Eintracht Frankfurt want to overcome deficit against Strasbourg

Manuel Veth –

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Strasbourg – August 29, 19:30BST/20:30CEST – Waldstadion, Frankfurt, Germany

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

The Eagles somewhat disappointed in the first leg losing 1-0 to Racing Strasbourg despite 45 minutes of dominance in the second half. Without an away goal scored, this is a difficult result to overturn.

“It is the most important match of the season,” goalkeeper Kevin Trapp said this week. “The pressure is immense, but that is a good thing. You need that nervous feeling to get the best out of yourself,” Trapp added.

Frankfurt head coach Hütter, in the meantime, analysed the first match in-depth on the video to find a solution against Strasbourg’s five-man defence. “I spotted some holes, but it is all about movements with and without the ball,” Hütter said.

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“We will accept this challenge, and I think we have the class to dissect an opponent like Strasbourg,” midfielder Sebastian Rode added. Unfortunately, for Frankfurt, however, they will have to take on Strasbourg without new signing Bas Dost, who was signed after the nomination deadline.

Instead, Ante Rebić, who has been linked with a move away from Frankfurt all summer is expected to start. “Ante has often made the difference,” Hütter said. “If he is fit and mentally strong enough to play, he will start. Ante is an important member of this team and can help us,” Hütter added.

Without the sold Luka Jović and Sébastien Haller, Frankfurt need Rebić’s class to break down a pesky Strasbourg side. Strasbourg, in the meantime, need to advance on Thursday for much-needed funds to strengthen the side before the transfer window closes.

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On Saturday the club lost 2-0 against last-placed Stade Rennes in Ligue 1. “Perhaps that defeat will take some of our confidence,” defender Alexander Djiku said after the game. “I feel that we can play better than this,” forward Lebo Mothiba said.

Strasbourg believe that Frankfurt are vulnerable without Haller, Jović, and newly signed Dost. But even without that trio of forwards the Eagles should have the quality to overturn the first leg result and advance to the group stage.

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Strasbourg – Players to look out for:

Ante Rebić #4 – Eintracht Frankfurt

Ante Rebić‘s future in Frankfurt remains a big talking point. But with the transfer window closing in just two weeks, his departure becomes ever more unlikely. Good news for head coach Adi Hütter for whom the striker is an important piece in the attack. Rebić’s physical attributes means that he will be a key player to play around new signings Dejan Joveljićand Bas Dost.

Gert Kams of FC Flora Tallinn competes with Ante Rebic of Eintracht Frankfurt during the UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round 1st Leg match between FC Flora Tallinn and Eintracht Frankfurt at A Le Coq Arena on July 25, 2019, in Tallinn, Estonia. (Photo by Joosep Martinson/Getty Images)

Kenny Lala #27 – RC Strasbourg

With a transfer value of €14 million right-back, Kenny Lala is the most expensive player in Strasbourg’s squad. The 27-year-old was signed on a free transfer from Lens two years ago and has since developed into a standout player. Strong on the ball, Lala likes to join the attack on the right and also has a fantastic shot that makes him dangerous on set-pieces.

Strasbourg’s French defender Kenny Lala (L) vies with Rennes’ French midfielder James Lea Siliki during the French L1 football match between Strasbourg (RCSA) and Rennes (SRFC) on May 18, 2019 at the Meinau stadium in Strasbourg, eastern France. (Photo by PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP)

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Strasbourg – Match Stats

• Before the first leg, the two clubs have never played each other in a competitive fixture.
• Strasbourg’s biggest European success was winning the 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup.
• Strasbourg have only faced German opposition once, in 1978/79 they were eliminated by MSV Duisburg in the third round of the UEFA Cup (0-4 on aggregate).

Futbolgrad Network Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt vs Strasbourg – 2-0

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Strasbourg – Lineups

Eintracht Frankfurt:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Trapp – Hinteregger, Hasebe, Abraham – Kostić, Rode, Torró, da Costa – Rebić, Paciência

Head Coach: Adi Hütter

Racing Strasbourg:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Sels – Carole, Djiku, Mitrović, Koné, Lala – Lienard,  Martin, Thomasson – Zohi, Ajorque

Head Coach: Thierry Laurey

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.