Eintracht Frankfurt kick off “weeks of truth” against Bayer Leverkusen

Manuel Veth –

Frankfurt vs Leverkusen – Friday, October 18, 19:30BST/20:30CEST – Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt, Germany

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Leverkusen will take place at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

The next few weeks will be decisive for Eintracht Frankfurt. The Eagles will face teams that have ambitions to finish in the Bundesliga top seven and also have important games coming up in the Europa League.

In the next three weeks, Frankfurt will face first Bayer Leverkusen, Gladbach and then Bayer Munich. Sandwiched in-between will be two games against Standard Liege. “I don’t see the [coming weeks] as the weeks of truth,” Bas Dost said. “They are attractive games and we will have to gain points even after that stretch.”

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“We have to be aggressive against Bayer Leverkusen,” Dominik Kohr added. Kohr knows what he is talking about the midfielder is a Leverkusen product. “We have to take an early lead against them,” Kohr added.

Leverkusen, in the meantime, head into the game on Friday even on points with Bayern Munich and ahead of Borussia Dortmund. On average, the Werkself has collected two points per game, a crucial average to qualify for the Champions League.

At the same time, there is a sense that Leverkusen could be even further up the table. Two dropped points against RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim as well as a 4-0 smashing by Borussia Dortmund, stand out.

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Leverkusen’s biggest problem? Under Peter Bosz, Bayer remains a Kinder Suprise, which is a much-beloved German child treat in which kids never know what they will get. Leverkusen on a good day are unplayable but on an off day always willing to receive a major beating.

Frankfurt play the sort of football that Bayer Leverkusen have struggled with, the Eagles are aggressive and press high. At the same time, both teams will play wide open football, hence expect a game that could see plenty of goalscoring.

Frankfurt vs Leverkusen  – Players to look out for:

Bast Dost #9 – Eintracht Frankfurt

Bas Dost has overcome his muscular problems and should be in the starting XI on Friday. “I have no more problems and should be ready to play on Friday,” Dost said. “I am not sure if I am at 80% or 90% but I know I am regenerating faster,” Dost said. With two goals in his first four games for Eintracht Frankfurt Dost has already made an early impact and will be a key player for Frankfurt on Friday.

Bas Dost of Frankfurt celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Fortuna Duesseldorf at Commerzbank-Arena on September 01, 2019 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Kerem Demirbay #10 – Bayer Leverkusen

Kerem Demirbay is projected to replace the injured Charles Aranguiz. Head coach Peter Bosz hopes that Demirbay can bring some structure to Leverkusen’s midfield. Whether Demirbay will start as a number 6, 8 or 10 remains to be seen, however. “I anticipate I will rotate quite a bit when it comes to my position,” Demirbay said this week. “I guess the coach will play me on the double pivot, a single 6, as a number 8 or as a number 10 next to Kai Havertz,” Demirbay explained.

Kerem Demirbay of Leverkusen runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Valencia at BayArena on August 04, 2019 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Frankfurt vs Leverkusen  – Match Stats

• In the last 11 home games dating back to October 2007, Frankfurt followed up a victory with a defeat against Bayer Leverkusen.
• The Eagles won the last home game against Leverkusen and would, therefore, be due to a defeat on Friday.
• Eintracht Frankfurt’s overall home record against Leverkusen: W18 D4 L12

Futbolgrad Network Prediction: Frankfurt vs Leverkusen  – 3-2

Frankfurt vs Leverkusen  – Lineups

Eintracht Frankfurt:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Rönnow – Touré, Hasebe, Hinteregger – Fernandes – da Costa, Sow, Rode, Kostić – Dost Silva

Head Coach: Adi Hütter

Bayer Leverkusen:

Formation: 3-2-4-1

Hradecky – Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Baumgartlinger, Demirbay – L. Bender, Havertz, Amiri, Volland – Alario

Head Coach: Peter Bosz

Manuel Veth is the owner and Editor in Chief of the Futbolgrad Network. He also works as a freelance journalist and among others, contributes to Forbes.com and Pro Soccer USA. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in History from King’s College London, and his thesis is titled: “Selling the People’s Game: Football’s transition from Communism to Capitalism in the Soviet Union and its Successor States,” which is available HERE. Manuel has lived in Amsterdam, Kyiv, Moscow, Tbilisi, London, and currently splits his time between Victoria, BC, and Munich, Germany.  Follow Manuel on Twitter @ManuelVeth.