In an all-top-flight clash, Eintracht Frankfurt will host Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday at Deutsche Bank Park in the second round of the DFB-Pokal.
The Eagles are sixth in the Bundesliga with 14 points from eight games and beat Eintracht Braunschweig in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on August 19, whereas the away side are 11th with 10 points after eight matchweeks.
Match preview
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The hosts were already leading 4-0 by the time Eintracht Braunschweig managed to score a consolation goal in the 89th minute and were rarely troubled by their opponents.
In their last match, Eintracht Frankfurt drew 1-1 with Union Berlin on Sunday, though perhaps boss Dino Toppmoller will be pleased with the result given his side were reduced to 10 men when Arthur Theate was sent off in the 77th minute with the scores level at 1-1.
Toppmoller's team have scored 16 goals and conceded 12 times in the league this campaign, and these records make them the division's fifth-best offensive and seventh-best defensive side.
The Eagles began their 2024-25 season with four wins from their first five fixtures, but they have drawn two, won one and lost one of their four most recent games.
Eintracht Frankfurt have proven difficult to beat at home considering they have lost just one of their last 12 matches at Deutsche Bank Park, but they have only won five times in that period.
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As for the visitors, they reached the second round of the competition after beating Erzgebirge Aue 3-1 in August, a match in which they trailed after just eight minutes but managed to win thanks to a strong second-half showing.
Borussia Monchengladbach drew 1-1 against Mainz 05 last Friday, and manager Gerardo Seoane said that the result was a fair reflection of what happened on the pitch.
Die Fohlen have netted 11 times and conceded on 13 occasions, and these figures are the fifth-worst offensive and joint eighth-best defensive records in the top flight.
Seoane's side are in mixed form of late, winning two, drawing one and losing three of their six most recent games while scoring seven goals and conceding 10 times.
Borussia Monchengladbach have failed to win their last three away matches, drawing once and losing twice, and have lost 11, drawn six and won just three of their last 20 fixtures on the road.
Team News
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The hosts will be without midfielder Oscar Hojlund, who is scheduled to return from a broken ankle in late December, so expect Tuta and Mahmoud Dahoud to start in a double pivot.
Defenders Niels Nkounkou and Rasmus Kristensen are also not likely to feature, so perhaps Eintracht Frankfurt could field Jerome Onguene, Robin Koch, Aurele Amenda and Nathaniel Brown in defence.
Igor Matanovic may start in a front two, and while Omar Marmoush will want to continue his strong form, he could be rested in favour of Hugo Ekitike.
Borussia Monchengladbach continue to be plagued by injury issues, with goalkeepers Jan Olschowsky and Jonas Omlin out until November.
Defenders Luca Netz, Nico Elvedi and Simon Walde are also ruled out, so expect Stefan Lainer, Ko Itakura, Marvin Friedrich and Lukas Ullrich to start in front of goalkeeper Tobias Sippel.
Forwards Nathan N'Goumou and Yvandro Borges Sanches will also be unavailable for selection, with the latter not likely to return until the middle of December due to a cruciate ligament injury.
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Santos; Onguene, Koch, Amenda, Brown; Ebimbe, Tuta, Dahoud, Uzun; Matanovic, Ekitike
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Sippel; Lainer, Itakura, Friedrich, Ullrich; Sander, Weigl; Honorat, Stoger, Hack; Kleindienst
We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Borussia Monchengladbach
Given the strong home record of Eintracht Frankfurt, it would not be surprising if they emerged as victors on Wednesday.
Additionally, Borussia Monchengladbach have been poor on the road for some time, and it is difficult to see how they advance into the next round.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
