You can bet on Frankfurt for Europa League success when they taken on Rangers in the final
A look at the best sportsbook sites shows us that the German team are the big favorites going into this final. Eintracht Frankfurt are priced at around +130 with most sportsbooks, while their Scottish rivals Rangers can be backed at +210, and the normal time draw is a +230 shot.
Eintracht Frankfurt steered clear of the Europa League knockout round playoffs by going undefeated in their Group stage. They had to work hard to beat Real Betis in the last 16, but their biggest win came against tournament favorites Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
The Catalan giants drew 1-1 in Frankfurt but were eliminated in the return leg at Camp Nou, where they lost three goals in front of their stunned fans. Frankfurt won the game 3-2 and advanced to the semi-finals, where they beat Premier League West Ham United 1-0 at home after a key away leg victory.
Rangers, although being Scottish champions, were not anticipated to advance past the first round of the competition due to their poor record in European tournaments. They finished second in their group, one point ahead of Sparta Prague, but created a significant upset in the knockout stage playoffs by defeating German giants Borussia Dortmund 6-4 over two legs.
They beat Red Star Belgrade 4-2 in the Round of 16 before overcoming Braga in extra time in the quarter-finals. They followed up this triumph with a stunning victory over RB Leipzig, overcoming a 1-0 deficit in the first leg to reach their first European final since 2008.
Eintracht Frankfurt will be competing in only their second European final, however, their first appearance famously resulted in a win. That was back in 1980 when they defeated fellow German team Borussia Monchengladbach to win the UEFA Cup on the away goals rule.
Rangers, on the other hand, have appeared in four European finals but have only been successful in one, the 1972 Cup Winners’ Cup, a tournament which was held for winners of European domestic cup competitions. Their most recent European final appearance was a 2-0 defeat to Zenit St Petersburg in the old UEFA Cup, which has been superseded by the Europa League
The lone meeting between these two sides in European football occurred in 1960 when they were paired together in the European Cup semi-finals. Frankfurt won the tie 12-4 on aggregate, but they were defeated in the Final by a renowned Real Madrid team led by Ferenc Puskas.
Despite their achievements thus far in the season, the Rangers will be clear underdogs in this game, which may work to their advantage because they will be playing without the added pressure of expectation. They also have some high-quality players on their team, notably captain and right-back James Tavernier, who has seven goals in the tournament, making him the leading scorer.
Due to his defensive responsibilities, Tavernier’s goal production may be limited in this game. This is because he will be up against Frankfurt left-back Filip Kostic, who has seven assists this season and whose effort against Barcelona was essential to the Germans’ progress. He’s capable of making game-winning plays while keeping Tavernier quiet and could be the crucial factor here.
Both clubs will be concerned about injuries, which is to be anticipated after such a long season. The Rangers will be without Alfredo Morales, a key striker, and Frankfurt will be without five first-team players, including several key defenders.
Rangers are in better shape than the Bundesliga squad going into this match, but their domestic football is significantly less taxing. Importantly, the Scots will not be able to rely on Ibrox’s intimidating atmosphere because the match will be played at a neutral venue, but their opponents have shown that they can generate plenty of noise away from home, as they did against Barcelona.
It promises to be an exciting match, but I feel Frankfurt is the superior team and will prevail in a high-scoring final.
Given that the previous seven finals had averaged 3.25 goals per game, last year’s Europa League Final between Villarreal and Manchester United was unusually low-scoring.
It’s also worth noting that neither of these teams has been particularly defensive during the tournament, so this appears to be a good opportunity to back the Over in the Seville showpieces Over/Under 2.5 goals market.
Check out the leading soccer betting sites below. You can get the best Europa League betting when you bet on soccer through these betting partners.
About the Author
Noelle Matthews is a highly experienced professional in the betting industry, with over 15 years of expertise. She has made significant contributions to leading organizations in the field, including Betfair, ESPN, and Sporting Life. With her deep understanding of sports betting, you can find her insightful and informative reviews, articles, and previews on this platform. Pandora's extensive knowledge and years of experience make her a valuable resource for anyone interested in sports betting.
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