Christopher Heath

Only traditional giants Inter Milan and Juventus had landed more shots on target than Como’s 188 before the final round of matches, but the visitors’ attacking advances were limited to only a single shot off-target in the opening quarter-hour in Cremona. Meanwhile, Cremonese had no choice but to translate their best form of defence into attack after relegation rivals Lecce took an early lead against Genoa.

A scintillating smoke storm from the stands at Deutsche Bank Park delayed kick-off by over five minutes, but it didn’t take Eintracht long to see the first sight of a goal as Jean-Mattéo Bahoya called Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel into a fine one-handed save from after three minutes. The hosts were back on the attack not long after, with Ritsu Doan's strike visibly stinging the Bayern Munich loanee’s palms.

After qualifying for their first-ever European final last week, Rayo’s confidence was as high as the clear skies over the Spanish capital, and Inigo Perez’s side certainly didn’t waste that momentum, as they attempted to pile further pressure on their relegation-threatened visitors.