Europa League

Amad Diallo and Aaron Ramsey joined Rangers on loan in January, but neither has made any telling contributions for the Ibrox outfit despite their run to the ...

“This game is right up there with the biggest games I’ve played,” Ramsey admitted. Indeed, for the young Cote d'Ivoire winger, his spell in Scotland has proven a test of character. His redemption process has been a lengthy one, characterised by long periods as a substitute. While there have been flashes of his on-field potential, notably in the form of an Old Firm goal in a 2-1 home defeat in April, his influence behind the scenes has been hailed. Amad appeared stunned by the intensity of the fixture and turned in a lacklustre 45 minutes that saw his attitude questioned by the Ibrox club’s support. Although his career at Ibrox started positively with a goal away at Ross County, the match finished 3-3 and he was subsequently ridiculed on social media for a highlights package of his performance that he posted.

The season looked to be over for the Ibrox pair a month ago but both are in contention to start against Eintracht Frankfurt.

To start or come off the bench? And the final decision for van Bronckhorst could be at the back with Calvin Bassey nailed on to start and it’s just a question of whether Leon Balogun or Borna Barisic join him. The temptation for Van Bronckhorst must be to play him from the start but that could backfire and the Rangers boss might prefer to have him as someone he can throw on if needed.

Eintracht Frankfurt will face Scottish side, Rangers in the final of the 2021/2022 UEFA Europa League. The Europa League final will take place at Ramon.

Frankfurt had eliminated West Ham in the semi-final, while Rangers knocked RB Leipzig out of the competition. Eintracht Frankfurt will face Scottish side, Rangers in the final of the 2021/2022 UEFA Europa League. The Europa League final will take place at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium in Seville, Spain, on Wednesday, May 18.

Gers captain James Tavernier was pointedly asked for his opinion on Eintracht wing-back Filip Kostic, given the pair are likely to see a lot of each other on ...

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There's a storm heading towards Seville. One way or another, Rangers fans will descend upon the south of Spain in droves and will be met by an Eintracht ...

Goals remain a concern and Rangers are once again hoping that striker Kemar Roofe will be able to return, with Alfredo Morelos out for the season. The disturbances in Manchester that followed the 2008 Uefa Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg continue to cast a worrying shadow on their trip to Seville. Those West Ham supporters who travelled in hope were certainly impressed by the atmosphere at the Waldstadion, but the feedback Rangers fans have received on Eintracht from a football perspective has been less flattering. Both Rangers and Eintracht will carry themselves like European royalty when they arrive in Seville, but they will not take it for granted. For Barca, a Europa League quarter-final meant ridicule and a sign of their decline. It will just be close enough to the Pizjuan to justify their pilgrimage.

Rangers players will become heroes if they lift the Europa League trophy in Seville, Ibrox legend Mark Hateley said as he hailed the club's achievement in ...

“Whatever the result tonight, it has been a remarkable run for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team.” Hateley said: “It’s a great period for the football club at the moment, they have come from relatively zero to heroes very, very quickly over a period that has become a difficult period for them, coming back through the leagues.” “He’s taken that forward and that belief forward and turned us into finalists, and he’s done it in some style.”

Spanish police have confirmed the arrests of five Germans after halting an attempt by Eintracht Frankfurt hooligans to attack Rangers fans.

But police sources said the Eintracht Frankfurt ultras had started the trouble by trying to reach the Rangers fans and start a fight with them. More than 5,500 police and private security guards have been mobilised to help keep the peace. Spanish police have confirmed the arrests of five Germans after halting an attempt by Eintracht Frankfurt hooligans to attack Rangers fans. “At that moment the Eintracht Frankfurt fans began to throw glasses, flares and tables at police officers. They also said the problems had been started by around 200 Eintracht Frankfurt supporters and confirmed they had to fire warning shots into the air to bring the situation under control. Police confirmed the five arrests they had made were for public order offences and said the attack with flares by Eintracht Frankfurt ultras followed clashes moments earlier by Seville Cathedral.

Those who drink from the Premier League Kool-Aid dismiss the second European competitions but this is where Europe is really united.

At a time of war in Europe, the Conference League and Europa League have been an illustration of the commonality of all our peoples. They are liars and they lie all the time, they’re lying now and now and now. We all need a bit of romance to counterbalance the greed and commodification culture that dominates the higher echelons. It’s a mistake to think that if you don’t get to the final or win it then it’s all been worthless. Anything that offers great breadth and opportunity for the other 95% of clubs that exist in Europe is much to be welcomed. Yet, not only is the entire Scottish pyramid tremendous entertainment, here we have a team in the final that beat the more fashionable Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig to get there, as ‘pub league’ teams always do, eh.

Is it destiny for Gio van Bronckhorst and Co and they eye glory against the Germans in Seville.

Frankfurt have quality, no more so than frontman Rafaele Borre, and will pose serious questions but Rangers have goals coming from all over the park and with confidence soaring can finish the job in Seville. Nothing has fazed Rangers in their stunning surge to the final and unlike 2008 it’s been goals and thrills galore. But this Rangers side has beaten better teams on this run and have enough to make history. The heat is going to be a factor and I don’t expect a classic. Rangers have a smart manager and a talented team. It’s almost as if Eintracht Frankfurt are only in Seville to make up the numbers.

Riot cops had to intervene after the Germans, many of them wearing balaclavas to mask their faces, began throwing flares at a large group of Rangers ...

“When they saw police arrive, the German fans started to flee in the direction of Paseo Colon, assaulting Rangers supporters as they ran and clashing with police trying to stop the attack on the Rangers fans. A spokesman for Spain’s National Police said: “The National Police have arrested five Eintracht Frankfurt supporters for public order offences following the violence overnight in the centre of Seville. But police sources said the Eintracht Frankfurt ultras had started the trouble by trying to reach the Rangers fans and start a fight with them.

Their Champions League qualifying round loss was a blessing in disguise as Rangers aim to win their first European title in 50 years.

Having said that, Rangers have carried the Scottish coefficient ever since Steven Gerrard took over in 2018 and as a result of their progress in the Europa League, there are now more European places available in the Scottish top flight. And if they do so, it will be a win dedicated to the legends that are Walter Smith and Jimmy Bell. These fans are going to be very important and in a one-off match at Ibrox, you would fancy Rangers to get the job done. Frankfurt have some dangerous players and made relatively light work of West Ham – who many fancied to win the whole thing – in the last four. They will be hoping to skip that stage, however, and waltz into the groups. On paper, Frankfurt are the favourites; but so were Dortmund, Braga and Leipzig. The vast majority of their strongest starting XI would likely flourish in the Premier League, whereas there seems to be a taboo in football that nobody should be signed from the Scottish league because it’s supposedly a league correlating the standard of the National League in England – besides the Old Firm, of course, who would probably finish mid-table in the Championship… Without Alfredo Morelos, Rangers looked lost in the first leg and put in an abject performance as they lost 1-0. And now Eintracht Frankfurt are the only thing separating Rangers from their first European trophy since 1972. Ibrox was electric for the first leg and everything seemed to go the Gers’ way, with Allan McGregor making an incredible save to deny Aleksandar Katai from the penalty spot in a 3-0 rout, which was enough to see the Teddy Bears through. Their defeat at Livingston on matchday six was their last in the league and the Hoops won the title by four points. The Scottish club’s last two games in the group stage were under Giovanni van Bronckhorst after Steven Gerrard’s departure for Aston Villa – and, despite faltering domestically, the Dutch manager has managed to guide the Gers to the final of the Europa League against all odds. It has been an emotional season for Glasgow Rangers, who lost legendary manager Walter Smith in October after a short battle with cancer before the passing of iconic kitman Jimmy Bell in the week of their Europa League semi-final second-leg triumph over RB Leipzig. Safe to say it has not been plain sailing on the pitch, either.

To keep you up to date, here is a round up of stories ahead of tonight's Europa League Final. Rangers fans 'hit with glasses and flares by Eintracht Frankfurt ...

Tens of thousands of Rangers fans are making their way over to Seville for their Europa League final clash against Eintracht Frankfurt. Four Rangers fans have been left sickened after losing out on the “trip of a lifetime” to Seville and thousands of pounds out of pocket when their flight was cancelled without reason at the last minute. Plenty of mums and dads have made their way to Spain with their children for the game, with many Rangers fans seeing it as the chance to share a bit of history with their loved ones. It is a family affair in Seville as different generations of Rangers fans prepare for a tilt at European glory. Hundreds of Rangers fans were told their Seville flights had been 'cancelled' on the morning they were due to fly out for the Europa League Final - before airlines reinstated the journeys amidst travel chaos. Both Ibrox fans travelled to Seville to cheer the Gers on at Wednesday night's Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt, and by pure luck stumbled upon each other in a local boozer.

The stage in Seville is set for Eintracht and Rangers to make May 18th their happiest date in a long time. Both clubs arrive at the UEFA Europa League final ...

The stage in Seville is set for Eintracht and Rangers to make May 18th their happiest date in a long time. It will definitely be a high voltage match, played with as much passion on the pitch as in the stands, with probably a few jabs to try each other in the first minutes, and where the team that control the game and their emotions the better will win. James Tavernier will try to go up as much as he can, but it is expected for him to be a bit more conservative and have a role similar to the one against Angeliño; Trying to push as much without losing sight of the lethal Kostic. Die Adler must be very aware of Kamara’s positioning, as him wandering around freely between the half-spaces and the spaces in between the midfield and defensive lines is a great danger, as he could create confusion on who’s stepping up to mark him. The English forward allows Rangers to go long, either for him to produce a second ball or to attack the spaces behind the line, or to create combinations and overloads in a more set attack. Rangers’ starting lineup is also clear for the most part, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst commented that the team is aiming for a match more similar to the one played in Ibrox and not to the first leg in Germany. The Arsenal and Barcelona legend expressed his joy of being in the final and the pride it means for him to coach his players on such a stage. Filip Kostic and James Tavernier will display one of the night’s battles, but down the other flank will come one of the defensive trouble for the SGE. The loss of Hinteregger is a hard knock for Die Adler, not only as they lost their leader in the defense and their most reliable player, but also because the coordination in the defensive movements and transitions will be altered. The pair in the midfield will be Rode and Sow, while Ansgar Knauff and Filip Kostic will go down the flanks. Offensively, the pair will push the transition as fast as possible, but they must be prepared for one of either Lundstrom, Goldson, or Bassey to step up to them as soon as they receive the ball, if not earlier. Both clubs arrive at the UEFA Europa League final with the highest expectations and the highest confidence in the style of football that brought them to the final.

Mark Hately said getting to the final in Seville is 'up there with some of the greatest achievements of Scottish clubs'.

“Whatever the result tonight, it has been a remarkable run for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team.” Hateley said: “It’s a great period for the football club at the moment, they have come from relatively zero to heroes very, very quickly over a period that has become a difficult period for them, coming back through the leagues.” “He’s taken that forward and that belief forward and turned us into finalists, and he’s done it in some style.”

Rangers fans have descended on Seville ahead of the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

Included within that quartet is that epic night against RB Leipzig in the second leg of the semi-finals” Oliver Glasner has been in charge of Frankfurt for a year. They have just finished 11th in the 18-team Bundesliga and did not win any of their closing eight league matches, a run stretching back to mid-March. They drew their final game 2-2 away to Mainz on Sunday. They have been a different animal in Europe, however, with Real Betis, Barcelona and West Ham their three most recent conquests in reaching the final. A Ferran Torres goal cancelled out Ansgar Knuaff’s opener for Frankfurt and the German side had to see out a 1-1 home-leg draw with 10 men. Japanese midfielder Daichi Kamada is also a threat, having netted nine times, including in the away victory over West Ham. Serbian midfielder Filip Kostic, who joined from Hamburg four years ago, is also deemed a key man for Frankfurt. A 90th-minute goal in Germany took the tie into extra time but Frankfurt were saved from penalties by a last-minute own goal.

With the 2022 Europa League final all set for Seville, as Rangers take on Eintracht Frankfurt, focus is already shifting to the 2022/23 competition.

The final placings for the 2022/23 Europa League qualifying rounds will not be confirmed until the start of June with domestic campaigns not yet completed. When does the 2022/23 Europa League season start? The 2022 Europa League final offers a chance for a new name on the trophy with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt taking on Rangers in Seville.

Rangers FC players, the UEFA Europa League trophy and Frankfurt players. Rangers will be looking to claim their first major European trophy tonight (Picture: ...

You can watch the match for free tonight via the BT Sport website, the BT Sport app or the BT Sport YouTube channel. How to watch the UEFA Europa League final in the UK When is the UEFA Europa League final?

Rangers will look to secure a historic achievement tonight when they play Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final. We' ...

But I played in a World Cup final, played extra time in the World Cup final and lost it. Rangers regained their form in time for the second leg and Tavernier hit a double and the visitors had a man sent off before the interval. The Light Blues sent out another statement with a 3-0 Ibrox win over the Serbian champions thanks to another Tavernier penalty plus goals from Morelos and Balogun. Red Star had three goals disallowed for offside, hit the bar and were thwarted by an Allan McGregor penalty save so the tie was far from over and the Gers goalkeeper needed to be at his best in Serbia. But Ryan Kent netted on the counter to make it 1-1 and a late penalty for the hosts proved irrelevant. Gers fans enjoyed one of their greatest European trips as the tournament favourites were stunned in Germany. The visitors were three up inside 49 minutes thanks to James Tavernier’s penalty, a Morelos tap-in and Lundstram’s curler, and an own goal helped Rangers to a 4-2 win. There were early signs that Giovanni Van Bronckhorst had the Midas touch in Europe when he led his new team into the knockout stages with a 2-0 win over Sparta in his first match in charge. Manager Steven Gerrard missed the trip along with a number of players after Rangers reported positive Covid tests.

Hello, and welcome to The Athletic's coverage of the Europa League final. Can Rangers bring the second European trophy in the club's history back to Ibrox?

•2h ago •2h ago This clip will get you in the mood. •2h ago •2h ago Like everyone in this city, they are already wracked with nerves. Good luck and stay composed as you always do. It hasn’t always been an easy journey but I want to praise you for overcoming the many obstacles you’ve experienced with injuries and the illness of your boy Cassius last year. I’ve been with you since the first day you kicked a ball and I’ve always had every confidence in your ability. •1h ago In the United States, coverage is on CBS Sports Network, and can be streamed on fuboTV. Hello, and welcome to The Athletic's coverage of the Europa League final.

The 42-year-old Slovenian is to take charge of Wednesday's Europa League final at Seville's Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.

His previous biggest Europa League assignment was the first leg of Arsenal and Villarreal’s semi-final tie in 2020/21. However, he was released without charge after being cleared of any wrongdoing. Added to FIFA’s list of international referees in 2010, the 42-year-old has refereed 20 games in the Europa League since making his debut in the continent’s second-tier club tournament in 2014.

By Andrew Warshaw. May 18 – Glasgow Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt, two massively supported clubs who have had lean times when it comes to European success ...

“We want to put a legacy down for the day we retire,” he said. Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson urged the club’s fans to behave and enjoy the occasion “in the right way, the right manner” while manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst added: “Is not often that we are able to reach a European final, so we have to enjoy this moment and make sure we don’t cause any trouble.” “It’s going to be a unique gathering of the most vocal and enthusiastic fans in Europe.”

Filip Kostic and Ansgar Knauff will likely be two of Eintracht Frankfurt's biggest threats in the Europa League final against Rangers.

Before Knauff’s arrival, Eintracht were rather lopsided, with their other options on the right far from convincing. Then he joined Eintracht on loan and has since scored important Europa League goals against Barcelona and West Ham. This season, he has been the executor of 519 crosses and corners, 140 more than any other player in the top five leagues – Trent Alexander-Arnold is second with 379. A cursory glance at his map of open-play chances created proves that point. Another way of looking at it is, he is producing one accurate open-play cross every 45.4 minutes. Kostic’s 78 successful crosses from open play is also a season-high.

The Glasgow club are the first Scottish team to reach the final of a major European competition since Walter Smith's Rangers side lost 2-0 in the UEFA Cup ...

Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men are on the brink of making history. The Europa League final will come just over a decade after Rangers entered administration, resulting in the club dropping down to the third division in Scottish football. The Europa League final comes just over a decade after Rangers entered administration, resulting in the club dropping down to the third division in Scottish football.

It's the first European trophy of the season and our experts see a tight affair.

In the end the talent of players such as Kostic and Kevin Trapp in goal might just tell for Frankfurt, 2-1 winners on the night. Man of the Match pick: Kostic has looked a cut above the field so far in the Europa League and there is no reason to doubt that will continue on Wednesday night. One matchup to watch: The Frankfurt left and Rangers right promises to be a fascinating clash, containing as it does two of these teams' most dangerous attacking threats. We take a look at some of the main prematch storylines to keep an eye on and our experts weigh in with their predictions. Translate those stats to per 90 minutes and he is in the top 30 in a host of creative and scoring categories as well as ball recoveries. On the 50th anniversary of their Cup Winners' Cup triumph, Rangers are bidding to become the first Scottish team ever to win this tournament.

We're breaking down how to watch the Europa League Final and what to expect when Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers go head to head.

Frankfurt come in as the favorites to win, though it’s sure to be a close match with both teams fighting for some much-needed hardware. Borre was also instrumental in eliminating Barcelona in their quarterfinal series, scoring a big goal in the first leg against the La Liga giants. He put the nail in the coffin for West Ham, bagging the only goal of leg two in the 26th minute of play. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Rangers have also only been to the final once, but they lost to Zenit St. Petersburg in 2008. The Europa League Final is set as Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers of the Scottish Premiership will face off for European glory.

A look at what the Eintracht Frankfurt starting lineup could be against Rangers in the Europa League final.

Borre has been influential for Eintracht Frankfurt in his first season, bagging 11 goals and eight assists in all competitions. Frankfurt could deploy a back three of Almamy Toure, Evan N'Dicka and Tuta in the final. In the Europa League he has scored against Barcelona and West Ham en route to the final.

Oliver Glasner's side has beat the likes of West Ham, Barcelona and Real Betis on route to Seville, and backed by a rowdy and passionate fanbase they will be ...

After defeating the likes of Borussia Dortmund and a memorable semi-final second leg win over RB Leipzig, many Rangers fans will be hoping their side can put away a third German side on route to lifting the Europa League title. Rangers fans will be heading to Seville with plenty of expectation, and they have every right to be confident based on their battling performances in Europe this season. Don't be surprised if Tavernier popped up with a timely goal in the final. The Serbian international is adept defensively and loves to bomb forward at every opportunity and could be a crucial offensive outlet should Frankfurt go all the way. Frankfurt head into the contest in southern Spain with an impressive run to the showpiece final, and has not tasted defeat. As ever, you will be able to keep up with all of the action via beIN SPORTS.

150000 football fans are expected to descend on Seville as Scottish giant Rangers seek their first European title in 50 years.

Prior to reaching the final this term, their best run since winning silverware in 1980 was in 2019 when they reached the semi-final of the Europa League before losing to Chelsea. Their only appearance in the European Cup final brought a 7-3 defeat against Real Madrid at Hampden in 1960. They have just finished 11th in the 18-team Bundesliga and did not win any of their closing eight league matches, a run stretching back to mid-March. They drew their final game 2-2 away to Mainz on Sunday. They have been a different animal in Europe, however, with Real Betis, Barcelona and West Ham their three most recent conquests in reaching the final. Rangers have received a major boost with news that Kemar Roofe has been passed fit for the final. We have to put in a good performance and make them proud.” Victory in Seville would also propel them into next season’s Champions League for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

The first piece of European silverware is up for grabs on Wednesday and you can catch all the action on Paramount+ as Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt ...

2-1 FRA 2-1 FRA 2-1 FRA 2-1 FRA 2-1 FRA (AET) 2-1 FRA (AET)

RANGERS are set to take on Eintracht Frankfurt TONIGHT in the Europa League final - which gives the fans the chance to test out their vocal cords.The.

I'm feeling it I'm feeling it “We woke up one morning to numerous tags and text messages from friends and fans from all over the world.

Eintracht Frankfurt won their first European title in 42 years by beating Rangers in a penalty shootout in Wednesday's UEFA Europa League final in Seville.

Frankfurt looked like the more likely side to get a winner in 90 minutes, but extra time was a fairly tight and tense affair. Rangers had more of the ball in the first half, but Frankfurt posed the stronger threat. Eintracht Frankfurt won their first European title in 42 years by beating Rangers in Wednesday's UEFA Europa League final in Seville.

Amid deafening noise and sweltering 31C (88F) heat on Wednesday, Frankfurt beat Glasgow Rangers 5-4 in a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw to ...

It's hard to reflect straight away. Midfielder Steven Davis added: "It's huge disappointment. I'm absolutely devastated. A sensational save from Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp at point-blank range from Ryan Kent in the final moments of extra-time will undoubtedly be seared into the minds of Rangers fans as the Scottish side came so close to winning late on Having suffered a second defeat at the competition's final hurdle after a loss to Zenit St Petersburg in 2008, it may take a while for wounds to heal for Rangers. And having suffered the agony of a semifinal penalty shootout defeat to eventual winners Chelsea in 2019, the manner of victory could not have been sweeter for the traveling Frankfurt fans who -- donning the colors of their club's match shirt -- formed a raucous white wall behind the goal.

Eintracht Frankfurt ended their 32-year wait for a second major European trophy with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win following a tense 1-1 draw against Rangers ...

2 hours to KO: Hello and welcome to tonight's live coverage of the Europa League final. 6th min: A dangerous high boot from Lundstram catches captain Rode in the head, who is bleeding and now has his head bandaged up. A pass into the middle looked to be the better option. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the team and the boss. 44th min: Tavernier is lucky to avoid a yellow card after tugging the shirt of his opponent having being caught in possession. Which players are going to be the heroes tonight? 94th min: Arfield has the first real chance in extra-time but fails to keep his shot on target from distance. The corner is wasted but Rangers are under some early pressure. A VAR check follows and the decision stands but Goldson was a tad fortunate there. 120th min: Tavernier has one final effort from a free-kick but Trapp is there again and that's that. 4th pens: Ramsey, brought on moments ago to take the spot-kick, MISSES. His shot straight down the middle is saved. 5th pens: Roofe has better luck and scores, in off the post.

Ryan Kent slipping the ball past Kevin Trapp, Connor Goldson not breaking the habit of the competition and making a defensive error, a smidge higher from ...

He will not be the only star of this side who will be catching the eye of wealthier rivals; smart recruiters will see the likes of Kent, Glen Kamara and Aribo as prime talents who can be secured at a relatively knockdown price. Kemar Roofe, thrown on with penalties in mind, chased a long ball to the byline and crossed low. Ramsey struck his effort firmly enough down the middle, slightly higher and there would have been no chance for the German international. Five more minutes of extra time and Rangers might have won it, Tavernier drawing another late save with a free kick slowly bending into the top corner. The stalemate was only going to be torn apart by a mistake. Football is won on the balance sheets in 2022 and frankly Rangers, a great white shark in a garden pond, should not be able to compete. What followed, however, was perhaps the spell of European final worthy quality that one team in its entirety produced. So did the Rangers forward, who had run himself to the ground chasing long balls into the channel or dropping into midfield. If clubs such as Rangers were going to be lifting continental trophies in May they would have to do it in the newly created Europa Conference League. Not quite. They weren't cutting through the defense but then you wondered if that might have been Giovanni van Bronckhorst's plan all along; wear them down and trust that Frankfurt bodies and minds would tire in the pressure cooker heat. On another night this Rangers team would have been worthy winners, a team who had got to Seville the hard way, two of the competition's biggest powers sent home from Ibrox baffled as to how they had been outclassed by Scotland's second best team. Of its last 13 winners, 12 have come from the Premier League, La Liga and now, with Eintracht Frankfurt's name etched on the trophy, the Bundesliga. Since Rangers were last in the final back in 2008 only two teams from outside Europe's top six leagues have been beaten in the final, Ukrainian side Dnipro and Ajax.

Eintracht Frankfurt have won the Europa League after beating Rangers in Wednesday's final on penalties.Rafael Borre scored Eintracht's winning penalty after ...

Jordan Campbell Jordan Campbell Jordan Campbell

When Glasgow Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt headed to Spain for the Europa League final, tens of thousands of their fans followed.

That prospect drew fans, by the tens of thousands, to what Police Scotland believed was to be the “biggest gathering” that tranquil, convivial Seville had ever seen. The fans knew that might happen, of course. Only last season was it restored to the pinnacle of Scottish soccer, depriving its bitter rival Celtic of the country’s title for the first time in 10 years. Less than a decade ago, Rangers was reduced to playing in Scotland’s semiprofessional fourth tier as a punishment for years of financial mismanagement and chicanery. Some 50,000 fans were making their way to Seville, Spain, in the midst of a blistering spring heat wave, from Germany. Twice that number were traveling from Scotland. Those who could not make it directly got as close as possible — to Malaga, 150 miles south, or to Faro, across the border in Portugal — and continued their journey however they could.

Eintracht Frankfurt won 5-4 in penalties over Rangers F.C. for their first European trophy since 1980.

Ryan Kent had a huge chance with a mostly open net, but Trapp, who previously played for Paris Saint-Germain in France, denied the shot with a ridiculous save. Rangers forward Joe Aribo opened the scoring after two straight defensive errors from Frankfurt. Aribo, while falling, finished past Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp to take a 1-0 lead. The game was scoreless at halftime, with Frankfurt left midfielder Filip Kostic having one of the best opportunities for the first goal.