Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers on penalties to win the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League and reach next season’s Champions League on a dramatic night in Seville.

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers (Frankfurt win 5-4 on pens.)
Goals: 0-1 Aribo (57’), 1-1 Borre 69’ (assist: Kostic)

Unbeaten on their way to their first European final since winning the 1979/80 UEFA Cup, Frankfurt were the better side for long periods in the first half. Allan McGregor was made to work early on by Daichi Kamada, before pulling off a spectacular diving save to keep out Ansgar Knauff. Joe Aribo and Filip Kostic exchanged presentable chances, with Kevin Trapp eventually called into action nine minutes from the break, the Frankfurt No.1 tipping over John Lundstram’s looping header from a corner.

Eintracht picked up where they left off upon the restart as Jesper Lindstrom saw a deflected shot drop agonisingly wide of the upright. Aribo broke the deadlock against the run of play following a defensive mix-up, but Frankfurt were behind for less than 12 minutes. After further openings for Lindstrom and Kamada, Borre capitalised on hesitant defending to turn in a trademark Kostic cross. Kostic flashed another inviting cross into the danger zone in the 89th minute, but Rangers survived to book extra-time.

Borre threatened to punish a mistake by Calvin Bassey when the contest resumed, but the Rangers defender made amends with a vital recovery challenge. Knauff then shot over and substitute Ajdin Hrustic dragged wide either side of a long-range strike from Borna Barisic, hit straight down the throat of Trapp. Kristijan Jakic sent a dipping effort just over, before Trapp pulled off a sensational point-blank save from Ryan Kent and thwarted a James Tavernier free-kick with the final action of extra time. Trapp saved from Aaron Ramsey at the Rangers end, while Frankfurt scored all five of their penalties to seal the trophy.

Match stats

• Frankfurt are the first German winners of the Europa League. Schalke were the last German team to get their hands on the trophy under its previous UEFA Cup guise, in 1997.
• Eintracht won the tournament without losing (W7, D6), beating Barcelona and West Ham along the way.
• Frankfurt are now two-time European champions, after winning the UEFA Cup in 1980. They have also qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 1960.
• Borre finishes the season as Eintracht's 12-goal top scorer in all competitions.
• Kostic has produced 15 assists this season, including a tournament-leading six in the Europa League.
• Trapp - one of 11 surviving members of the Frankfurt squad that reached the 2018/19 Europa League semi-finals - was Man of the Match.

Teams

Frankfurt: Trapp - Toure, Tuta (Hasebe 58'), Ndicka (Lenz 100') - Knauff, Sow (Hrustic 106'), Rode (c) (Jakic 90'), Kostic - Lindstrom (Hauge 70'), Kamada - Borre
Unused subs: Grahl, Lammers, Ache, Chandler, Da Costa, Barkok, Paciencia
Out: Durm (ineligible), Hinteregger (thigh), Ilsanker (ineligible), Ramaj (knee)
Coach: Oliver Glasner 

Rangers: McGregor - Goldson, Lundstram, Bassey - Tavernier (c), Jack (Davis 74'), Kamara (Arfield 91'), Barisic (Roofe 117') - Wright (Sakala 74') (Ramsey 117'), Aribo (Sands 101'), Kent
Unused subs: McCrorie, McLaughlin, Diallo, Balogun, King, Lowry
Out: Hagi (knee), Morelos (thigh), Helander (foot), Ofoborh (heart)
Coach: Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Match and homecomining celebrations - as it happened!

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