Eintracht Frankfurt welcome RB Leipzig to the Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday night, with the hosts clinging to faint European hopes while the visitors look to tighten their grip on a top four spot.
Albert Riera’s men have been plagued by inconsistency all season. No back to back wins in any competition since November. A defensive record that would make a sieve blush, 54 goals conceded, only two teams in the Bundesliga have done worse.
And yet, here they are. Still with a chance. However slim.
Frankfurt’s uphill climb
The gap to sixth placed Hoffenheim is nine points. Five games remaining. The numbers do not look good.
But Hoffenheim’s form has collapsed. The door is not fully closed. It is ajar. Frankfurt need to barge through it.
Last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Wolfsburg at least stopped the rot. Now they need to do something they have not done since November: win back to back games.
If they cannot beat Leipzig at home, the European dream is probably over.
Leipzig flying high
Ole Werner’s side are the complete opposite. Three straight wins. Four points clear of fifth placed Bayer Leverkusen. Champions League qualification firmly in their own hands.
Wins over Hoffenheim, Werder Bremen and Borussia Monchengladbach have built serious momentum.
Their away form has been solid, four wins in their last six on the road, the only loss coming in Stuttgart.
But here is the catch. Leipzig have never won away at the Deutsche Bank Park. Two of their previous three trips ended in 4-0 defeats. The other? A 1-0 loss.
Frankfurt is not a happy hunting ground.
Team news
Frankfurt are without goalkeeper Kaua Santos (knee). Michael Zetterer will continue in net, eyeing his fourth clean sheet in seven games.
Rasmus Kristensen (ankle) is expected to miss out. Oscar Hojlund is a slight doubt.
Leipzig’s injury list is lengthy. Ezechiel Banzuzi and Viggo Gebel (both knee) are out. Conrad Harder (thigh) and Castello Lukeba (muscle) are doubts. Xaver Schlager is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card. Leopold Zingerle (wrist) is unlikely to feature.
Probable line ups
Eintracht Frankfurt (3-4-3): Zetterer; Amenda, Koch, Theate; Amaimouni Echghouyab, Chaibi, Larsson, Hojlund, Brown; Burkardt, Kalimuendo.
RB Leipzig (4-2-3-1): Vandevoordt; Baku, Orban, Bitshiabu, Raum; Gruda, Seiwald, Baumgartner; Diomande, Romulo, Nusa.
Prediction
Leipzig are flying. Frankfurt are not. On paper, the visitors should win.
But football is not played on paper. Leipzig have never won here. Frankfurt are desperate. And desperate teams can be dangerous.
The hosts have gone toe to toe with the biggest teams in the Bundesliga this season. They are capable of raising their game.
A low scoring draw feels right. Both sides need the points. Neither will want to lose.
Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 RB Leipzig.
