Wednesday’s Football Bet of the Day see’s me focus on the Europa League final and I’m backing my beloved Rangers to lift the trophy in Seville.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Rangers
🇪🇺 Europa League
⏰ Wednesday 18th May, 20:00
50 year on from success in Barcelona in the Cup Winners’ Cup, Rangers look to win their second major European trophy, as they take on German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Piziuán in Seville.
Eintracht Frankfurt finished the Bundesliga campaign in 11th position and ended the season by failing to win any of their final eight fixtures (W0-D3-L5). Oliver Glasner’s side struggled defensively in the league this season, registering just five clean sheets in their 34 Bundesliga matches. Eintracht topped their Europa League group above Olympiakos, Fenerbahçe and Antwerp by winning three and drawing three of their six matches. Die Adler scored in stoppage-time in extra-time to see off Real Betis 3-2 on aggregate before shocking fellow Spaniards Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate, including an impressive 2-3 victory in the Nou Camp, in which they were 0-3 up before conceding twice in stoppage-time. Frankfurt then won home and away against Premier League side West Ham United to reach their first European final since victory in the UEFA Cup 42 years.
After winning their historic 55th title last season, Rangers lost out to bitter-rivals Celtic this season, finishing four points behind Ange Postecoglou’s side. Rangers finished the season by winning each of their last three, including a 1-3 win away to third-placed Hearts, despite fielding a weakened team. After losing their opening two group-stage matches, The Gers took eight points from their next four matches to finish second behind Lyon. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side stunned Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund 6-4 on aggregate, including a remarkable 2-4 win at Signal Iduna Park. Rangers then saw off Serbian champions Crvena zvezda 4-2 on aggregate before defeating Portuguese side Braga 3-2 on aggregate, despite losing the first leg in Portugal. The Teddy Bears also lost their first-leg 1-0 in the semi-final away to Leipzig, but turned it around with a 3-1 win at an atmospheric Ibrox to reach their fifth European final and their first since 2008.
Bet of the Day
Both Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers travel to the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Piziuán in full belief they can lift the Europa League trophy. After topping their group, Die Adler knocked out Real Betis before shocking fellow Spanish side Barcelona, with Oliver Glasner’s side then beating the Hammers home and away to reach the final unbeaten. Eintracht did struggle domestically, finishing 11th and Rangers have already knocked-out fellow Bundesliga sides Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig who finishing 2nd and 4th respectively. In between those two victories over German opposition, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side also defeated two very good sides in the form of Crvena zvezda and Braga. If truth be told, there isn’t too much between the two sides but given they are priced up as underdogs once again, I’m happy to back my side. As well as this year being their 150th anniversary, it’s also the 50 year anniversary since Rangers defeated Dynamo Moscow in Spain, after beating a German side (Bayern Munich) in the semi-final. Whilst they all may be coincidental, I do firmly believe that Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his players will leave the Andalusian capital and return to Ibrox with the Europa League trophy.
- Rangers to Lift the Trophy
- Pays 6/5 (Various)