Goals from Filip Kostic and Daichi Kamada in Spain earned Eintracht Frankfurt a 2-1 first-leg advantage over Real Betis in the UEFA Europa League round of 16.
Real Betis 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 0-1 Kostic (14 ‘), 1-1 Fekir (30 ‘), 1-2 Kamada (32 ‘)
Both sides exchanged chances in the opening minutes, with Betis starting to come into the game after a bright Frankfurt start. But any momentum evaporated in an instant as Eintracht talisman Kostic lobbed Claudio Bravo from wide on the left. Some may say it was a cross, but nobody of a Frankfurt persuasion will have cared as it nestled in the net. The hosts drew level on the half hour when their star man Nabil Fekir cut in off the right and picked out the far bottom corner. However, the delight of the Spanish crowd lasted barely 120 seconds as the Bundesliga club retook the lead. Jesper Lindstrom took advantage of some loose passing at the back to nip in and draw in three Betis defenders before squaring for Kamada for a simple finish inside the six-yard box.
The Adler were given another chance to extend their advantage in the tie early in the second half when Lindstrom drew a handball from makeshift left-back Aitor Ruibal, but Rafael Borre’s penalty was saved by Bravo. It was the start of a Colombian-Chilean personal dual as the Eintracht striker was twice played in one-on-one but denied both times by the Betis goalkeeper to stop Frankfurt from building a greater lead. Eintracht were well worth their first-leg victory, mustering up seven attempts on target to the hosts’ three, and are well placed ahead of the return fixture in Frankfurt next Thursday.
Match stats
- Kamada is Eintracht’s leading scorer in this year’s competition with four goals. He’s also the highest scoring Japanese player in UEFA Cup / Europa League history with 10 in 17 games.
- Kostic got his first goal since November against Freiburg. It was his fourth of the season, equalling his total from the whole of 2020/21 (four in 30 games).
- Since Kostic’s Europa League debut in 2018/19, only Bruno Fernandes has scored more goals from outside the box (four) than Frankfurt’s Serbian.
- This was the first time Frankfurt had scored two goals in the first half of an away game in the Europa League.
- Eintracht are still yet to lose away at a Spanish club (W3, D1) and extended their unbeaten run against clubs from Spain to six games. Their sole defeat was the first encounter, against Real Madrid in the 1659/60 European Cup final.
- Although unbeaten at home in Europa League group stages, Betis have still never won a knockout game in the competition on their own turf (D2, L3). Seville is also the host city for this year final.
Line-ups
Betis: Bravo – Sabaly, Pezzella, Gonzalez, Ruibal (Tello 77 ‘) – Rodriguez, Carvalho (Miranda 61’) – Canales (c), Fekir, Juanmi (Joaquin 61 ‘) – Jose (Iglesias 77’)
Unused subs: Robles, Silva, Bartra, Ruiz, Lainez, Rodri
Out: Montoya (Achilles)
Coach: Manuel Pellegrini
Frankfurt: Trapp (c) – Tuta, Hinteregger, N’Dicka – Knauff, Sow, Jakic, Kostic – Lindstrom (Hauge 73 ‘), Kamada (Lenz 78’) – Borre (Lammers 86 ‘)
Unused subs: Grahl, Horz, Hrustic, Rode, Toure, Hasebe, Chandler, Da Costa, Barkok
Out: Ache (hamstring), Paciencia (suspended), Ramaj (knee)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
As it happened!
That’s a great result for Eintracht, who win the first leg thanks to goals from Kostic and Kamada. It could have been even better for the visitors, who missed a penalty through Borre and a series of good chances to put this tie out of sight. Full-time Lammers smashes one off target. Not long afterwards, Kostic lashes one at goal from the left but Bravo is there again with a flying save. This cracking Round of 16, first leg will have four extra minutes. Ansgar Knauff goes on an epic run that takes him all the way through into the Betis area. A weak shot follows, however, which Bravo gathers. Another chance for Borre who can’t quite get the ball out of his feet, allowing Joaquin to get the ball away. Manuel Pellegrini’s men are looking for a big finish here as Eintracht settle in and look to break. The Eagles have never lost in Spain in three previous visits, remember. Can Oliver Glasner’s men hold out for what would be a memorable victory here? He’s been busy throughout this game and Sergio Canales looks to fire his team level with a shot that Trapp deals with comfortably. Cristian Tello Aitor Ruibal Borja Iglesias Willian Jose Superb work from Kamada who races into the Betis box and cuts back for Borre, who again finds the palms of Bravo. Eintracht probably should have extended their lead there. © Imago The Betis keeper denies Borre from point-blank range. Was Borre a touch offside there? In any case, Eintracht win a corner. yuan Miranda William Carvalho Joaquin Juanmi The Danish attacker gets down the right and lifts a decent center into space which Bravo grabs at the second attempt. Opportunities at both ends with Canales firing wide following a Betis counter and then Kostic drilling off target at the other end when well placed. Borre’s penalty is well stopped by Bravo, who is now being hailed by the same fans that were whistling him just moments ago. Redemption. Handball in the area and the visitors with a great chance for 3-1. Claudio Bravo shanks a clearance out for a throw in under no pressure and the home crowd get right on the back of the former Barcelona ‘keeper, who is not having his best game. Here we go again. The second half begins as the lights come up at the Estadio Benito Villamarin. Kick-off! Both sets of teams head in for a merited breather after a terrific opening 45 minutes. Eintracht will be delighted with their display here, Die Adler leading through Kostic’s ‘did he, did not mean it’ cross-shot that drifted in and Kamada’s sucker punch just after Betis had equalized. Half-time The Betis No.10 tries to trick Trapp with a shot back across goal but that one zips wide of the upright. © Imago Amazing scenes. Shortly after they conceded the equalizer, Eintracht are back in front with a goal coming from a Betis error. Lindstrøm cuts back for Kamada who has the straightforward task of steering home. What a game! A bit too easy for Fekir, who cuts inside from the right and rolls a finish into the corner. No chance for Trapp there and we’re level. Sabali races down the right and tries a Kostic, aiming a cross-shot at Trapp’s far post. No dice for the Betis man as that one flies off target. Sow is the latest player to go into the book for upending Aitor Ruibal. The crowd roar their disapproval at the Eintracht man and things are getting caliente in Andalusia. Yellow card for Fekir after a foul on Tuta. Unsurprisingly, the Betis man disagrees with that decision. Nabil Fekir Kostic takes possession out on the left and has a look up to check his options in the middle. He scoops in a cross that drifts all the way towards the far post, past the despairing Claudio Bravo, and in! © getty Eintracht nick possession and Kostic feeds Lindström who fires over the top. Nice from Die Adler. Straight from a kick-out, Sergio Canales races through on goal but shoots tamely, allowing Trapp to gather easily. That was an early scare for the visitors. Peeeep! The ball is rolling on a beautiful evening in Andalusia. Kick-off! We’re all set for kick-off at the Estadio Benito Villamarin in Seville! Settle in, we’re predicting a cracker. Interestingly enough, this is the only Round of 16 tie in which both teams started their respective 2021/22 European campaigns in the UEFA Europa League. So, can Eintracht make a solid start to this tie and take a step towards reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup / Europa League for a sixth time? Lest we forget, The Eagles won this famous trophy back in 1980. 2:03 Perhaps unsurprisingly after beating Hertha 4-1 at the weekend, Oliver Glasner names the same side that started that game. Captain Sebastian Rode and Danny da Costa are also back in the squad after they missed the trip to Berlin. The hosts have made seven changes from the team beaten here 3-1 by Atletico Madrid on Sunday. The only players remaining are goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, right-back Youssouf Sabaly, holding midfielder William Carvalho and playmaker Nabil Fekir. Grahl, Horz, Hrustic, Lammers, Rode, Toure, Hasebe, Chandler, Hauge, Da Costa, Lenz, Barkok Trapp (c) – Tuta, Hinteregger, N’Dicka – Knauff, Sow, Jakic, Kostic – Lindstrom, Kamada – Borre Robles, Silva, Bartra, Ruiz, Iglesias, Tello, Joaquin, Lainez, Rodri, Miranda Bravo – Sabaly, Pezzella, Gonzalez, Ruibal – Rodriguez, Carvalho – Canales (c), Fekir, Juanmi – Jose Of his opponents opponents this evening, Eintracht boss Glasner said, “[Betis] have shown how confident they are on the ball and they have a lot of experienced players in their squad. “The tactician added,” We have a lot of respect [for them]but there ‘s only one goal for us: we want to get to the quarter-finals. “ For their part, Betis finished behind Bayer Leverkusen in their section before the La Liga side successfully got past Zenit St. Petersburg in a two-legged play-off to set up this evening’s match-up. © Getty This evening’s game at the Estadio Benito Villamarin in Seville is the very first meeting between these teams in European competition while Frankfurt boast a solid record on Spanish soil, Die Adler never having lost in any of their three previous visits. You’re very welcome along to our LIVE blog for what is set to be a mouthwatering UEFA Europa League Round of 16, first leg encounter between Real Betis and the Bundesliga’s own, Eintracht Frankfurt.Frankfurt take control
More Eintracht chances
Almost there
Knauff almost kills it off
Almost for Borre
Hosts increase the pressure
Canales has a pop
Bravo again
Eintracht still in front
Big-time Bravo
Lindstrom tester
Chances aplenty
Bravo to the rescue
PENALTY Eintracht!
Bravo enduring a tough evening
Back underway!
Deserved break
Canales tries one
Tremendous entertainment
Kamada on target!
GOAL! 1-1
Sabali imitates Frankfurt magician
Things heating up
Fekir booked
GOAL
Plenty of noise
Oooh Lindström!
Chance!
Kick-off !!
Teams out …
Europa League all the way
Frankfurt’s fond memories
WATCH: HERTHA 1-4 FRANKFURT
FRANKFURT TEAM NEWS
BETIS TEAM NEWS
FRANKFURT SUBS
FRANKFURT XI
BETIS SUBS
BETIS XI
Glasner wary of “confident” Betis
Betis take the long road
The Eagles soar through
No pain in Spain for Eintracht
Welcome one and all!
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