When the Eintracht Frankfurt players were already celebrating their place in the round of 16 after the 2-1 win at Sporting Lisbon on the pitch, the roller coaster on which they had rushed through the group stage this season made one last swerve.

A late goal was scored in Tuesday's parallel game in Marseille.

Tottenham Hotspur also won 2-1 at Olympique and finished first in the final table.

The French are eliminated, Sporting will continue in the Europa League next year.

Eintracht slipped to second place.

Tobias Rabe

Responsible editor for Sport Online.

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However, the last tabular shift in this incredibly tight group with four teams evenly matched was just a footnote for Frankfurt at the Estádio José Alvalade XXI during the celebrations.

In their first participation in the Champions League, the Bundesliga club reached the knockout stages, which will be drawn on Monday.

Second place means that Eintracht will initially have a home game, with the decision being made away from home.

The round of 16 will be played from February 14th to March 15th.

Opponents can all be top of the group - except Tottenham and German clubs.

This means that Frankfurt will start the new year against one of these opponents: SSC Napoli, FC Porto, FC Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Paris St. Germain or Benfica Lisbon.

But this is the future.

After the triumph in Lisbon, everyone at Eintracht enjoyed the moment that marked an emotional conclusion to an incredible 2022 European Cup year.

The dream trip across the continent just doesn't want to end.

In Seville in May there was the title win in the Europa League, now the next highlight in Lisbon.

"A great second goal"

Oliver Glasner was blown away when he spoke late at night in the catacombs about the game and his team.

"It's amazing what the players keep doing, how they deal with setbacks," said the coach.

There was also a setback in the finale.

Due to the starting position, Frankfurt had to win in order to progress.

However, Lisbon scored the first goal through Arthur Gomes (39th minute).

It was unfortunate: Djibril Sow extended the cross, Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe missed the ball, Kevin Trapp couldn't quite get hold of it.

Now Eintracht needed two goals – and scored them.

Daichi Kamada converted a penalty after a handball (62'), then Randal Kolo Muani heaved the ball into the goal (72').

"If you show this will, this belief, this passion, then you'll get lucky with the penalty kick," said Glasner.

Sporting captain Sebastián Coates was unlucky and illegally touched the ball with his arm before the penalty.

The winning goal was then a willpower.

"A great second goal - it's amazing what the boys always tear off," said Glasner at DAZN.

The rest was a game of nerves, which the Frankfurters successfully passed.

That was largely down to Sebastian Rode.

The captain came on for Jesper Lindström in the second half – and impressed.

Rode ran across the square, threw himself into every duel and ordered the game.

"Sebastian took matters into his own hands, especially with his duels," said Glasner.

He had conveyed the belief during the break.

“Everyone was a bit depressed and frustrated.

I said we have to do it with conviction.

We've shown that many times, and that helps you," said Glasner.

In order for the underdogs to make it through to the round of 16, Frankfurt have chosen a role model from Spain.

The small FC Villarreal even made it to the semi-finals last season.

"They showed us how," said Rode.

CEO Axel Hellmann also likes an imitation.

"Top 16 in Europe, and somehow on quiet feet such a dreamy Villarreal - I can definitely imagine that." The Spaniards eliminated FC Bayern in the spring.

Rode now only wants to avoid one club as an opponent.

"I would like to do without Man City," he said.

The three last opponents this year in the Bundesliga do not have such a colorful name.

It goes against Augsburg, Hoffenheim and Mainz.

Glasner is now focusing on these tasks: "The boys don't know yet, but there's no celebration today," he said.

"We'll toast, then we'll go to bed.

We're going to do it all the way to Mainz." But he has a bonus for the players: "In January, they can start training a day later." The slightly delayed start of the new year will be the continuation of the European dream trip.

Lisbon was not the terminus.

One more round.

At least.