Aiming to keep their European hopes alive, Eintracht Frankfurt will welcome Union Berlin to Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday afternoon in the Bundesliga.
The Eagles were defeated at the home of Borussia Dortmund prior to the international break, whilst the Iron Ones were narrow winners over Werder Bremen.
Match preview
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Following a seventh-placed finish last term in the Bundesliga, Eintracht Frankfurt's aims to improve this time around took a massive hit on March 17, when they were unable to collect any points from their trip to Signal Iduna Park, where a resurgent Dortmund side awaited.
The Eagles enjoyed the perfect start on the road after World Cup winner Mario Gotze gave the visitors the advantage on 13 minutes, but strikes either side of the half-time whistle from Karim Adeyemi, Mats Hummels and former Liverpool man Emre Can secured maximum points for Edin Terzic's charges.
Suffering their first Bundesliga defeat since the 2-0 loss at FC Koln on February 3, Dino Toppmoller's men were unable to increase their tally of 40 first-tier points, with Saturday's hosts currently five points ahead of seventh-placed Augsburg with eight games left to play.
Enjoying the most-productive campaign of the season in front of net, Egypt international Omar Marmoush has been a key figure for the Eagles so far in 2023-24, scoring 10 and providing six assists in 21 Bundesliga appearances, meaning that he leads his teammates in both statistics.
Eintracht's record at Deutsche Bank Park has been largely impressive to date this season, with Toppmoller's side losing just one of their 12 Bundesliga home matches - only Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen have been defeated fewer times on home soil.
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Following a fourth-placed finish and consequential Champions League qualification last season, Union Berlin are tasting reality in the Bundesliga during the 2023-24 season, although Saturday's visitors did relish in a home success prior to the first international break of the calendar year.
After a goalless first half, strikes from Yorbe Vertessen and Leeds United loanee Brenden Aaronson fired the Iron Ones into a two-goal lead over Werder Bremen in the German capital, meaning that Mitchell Weiser's goal in the 63rd minute was a mere consolation for Ole Werner's charges.
Having experienced a wretched 16-game unbeaten run across all competitions between September and early December, Union will be relatively happy with a points return of seven in the last five Bundesliga bouts, including a 1-0 away win over Hoffenheim on February 17.
Armed with Champions League football in the summer, Union were able to secure the services of Germany international Robin Gosens from Inter Milan ahead of the 2023-24 season, and the winger is currently the club's leading goalscorer with six goals in 23 Bundesliga appearances.
Team News
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Eintracht Frankfurt are without the services of Aurelio Buta, who will serve a one-match suspension for the yellow card picked up versus Borussia Dortmund.
The Eagles also be unable to call upon Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Sasa Kalajdzic, with the 26-year-old out for the remainder of the term due to a cruciate ligament injury.
Veteran midfielder Sebastian Rode had lost his spot in the starting XI before suffering a knee injury in February, and the 33-year-old is not expected back until the middle of next month.
Union Berlin also have a man suspended for Saturday's clash, with Andras Schafer receiving his marching orders during the loss at Stuttgart on March 8.
The visitors' engine room options are lessened by the injury of Janik Haberer, who suffered a muscle strain at the beginning of the month.
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Tuta, Koch, Pacho; Ebimbe, Skhiri, Larsson, Nkounkou; Gotze, Knauff, Marmoush
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Vogt, Leite; Trimmel, Tousart, Aaronson, Khedira, Gosens; Kaufmann, Vertessen
We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Union Berlin
Eintracht have been imperious on home soil in the Bundesliga this season - losing just once - and we reckon that the Eagles should be good enough for another positive result at their base on Saturday.
Union Berlin are slipping towards mid-table mediocrity this term, with the visitors facing a huge challenge to get anything from their trip to Frankfurt this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
