Eintracht Frankfurt vs RB Leipzig – Sunday, September 23, 17:00BST/18:00 CEST – Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt, Germany Two very differing Europa
Eintracht Frankfurt vs RB Leipzig – Sunday, September 23, 17:00BST/18:00 CEST – Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt, Germany
Eintracht Frankfurt vs RB Leipzig will take place at the Commerzbank Arena. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Two very differing Europa League ties on Thursday resulted in mixed fortunes as both clubs return to Bundesliga action. Eintracht Frankfurt vs RB Leipzig is the final game of Matchday four and each will be looking to end the week on a high.
Eintracht Frankfurt haven’t had the best of starts to the season. Humbled in the Super Cup they were then dumped out of the DFB Pokal by fourth tier side SSV Ulm – an underwhelming defence of the trophy won in May.
After a positive opener against Freiburg, the Eagles then lost their next two games – culminating with a disappointing performance against Borussia Dortmund.
However, a fantastic result in the opening game of the Europa League saw Adi Hütter’s 10 men snatch a late win away at Olympique de Marseille. The head coach will be hoping Thursday’s performance can be a spring board to turn around their domestic form.
If Frankfurt excelled in Europe on Thursday night then the same can not be said of visitors Leipzig. A performance that was lambasted by head coach Ralf Rangnick saw Die Roten Bullen embarrassed by fellow Red Bull outlet, Salzburg.
Regardless of a late fightback it was the opening half that laid the seed for the night’s defeat. Post-match the Leipzig head coach didn’t hold back on his assessment.
Not all of my players understood what to do today, they could have conceded five or six goals. Konate especially, he had a problem with his attitude and mentality . We can only apologise to the fans for our first half performance. Ralf Rangnick
After an opening day collapse against Dortmund, Leipzig only managed a draw against newly promoted Fortuna Düsseldorf – their only victory so far in the Bundesliga a 3-2 defeat of Hannover.
Rangnick will demand an improvement on Thursday night, whether his players respond waits to be seen.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs RB Leipzig – Players to look out for:
Filip Kostic #10 – Eintracht Frankfurt
Arriving on loan in the summer from relegated Hamburg, the 25-year-old has settled well into life at the Commerzbank Arena.
With Leipzig vulnerable on the wings against Salzburg, it could be the Serbian left sided forward who holds the key to heaping more misery on their Saxony visitors.
Quick on the counter, and unafraid to drive at opposition back lines, he can also be relied upon to deliver a dangerous cross.
Filip Kostic – arriving on loan in the summer from relegated Hamburg, the 25-year-old has settled well into life at the Commerzbank Arena. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Yussuf Poulsen #9 – RB Leipzig
With four goals and two assists from the nine games played this season, the Danish centre forward has been one of Leipzig’s most consistent players.
His short lived equalising goal on Thursday night demonstrated his power in the air and his ability to find the net under pressure.
With Timo Werner, a doubt for this fixture, the hopes of a Leipzig revival could sit firmly on the shoulders of the 24-year-old as they visit a resurgent Frankfurt.
Yussuf Poulsen – With four goals and two assists from the nine games played this season, the Danish centre forward has been one of Leipzig’s most consistent players. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs RB Leipzig – Match Stats
- Marco Fabian and Timo Werner could miss this game due to injury
- Frankfurt come into this fixture after a tremendous victory against Olympique de Marseille
- Leipzig suffered a shock defeat against Red Bull rivals Salzburg on Thursday
- The teams have faced each other only four times with RB Leipzig holding the upper hand (W2, L1, D1)
Futbolgrad Network Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt vs RB Leipzig – 2-2
Eintracht Frankfurt vs RB Leipzig – Lineups
Eintracht Frankfurt:
Formation: 4-3-3
Trapp – da Costa, Abraham, N’Dicka, Tawatha – Torro, Gacinovic, Fernandes – Müller, Haller, Kostic
Head Coach: Adi Hütter
RB Leipzig:
Formation: 4-2-2-2
Gulacsi – Laimer, Orban, Upamecano, Halstenberg – Kampl, Demme – Sabitzer, Forsberg – Cunha, Poulsen
Head Coach: Ralf Rangnick
Chris Williams is a freelance European football journalist. Covering the Bundesliga, Premier League and both of UEFA’s European club competitions. Published in both local and international publications, he also contributes to television and radio across the globe. A member of the UK’s Sports Journalist Association and the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). Follow Chris Williams on Twitter @Chris78Williams
COMMENTS