After 14 Matchdays Wednesday night sees the first European champion of the season crowned, as Seville’s Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan hosts Rangers against Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Europa League final.
With the winner set to earn a Champions League birth next season, this game is about more than just silverware as promotion to club football’s biggest competition beckons.
Whilst this is The ‘Gers second European final in 14 years, Frankfurt have not been at this stage since the UEFA Cup in 1980, when they beat fellow German side Borussia Monchengladbach. In truth, there is little to separate the two sides here but the bookies favour The Eagles marginally, at a best value of 17/12 and set at 7/10 to lift the trophy. Rangers, meanwhile, are available at 11/5 in 90 mins – both with SBK.
This will be the third occasion the two sides have met in Europe and their past meetings have produced a staggering 16 goals, with Frankfurt winning 12-4 on aggregate in 1960’s European Cup semi-final. Though of course this final will be a much tighter affair, the approach of both stewards in Oliver Glasner and Gio van Bronckhorst suggests it will an open affair, so the incremental over goals market has caught the eye.
Over 2.5 goals can be had with most bookies at evens, whilst for 3.5 to go in, a best punt of 8/3 with VBet might hit the target. Alternatively, it is a final after all and both sides could cancel each other with the stakes so high. SportNation’s 28/11 odds for under 1.5 goals may be a sensible cover option.
James Tavernier will be central to Rangers’ hopes of victory in Andalusia. After a sterling campaign in Glasgow, the Englishman netted the opener at Ibrox against RB Leipzig in the semi-final and will be sniffing for goals in the final.
For Tavernier to have 1+ SOT in 90 min, SkyBet’s 13/8 might appeal or for those a little more adventurous, for 2+ SOT at the loftier price of 6/1 with PaddyPower’s own boost. For Tavernier to score anytime in normal time meanwhile, Betfair’s odds of 9/2 look equally profitable.
Staying with the anytime markets, Filip Kostic’s 4/1 price with SkyBet and Betway is interesting given the Serbian will be on spot-kick duties, whilst for Germans also, for frontman Rafael Borre to have 1 SOT in each half, another of PaddyPower’s boost specials can be grabbed at 9/2.
Having scored against both Barcelona and West Ham in the last two rounds, the Colombian to score a brace is also on cue at a full 12/1 with the same bookmaker.
Finally, a dramatic finale in Seville feels like it could be on the cards, so for either side to win on penalties, 11/2 odds seem favourable. Individually both sides can be backed at 11s to win from 12 yards, whilst an extra-time winner can’t be ruled out with a 9/2 offering quite tempting for either team to be victorious during an additional 30 minutes. All prices available with SkyBet.
