With qualification for the Champions League potentially at stake, Eintracht Frankfurt will host RB Leipzig at Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday in the Bundesliga.
The Eagles are in third place with 52 points following their 0-0 draw with Augsburg last Sunday, while Die Roten Bullen are fourth with 49 points and occupy the final Champions League qualification spot with just four games left to play.
Match preview
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Eintracht Frankfurt created concerningly few chances in the final third vs. Augsburg, producing no shots in the first half while striker Hugo Ekitike squandered the team's first golden opportunity in the 77th minute.
The hosts have now failed to score in two consecutive fixtures and have not found the back of the net in three of their past five.
Dino Toppmoller's side are currently four points ahead of fifth-placed Freiburg, who they play in the final game of the season on May 11.
The Eagles' form in all competitions is poor considering they have lost two, drawn two and only triumphed in one of their last five matches, but they have won three of their past five in the Bundesliga while losing just once in that time.
Toppmoller's team have also emerged victorious in three of their four most recent outings at home, with their 1-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League on April 17 their only loss in that period.
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Meanwhile, Leipzig were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Holstein Kiel on April 19, a game in which their last-placed opponents scored first just before half time and were only denied all three points due to Benjamin Sesko's late penalty.
The visitors only produced two big chances from open play against Holstein Kiel, and it should be noted that their xG tally of 42.8 in the Bundesliga is only the 10th best figure in the division.
However, interim manager Zsolt Low could point to the fact that his side scored six goals in the prior two fixtures to their draw with Holstein Kiel, with his side winning two and drawing one of their last three.
Die Roten Bullen have faced Eintracht Frankfurt twice this season and came out of both clashes as winners, beating the Eagles 3-0 in the DFB-Pokal on December 4 and 2-1 in the league on December 15.
Low's side defeated Wolfsburg 3-2 on April 11 in their most recent away match, but they were winless in their previous nine on the road, losing five while failing to score on five occasions.
Team News
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Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Mario Gotze's hip injury may keep him from the pitch until the middle of May, while striker Igor Matanovic is ill.
Expect Ekitike to be supported in attack by Ansgar Knauff, Nathaniel Brown and Jean-Matteo Bahoya, while they could play ahead of a double pivot consisting of Ellyes Skhiri and Hugo Larsson.
With goalkeeper Kevin Trapp available for selection after returning from injury, he will almost certainly be stationed behind centre-backs Tuta and Robin Koch.
Opponents Leipzig are facing a number of injury issues, with defenders Benjamin Henrichs, David Raum and Willi Orban all ruled out, as is goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
Shot-stopper Maarten Vandevoordt will likely be selected, while Kosta Nedeljkovic, Luas Klostermann, El Chadaille Bitshiabu and Castello Lukeba may appear in a back four.
Midfielder Xaver Schlager is injured, and his absence may lead to Nicolas Seiwald and Arthur Vermeeren starting on Saturday.
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Kristensen, Tuta, Koch, Theate; Skhiri, Larsson; Brown, Knauff, Bahoya; Ekitike
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Vandevoordt; Nedeljkovic, Klostermann, Bitshiabu, Lukeba; Baku, Seiwald, Vermeeren, Xavi; Sesko, Openda
We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 RB Leipzig
Although Leipzig scored three in their last away match, they have rarely won on the road in recent matchweeks.
While Eintracht Frankfurt have found it difficult to break opponents down in the final third, their form at home has been strong, and they should be considered favourites.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
