Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates a magical night in Seville. The door to the Europa League quarter-finals is wide open.
The Frankfurt players splashed around with their water bottles during the victory dance, thousands of fans celebrated the Eintracht magic in the Andalusian cauldron. The Bundesliga team won their round of 16 first leg in the Europa League at Betis Sevilla 2-1 (2-1) and can dream of more magical nights. Even a draw is enough to get into the quarter-finals next Thursday.
“I’m really proud,” said goalkeeper Kevin Trapp RTL+. “How dominant we were, how confident we were – it’s almost a shame that we didn’t win higher.” In fact, the knockout of the strong Hessians would have been possible for the opponent on Wednesday evening.
“We really enjoyed the atmosphere, we were very hot,” said Djibril Sow of the mood at Estadio Benito Villamarín. “Even after the game, the goosebumps are back. I don’t think we’ll let that go.” Coach Oliver Glasner said: “I’m very happy with our performance, because it was great. We played forward until the end. That was a fantastic performance today.”
Eintracht celebrated the goals of Filip Kostic (15th), who practically crossed the ball into the net, and Daichi Kamada (32nd) in the atmospheric Estadio Benito Villamarin. The Japanese immediately countered the interim equalization of French world champion Nabil Fekir (30th) after a bad Betis misstep. Rafael Borre (52nd) also missed a hand penalty.
The impressive stadium, hardly any corona restrictions, sunshine – it was not only paradise for the Eintracht fans who love to sing. He himself was “there like a little kid, I’m so happy,” said coach Oliver Glasner in advance.
However, the 138th European Cup game in Eintracht’s history was a tricky one. With astonishingly high pressing, the Frankfurters tried to unsettle the strong Real Betis Balompie, sorted in 3-4-3. The lead came from winning the ball: Kostic’s cross between a cross and a shot on goal sank perfectly into the corner.
Betis keeper Bravo prevents preliminary decision
Betis felt forced to go on the offensive, Eintracht willingly withdrew a little – they were compact and secure with the eleven in the most recent 4-1 win at Hertha BSC. Fekir in the central Betis midfield did not yet radiate the usual danger. But then he hit his first successful move from the right with his left, but Kamada immediately put the lid on the bubbling cauldron after a perfect pass from Jesper Lindström.
Eintracht remained very concentrated defensively, but Borre brought the crowd back into the game with his weak penalty. Sevilla’s goalkeeper veteran Claudio Bravo, who had already been whistled at by his own fans because of uncertainties, easily parried the Colombian’s limp shot.
Kostic (62’/90’+3′) and again Borre (65’/67′) then missed further big chances, and Eintracht failed to knock out the heavily estimated fifth-placed Spanish team in the first leg. Betis continued to disappoint, even the prospect of a “half” home final didn’t seem to unleash any special powers.
The final will be played a few kilometers north on May 18 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium of Betis archrivals and Europa League record winners Sevilla FC.
Betis Sevilla – Eintracht Frankfurt: The line-ups
Betis Seville: Bravo – Sabaly, Pezzella, Gonzalez, Ruibal (77th Tello) – Rodriguez, William (61st Miranda) – Canales, Fekir, Juanmi (61st Joaquin) – Willian Jose (77th Iglesias)
Frankfurt: Trapp – Tuta, Hinteregger, Ndicka – Knauff, Jakic, Sow, Kostic – Lindstrom (73 Hauge), Kamada (78 Lenz) – Borre (86 Lammers)