Eintracht Frankfurt vs Rangers - Europa League Final LIVE

Oliver Glasner, Head Coach of Eintracht Frankfurt (L) and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Manager of Rangers. Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers FC meet in the UEFA Europa League final on May 18,2022 at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville, SpainOliver Glasner, Head Coach of Eintracht Frankfurt (L) and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Manager of Rangers. Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers FC meet in the UEFA Europa League final on May 18,2022 at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville, Spain
Oliver Glasner, Head Coach of Eintracht Frankfurt (L) and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Manager of Rangers. Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers FC meet in the UEFA Europa League final on May 18,2022 at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville, Spain
It all comes down to this.... Rangers take on Eintracht Frankfurt in a mouth-watering Europa League final tonight

A top-seeded spot in next season Champions League group stages await the winners along with the honour of lifting European silverware.

Just 90 minutes stands between Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side and a place in the club’s history books.

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1980 UEFA Cup winners Frankfurt will provide formidable opposition and are slight favourites to win the competition among the bookies.

However, Rangers, who are bidding to emulate their 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup success, will be confident of upsetting the odds in Seville’s Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

GlasgowWorld will be providing all the latest match updates here....

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Rangers - Europa League Final LIVE

Key Events

  • Giovanni van Bronckhorst will bid to become only the second manager to lead Rangers to European silverware
  • Rangers are aiming to complete a hat-trick of wins over German opposition in the competition this season
  • The Glasgow giants are in their first European final in 14 years after their 2008 UEFA Cup Final defeat
  • 100,000 Rangers fans have made the journey to the Andalusian capital for the match

Frankfurt asserting their dominance early doors...

Nervy moments for Rangers as wing back Ansgar Knauff weaves his way into the box from the left-hand side and his effort on goal forces Allan McGregor to produce a terrific save at full-stretch.

Moments later from the resulting corner, Sow blazes high over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

24 minutes gone... It remains goalless in Seville.

First scare for Rangers...

The first big opportunity of the game falls the way of Frankfurt on 12 minutes after Rangers give away possession inside their own half.

McGregor called into action as Daichi Kamada wriggles into the penalty area before his close-range effort is blocked by Gers No.1. The follow-up from Dijibril Sow is comfortably held.

Frantic start in searing heat...

It’s been a bright start from Rangers inside five minutes. Scott Wright and Joe Aribo have been lively.

Midfielder John Lundstram escapes a caution after catching Sebastian Rode with a high boot. The Frankfurt captain is currently down getting treatment for a head wound.

The temperature inside the ground is currently 31 degrees and both sets of supporters are in fine voice!

We’re underway in Seville...

Both sides take the knee in support of the world football’s anti-racism campaign. Rangers start the game in a back four with Allan McGregor between the sticks.

The 40-year-old creates history by becoming the oldest player to start a European Cup final!

Warm ups complete. Kick-off fast approaching...

The Rangers squad received a huge cheer from 20,000 supporters inside the stadium as they made their way out on to the pitch for the warm up.

Final preparations are now complete and the atmosphere is electric. Kick-off is just minutes away. How are the nerves Rangers fans?

Tavernier leads the way for Rangers...

James Tavernier is currently the top scorer in the competition, which is remarkable considering he didn’t find the net until after the group stages - never mind the fact he’s a right-back!

The 30-year-old has seven goals in the knockout rounds, four of those coming from the penalty spot. Will he get on the scoresheet in Seville?

A talismanic figure in this Rangers side, captain fantastic will be desperate to get his hands on the Europa League trophy!

Rangers captain James Tavernier.Rangers captain James Tavernier.
Rangers captain James Tavernier.

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT TEAM NEWS...

Eintracht Frankfurt head coach Oliver Glasner has named his strongest starting XI to face Rangers.

A 3-4-2-1 formation has been selected, with Bundesliga rookie of the year Jesper Lindstrom winning his fitness battle.

Colombian striker Rafael Santos Borre, who scored in the semi-final win over Premier League side West Ham United, spearheads the Eagles frontline.

Ex-Paris Saint Germain goalkeeper Kevin Trapp takes his place between the posts, while dangerman Filip Kostic and 20-year-old Ansgar Knauff starting as wing backs.

The Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium is filling up nicely as the clock ticks down until kick-off...

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has resisted the temptation to start frontman Kemar Roofe and attacking midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

Roofe, who has been out of action for five weeks due to a knee injury sustained in the Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Celtic, returned to full training at the start of the week.

The Jamaican was declared fit to play but he has been named among the substitutes alongside on loan Juventus star Ramsey.

Scott Wright keeps his place in the side, with Joe Aribo expected to lead the line.

Itten and Hagi confident teammates will ‘get over the line'

Rangers attackers Ianis Hagi and Cedric Itten, who are unavailable for tonight’s final, believe their team-mates will get the job done and clinch just their second European trophy - 50 years on from their first.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hagi said: “The atmosphere around the city is crazy, it’s electriyfing. You just realise how far you’ve come and we have to get it over the line now.

“It’s crazy [how many fans have come] but not surprising because we have experienced this throughout the season all over Europe, so we knew they would travel in big numbers.

“Now, we just have to deliver on the pitch. I hope we can and I have a lot of faith in the boys.”

On the Gers’ travelling support, Itten added: “It’s amazing, but I expected them all to come over and it’s great to see them.

“Of course, I’m nervous. I hope the team can win it for everybody and I’m convinced we can do that.”

Influx of Rangers fans in Seville

Rangers fans have outnumbered their German counterparts roughly two-to-one in Seville.

An estimated 150,000 supporters have descended on the Andalusian capital for tonight’s match; 100,000 of those are reportedly Gers fans with 50,000 Frankfurt supporters.

It’s a shame the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium holds a capcity of just over 42,000, given there are two bigger stadiums located elsewhere in the city.

The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville where Rangers will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final on May 18. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville where Rangers will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final on May 18. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville where Rangers will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final on May 18. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

One of those - the Estadio La Cartuja - is being used as a fan zone for followers of Rangers, with 30,000 having bought tickets to watch the game on live screens inside the ground.

Team news will be announced shortly...

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