In a crucial clash that could impact the race for Champions League football and survival in the Bundesliga, Eintracht Frankfurt will host Heidenheim at Deutsche Bank Park on Sunday.
The Eagles were beaten 2-0 by Werder Bremen on April 5 but are still in third place with 48 points, while Heidenheim are in the 16th-placed relegation playoff spot with 22 points and lost 1-0 against Bayer Leverkusen last Saturday.
Match preview
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Eintracht Frankfurt can have no complaints with their defeat against Werder Bremen given they created no big chances, registered no shots on target and only produced four efforts from inside the box.
The hosts drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur in their most recent clash on Thursday in the first leg of the quarter-final matchup in the Europa League, though Spurs did hit the woodwork twice and could have easily won.
While Dino Toppmoller's side currently occupy the third of four Champions League spots in the Bundesliga with six games remaining, only two points separate them from fifth-placed Mainz 05, while they are just four points ahead of sixth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach.
Eintracht Frankfurt have failed to win their past two, but they did triumph in their previous three, scoring nine and conceding five in those five matches.
Toppmoller's team have won two and lost two of their last four fixtures at home, though they should be credited with achieving victory in four of their prior five at Deutsche Bank Park.
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Opponents Heidenheim can count themselves unfortunate to have not taken at least a point against champions Bayer Leverkusen considering they did not face a big chance and only conceded the winner in the 91st minute.
Boss Frank Schmidt should be credited for the fact his side have only conceded three goals in their past four games, whereas they had conceded 10 in their prior four.
A victory would come as welcome relief to the visitors given they are only two points above 17th-placed VfL Bochum, but they have lost their last four meetings with the Eagles, including on December 1 when they were beaten 4-0.
Heidenheim have only been defeated in one of their past four league outings – winning twice – and collected more points (7) in that period than they had in their previous 19 top-flight fixtures (6).
Schmidt's side are unbeaten in their four most recent away games having drawn two and won two in that time, scoring six goals while conceding on four occasions.
Team News
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Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp could return to action in the next few days, but Kaua Santos is likely to retain his place between the posts.
Wide players Ansgar Knauff and Junior Dina Ebimbe will miss out, making Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Nathaniel Brown the most probable candidates to flank striker Hugo Ekitike.
Mario Gotze is almost certain to be positioned in an attacking midfield role, and he may play ahead of a double pivot featuring Ellyes Skhiri and Oscar Hojlund.
Meanwhile, Heidenheim will be unable to call upon striker Budu Zivzivadze and winger Mathias Honsak due to injury.
Expect Niklas Dorsch and Adrian Beck to be stationed wide of striker Marvin Pieringer, while Marnon Busch and Jan Schoppner could partner each other in midfield.
In defence, Patrick Mainka, Benedikt Gimber and Tim Siersleben may be trusted in a back three to protect goalkeeper Kevin Muller.
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Santos; Kristensen, Tuta, Koch, Theate; Skhiri, Hojlund; Brown, Gotze, Bahoya; Ekitike
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Mainka, Gimber, Siersleben; Traore, Busch, Schoppner, Kratzig; Dorsch, Beck; Pieringer
We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Heidenheim
Eintracht Frankfurt could come into the clash against the visitors physically drained having played against Tottenham in the Europa League.
Heidenheim have rediscovered defensive stability at the back, and it would not be surprising if they limited the Eagles to few chances on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
