Finally Europa League again.

Eintracht has waited a long time to dive into their favorite competition again.

On December 9th the last group game at Fenerbahce Istanbul (1:1) - and now the round of 16 in Seville.

Not at FC, the six-time record winner in the Europa League, but at city rivals Real Betis.

60,000 spectators can be there this Wednesday (6.45 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Europa League and on RTL+) in the Estadio Benito Villamarín.

Ralph Weitbrecht

sports editor.

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Right in the middle: a good 3,000 Eintracht fans, many of whom made their way to Andalusia on Tuesday.

Oliver Glasner, Eintracht coach, had gathered his team again in Frankfurt in the morning.

The final training, originally scheduled in the small arena at the winter sports hall, was moved to the square in front of the arena at short notice.

The weather in southern Spain was rather unexpected on Tuesday until the early afternoon.

Clear to cloudy, 14 degrees.

20 degrees and sun are expected on the day of the game.

For the last time, Eintracht was allowed to play in Greece under similar external conditions.

That was on November 4th.

It was the sportingly highly successful day on which the Glasner team won 2-1 at Olympiacos Piraeus and took the decisive step towards winning the group.

So now against Betis.

Against coach Manuel Pellegrini's squad, who are used to playing with a back four and a striker.

Two players, Joaquín and Borja Iglesias, are the only ones who have featured in all matches of the Europa League campaign so far.

If you will, Joaquín is the Makoto Hasebe of Betis Sevilla.

650 league games, 60 national, 93 international cup games: The 40-year-old Spaniard is the fans' favourite.

The man is the heart, brain and head of the team.

And her captain.

Good memories from Spain

In the end, it doesn't matter who wears the bandage at Eintracht.

There are some with leadership qualities.

If Sebastian Rode is not available injured and Hasebe does not play, it is sometimes Martin Hinteregger, sometimes Kevin Trapp, who leads Eintracht as captain.

By the way, for the first time against Betis under a European sign.

But that doesn't mean the two clubs haven't faced each other before.

In 2017 there was a friendly in Wiesbaden.

Eintracht prevailed 3-0.

So now the goodbye.

Eintracht has fond memories of the last three away games for Spanish teams.

None was lost.

Most recently, they drew at Celta de Vigo in the 2006/2007 UEFA Cup group stage.

The Europa League has long since evolved from the UEFA Cup.

The competition in which Eintracht has already advanced to the semi-finals, but was unfortunately eliminated on penalties by eventual cup winners Chelsea.

The Eintracht protagonists do not have good memories of their last appearance in the round of 16.

It was the time when the Corona crisis started, there were no more spectators in the stadiums - and both knockout games against FC Basel were lost.

It was a bitter, desolate end in orphaned concrete bowls.

It will be very different in Seville.

Full stands, expectant fans: Eintracht and their supporters have high hopes for the duel with Betis.

The respect is great.

“Betis is very sure of the ball.

They never stress on the ball,” said Glasner on Tuesday after landing at the press conference organized by UEFA at the Betis Stadium.

"I felt as early as autumn: The Europa League is something very special.

Frankfurt loves Europe, Frankfurt loves the Europa League,” enthused the Eintracht coach.

"That's why I got on the plane in a good mood." Glasner expects "extremely dangerous long-range shots this Wednesday evening.

Betis have scored the third most goals in the league.

But you also got a lot.”

Striker Borré is ready

A signal that Rafael Borré, sitting next to him on the podium, clearly heard.

The Colombian knows what it's like at Betis from his days at Villarreal.

"The atmosphere will be great.

It's great that our fans are there.

We will feel their unconditional support.” Borré, who finally scored again in the 4-1 win at Hertha, promised: “I can give the team more – for example, score more goals.” Glasner would welcome it.

As the trainer was grateful overall.

"I'm really looking forward to this game in Seville and think it's super cool.

that I can be there.

I want to enjoy the evening."

In Seville, rattling is part of the craft.

But the capital of flamenco has more to offer than just dance, culture and history.

Soccer has been played excellently in Seville for many years.

Eintracht is looking forward to it – and wants to counteract it.