Gers facing Borre war in Seville final
Alfredo Morelos played his part in getting Rangers to the final but his Colombian team-mate could be the biggest threat to their Europa League hopes on Wednesday.
Rafael Borre was Eintracht Frankfurt’s main man as he scored and set up another in their Rhein-Main derby 2-2 draw with Mainz at the MEWA Arena.
Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner vowed to put out a strong side to fine-tune ahead of Wednesday and he didn’t disappoint.
It was arguably his strongest Xl with one change from the team that saw off West Ham United in the semi-final.
Even that was enforced with Martin Hinteregger out injured and he was replaced by Almamy Toure in their three-man backline.
Frankfurt played a lot of the game on the back foot but the one thing clear is Glasner’s side like to play out from defence and are not afraid about taking risks and playing in tight spaces.
That is an area where Rangers, with the use of a high press, could really get some joy through the likes of Ryan Kent and Joe Aribo in Seville.
Filip Kostic offers a threat from set-plays but Gers star James Tavernier would fancy
his chances against him down the flank.
Kostic was slack in possession and his lacklustre throw-in led to Mainz’s opener in the 10th minute.
The heart of the Eintracht defence didn’t cover itself in glory either for that goal.
Anton Stach had a shot hacked away by Evan Ndicka but it fell to Marcus Ingvartsen who fired to the net.
The match was going one-way before Eintracht finally came alive and turned the game on its head with pretty much their first effort of significance.
Kostic’s free-kick was flicked on by Borre, forcing Finn Dahmen into a stop but defender Tuta reacted first to sweep the ball home.
Colombian striker Borre might not be in the same style as Morelos but he looks to be a real danger.
He had a hand in the first goal and scored the second.
A good burst forward and ball through from Ansgar Knauff sent him clear and he swept the ball crisply across Dahmen and into the net in the 35th minute.
Mainz levelled though through Ingvartsen after Daichi Kamada gave the ball away, leaving Eintracht 16 points behind Red Bull Leipzig and 27 behind Borussia Dortmund – two teams who lost to Gers this season.