The 2021-22 Europa League certainly had no shortage of exciting games. This year’s two finalists – Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers – delivered their fair share of drama, most notably away from home against big-name opposition.
Meanwhile, a couple of Spanish sides – Real Betis and Barcelona – were involved in some high-scoring shootouts before falling to the eventual champions.
Read on below as SBOTOP looks back at the top five matches of the 2021-22 Europa League season.
Real Betis 4-3 Celtic, Group stage
Real Betis and Celtic were hands down the most entertaining sides of the Europa League group stage. Betis’ six group-stage games resulted in 24 goals, while Celtic’s had 28!
Unsurprisingly, their meetings in Group G were absolute goal fests, with a total of 12 goals scored in just two games. Seven of those came in an epic shootout in Seville, which Betis won 4-3.
Celtic looked to be in complete command as they went up 2-0 inside half an hour thanks to goals from Albian Ajeti and Josip Juranovic. But Betis came storming back with quick goals from Juan Miranda and Juanmi to enter half-time level at 2-2.
Then, two more goals from Juanmi and Borja Iglesias in the space of just a few minutes to start the second half but Betis back in the driver’s seat.
Celtic made the last few minutes a bit nervy as they pulled a goal back three minutes from time, but Betis held on to claim a thrilling 4-3 victory.
Borussia Dortmund 2-4 Rangers, Knockout play-off 1st leg
Rangers were unfortunately this year’s beaten finalists as they fell to Frankfurt on penalties. But despite their dramatic defeat, the Gers fans will forever remember this incredible cup run, which featured one of the most unforgettable nights in the club’s illustrious history.
The Europa League 2022 odds had Rangers as major underdogs as they went into Signal Iduna Park to face Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the knockout round play-offs. However, the Scots sprung a massive surprise as they went 2-0 up by half-time and eventually won 4-1.
Captain James Tavernier, who set the tone with his opening goal through the penalty spot, scored twice more in the second leg in Glasgow as the Gers went through and made it all the way to the final.
Napoli 2-4 Barcelona, Knockout play-off 2nd leg
There was another 4-2 match during the knockout play-off tie, and it took place in the second leg of Barcelona’s blockbuster matchup with Napoli. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Camp Nou, Barca had to win in Naples to go through to the quarter-finals.
But victory looked all but assured for the Spanish giants just a quarter of an hour into the match as they went 2-0 up thanks to Jordi Alba and a fantastic goal from Frenkie de Jong.
Napoli pulled a goal back through a Lorenzo Insigne’s penalty. But that goal would end up being the Napoli captain’s last European goal for the club as a dominant Barca side scored twice more through Gerard Pique and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to put the game well beyond Napoli’s reach.
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Real Betis, Round of 16 2nd leg
Eintracht Frankfurt won the Europa League final in dramatic circumstances as they beat Rangers on penalties. However, their 1-1 draw in the round-of-16 second leg against Real Betis was arguably the most dramatic match of the entire campaign.
After grabbing a shock 2-1 win in Seville in the first leg, Frankfurt were mere minutes away from going through as the second leg remained scoreless heading into full time.
However, Betis’ Borja Iglesias popped up with a brilliant goal in the 90th minute to force extra time. And just as the match was seconds away from heading into penalties, it was Frankfurt’s turn to pop up with their own late goal.
Although, they had some help from Betis’ keeper, Rui Silva, as he failed to clear a free kick. The ball then bounced off of Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez and into the unguarded net for an own goal.
It was a cruel way for Betis to lose, but it was remarkable fortune from Frankfurt’s perspective, and they capitalised on that good luck to claim their first-ever European championship.
Barcelona 2-3 Eintracht Frankfurt, Quarter-final 2nd leg
As dramatic as Eintracht Frankfurt’s triumph against Betis was, though, their 3-2 win against mighty Barcelona at the Camp Nou will still go down as the signature performance of their title-winning run.
The Eagles did well to hold Barca to a 1-1 draw at home in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, but no one could ever have expected them to come into the Camp Nou and just dominate a Barca side that had been in fantastic form at that time.
The Germans made a great start as they went up after just four minutes through a Filip Kostic penalty. And they were in dreamland when Rafael Borre unleashed one of the best Europa League 2022 highlights with his wonder strike to give them a 2-0 lead.
Despite a late Barca rally, Kostic’s second goal on 67 minutes had already sealed one of, if not the most famous victory in Eintracht Frankfurt’s history – and one of the best games in the Europa League 2021-22 season.
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