At last! After several weeks of doubts, Eintracht Frankfurt once again tasted victory last weekend, on matchday eight of the Bundesliga. In front of their home crowd, the Hessian club comfortably beat Sankt Pauli (2-0), also achieving their first game without conceding a goal in 11 games in all competitions. A success that was possible thanks to a double from Burkardt (36′, 56′), the fittest man of the moment. Thanks to this victory, Frankfurt rises to sixth place in the standings, just behind Dortmund and Leverkusen, who are still on their heels.
However, the conclusion remains the same: defense is the Achilles heel of this team… With 29 goals conceded in 12 games (2.4 per game), Dino Toppmöller’s men are struggling to find stability. The big teams have not given them any gifts: 5 goals conceded against Atlético de Madrid and Liverpool, 3 against Bayern Munich, 2 against Freiburg… Enough reasons to fuel some worries before facing an attack as fearsome as that of Borussia Dortmund!
Eintracht Frankfurt must solve its defensive problems without fail.
For its part, Borussia Dortmund also added the three points during the weekend. A victory against Cologne (1-0), thanks to a goal from Beier in the 96th minute. Difficult, but valuable. With 17 points under their belt, Niko Kovač’s men are still fully in the fight for the top four places, just two points behind Leipzig (2nd) and seven behind Bayern Munich (1st).
In the Champions League, BVB confirms its solidity by remaining undefeated with two wins and a draw, including a last victory at Copenhagen (2-4). More consistent and, above all, more solid defensively than Frankfurt (6 goals conceded in the Bundesliga compared to 18 for Eintracht), this Dortmund could well make their rigor count on Tuesday. An important asset that could make the difference in reaching the round of 16 of the German Cup.
Eintracht Frankfurt will be without defender Baum and midfielder Hojlund, both with thigh injuries. However, most of their offensive assets will be available. Like Burkardt, author of a double against Sankt Pauli, who now has six goals in the Bundesliga.
The Turkish game director Uzun (5 goals and 4 assists) will also be present to animate the offensive sector, with the help of Doan (2 goals and 3 assists), Chaïbi (1 goal and 5 assists), Knauff (2 goals) and Bahoya (2 goals and 1 assist). Defense continues to be Eintracht Frankfurt’s weak point this season, and it is an aspect that urgently needs to be improved. But Koch, Theate, Brown and Kristensen could start again in this clash, along with goalkeeper Kaua Santos.
Eintracht Frankfurt seeks balance, Dortmund maintains the pace: a clash in which offensive talent promises sparks.
At Borussia Dortmund, Can is still out, as is Duranville. For his part, Anselmino returns to the team. In attack, BVB maintains its power and arrives with a team in form in this aspect: Guirassy (4 goals and 1 assist in the Bundesliga), Adeyemi (2 goals, 1 assist), Svensson (1 goal) and Brandt (2 goals, 2 assists) are all operational. Against Cologne, it was Beier (2 goals, 1 assist) who made the difference by scoring the only goal of the game.
In midfield, we should again see the restless Nmecha, author of a double in the Champions League against Copenhagen last week. And in defense, Niko Kovac could re-align his back three with Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini, Anton or Sule, with Kobel guarding the goal.
More solid and disciplined, Borussia Dortmund has arguments to avoid defeat in regulation time against a Frankfurt team that lacks defensive stability, in a duel that promises to be anything but boring.
Our prediction Eintracht Frankfurt – Borussia Dortmund: Draw or victory for Borussia Dortmund and more than 1.5 goals!
