No win against Borussia Mönchengladbach - so what, Eintracht may say to themselves, who had to settle for a 1-1 draw against the team of their former coach Adi Hütter in their last home game of the Bundesliga season on Sunday.

Nevertheless, 51,500 spectators in the sold-out Frankfurt Arena were in high spirits.

At Eintracht, all eyes are on Seville, for the Europa League final on May 18th.

Ralph Weitbrecht

sports editor.

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The motto of the last home game of the season?

"It doesn't matter today - bring us the trophy!" So it was written on a banner for the fans in the north-west corner.

In the Bundesliga, Eintracht moves in the no man's land of the table.

It was gratifying that the club showed great sensitivity and officially bid farewell to one of their greats just before kick-off.

With David Abraham, it was the long-time “Capitano”, highly praised by board spokesman Axel Hellmann and President Peter Fischer, who was able to enjoy the ovations of the Frankfurt audience more than a year after his return to Argentina.

178 competitive games, five goals, one cup win: "It was great that you lifted the trophy together with Alex Meier," said Hellmann.

Together with Fischer, he had not hesitated for a second in awarding Abraham lifelong membership in recognition of his merits.

"You'll also be there in Seville," promised Hellmann and Fischer.

Several regulars paused

The arena was full again against Mönchengladbach.

But unlike the recent European Cup smashes against Barcelona and West Ham United, Eintracht was not able to ignite the fire with which great sporting achievements could be achieved for a long time.

One thing was clear: Glasner would give a number of his regular employees a break.

And so there was a starting lineup with, for example, Stefan Ilsanker, Danny da Costa and Aymen Barkok, three professionals who are leaving Frankfurt in the summer to be successful elsewhere.

Sam Lammers, Ajdin Hrustic and Goncalo Paciencia were also nominated for the first team by the Frankfurt soccer coach.

And Makoto Hasebe, the old warhorse of Eintracht, was again at the center of the defense.

In anticipation of the big Europa League final on May 18 in Seville, Glasner initially left four established regulars on the bench: Djibril Sow, Filip Kostic, Daichi Kamada and Ansgar Knauff.

Captain Sebastian Rode and striker Rafael Borré were not there at all when they met former coach Hütter.

Protection for Seville, full focus on the final.

It wasn't long before Eintracht fell behind in their 17th home game of the season.

If goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was able to parry Jonas Hofmann's shot in the third minute, the national keeper was powerless sixty seconds later.

Alassane Plea had an easy time shooting the ball decisively over the line in the Frankfurt six-yard box.

0: 1 from Eintracht's point of view, who struggled to put Gladbach under serious pressure with their completely renewed team.

So it took until the 31st minute before Gladbach's substitute keeper Tobias Sippel had to stretch for the first time.

But Ilsanker's header after a corner by Barkok flew over the bar.

With the last scene of the first half, Eintracht had a much better chance to score.

Lammers had gotten through to the right and thoughtfully passed back.

But the ready-to-shoot Paciencia couldn't do anything decisive with it.

Trapp prevents knockout

In order to provide more momentum in the second half of the game, Glasner decided to change personnel from the 46th minute.

Defender Tuta went out and Kostic came in.

The structure of the game didn't change much at first.

The technically pleasing Gladbacher were still dominant - and they even had the chance to score goal number two.

Breel Embolo had an excellent opportunity to find Trapp alone four minutes after the restart.

But the Eintracht goalkeeper showed a splendid foot defense and thus prevented the possible knockout blow.

When Eintracht then remembered their offensive virtues a little more, it was Ilsanker who had the equalizer on his feet.

But Plea cleared his shot from close range before crossing the goal line (51st).

In the 58th minute, Jens Petter Hauge (for Barkok) and Kamada (for Lammers) brought in fresh energy.

Sow also got a bit of match practice.

The Swiss came on for the Austrian Ilsanker (65th).

A short time later, the ball hit the Gladbach goal.

It was a spectacular shot that Paciencia gave Sippel no chance to defend from 25 yards out.

1:1, the stadium seemed to tremble, the fans took the equalizer as the starting signal for a loudly supported final offensive.

However, it was still necessary to be on guard.

Hasebe saved after a shot by Embolo on the line (71st).

And a very special moment of horror was the scene in which Trapp parried Luca Netz's shot with the last injured right hand and had to be treated.

Trapp could and wanted to continue - and be there as his teammates prepared to score the winning goal.

But he didn't fall anymore.

There was also a standing ovation for da Costa after he was substituted (83rd) at the end of his Eintracht time.

Ovations that Glasner's team are also hoping for in Seville.