win tomorrow night. 

They booked a ticket to the final courtesy of a hard-fought 3-1 aggregate victory over English club, West Ham United in the last four.

Eintracht Frankfurt came from behind to beat Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday

Led by Japanese star, Daichi Kamada, who has been his team's talisman this season in the competition, netting five goals en route the final, Frankfurt had an unbeaten run to the final.

It all started with the club navigating the group stages with three wins and three draws in their opening six matches.

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In the round of 16, things became tighter and tougher for them after La Liga outfit, Real Betis, pushed them to extra time before falling.

Then, they took on another La Liga side, this time, the giants Barcelona came calling and the Bundesliga side put on the style to see off Xavi Hernandez and his highly rated team, including an excellent 3-2 win at Camp Nou. 

Frankfurt wrapped up their Road to Seville with a 3-1 aggregate win over West Ham United, a result that really didn't reflect the balance of play as Frankfurt rode their luck against the unlucky Hammers.

In the end, Frankfurt showed that they are worthy finalists after becoming just the third team after Chelsea and Villarreal CF to reach the Europa League final without losing a game.

Road to Seville - Rangers FC (Scotland)

The road to Seville was not so smooth and easy for Rangers and their Nigerian trio of Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo,  and the highly rated Calvin Bassey. 

The Gers won just two of their six matches in the group stages, with two draws and two defeats in the other four games.

Joe Aribo celebrates with James Tavernier in Rangers' quarterfinal win over Braga

Borussia Dortmund, who dropped from the Champions League, were next for them in what turned out to be a 10-goal thriller in the playoff, with Rangers coming out 6-4 winners.

Wins over Crvena Zvezda in the round of 16 and a stubborn Braga team, who forced them to extra time, in the last eight, saw the Gers book a date with another Bundesliga side in RB Leipzig led by the in form Christopher Nkunku, in the semi-final.

However,  despite the very best of efforts from Nkunku, Aribo, Bassey and Balogun's Rangers proved just too stronge for the Germans as they scaled through to the final for the first time in 14 years.

Heading into tomorrow's encounter, Frankfurt is set to be the third German side that the Gers will be going head-to-head against in the competition this season.

And the question is, will it be third time lucky for our Nigerian trio and their Scottish club?

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Form Guide and other things you need to know

In terms of their respective forms ahead of the final, Rangers appear to be in better form and shape.  The Gers have won four (4) of their last five (5) matches, including that 3-1 win over RB Leipzig in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final.

For Frankfurt, they have won two (2), lost one and drawn two (2) of their last five (5).

What the coaches are saying;

"Slowly, something is falling into place. What the team did [in the semi-final] was unbelievable."

Rangers boss, Giovanni van Bronckhorst said;

"I'm very proud of the achievement. Not many players can play European finals. It's not for every player. Once we're there, we need to do everything to win it. It's remarkable."

What time is the game?

The final between Frankfurt and Rangers will kickoff at 8 pm Nigerian time.

Where to follow the game?

All Pulse Sports Nigeria social media handles and of course, Super Sports.