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Peter Green - August 27, 2019
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Strasbourg
Europa League Qualification
Date: Thursday, 29 August 2019
Kick-off at 19:30 UK / 20:30 CET
Venue: Commerzbank-Arena (Frankfurt).
The semi-finalists of the 2018/19 Europa League returned empty-handed from their clash with Strasbourg on the road and will be hoping to bounce back with a win in the return leg this week.
The hosts have no one but themselves to blame for losing out on the victory by a 1-0 scoreline, as Frankfurt had more than enough opportunities to level the scores and to even come out on top. The squad registered ten attempts at goal in that match and hit the target thrice from those efforts as well, but were far less clinical in beating the opposing goalkeeper who denied them on each occasion.
However, it needs saying that the slender margin has not ensured Strasbourg of a berth in the group stages as Eintracht Frankfurt have been a force to reckon with on home soil, especially in European competitions.
Apart from a club-friendly in 2010, their only prior encounter is the first leg of this tie which Strasbourg won 1-0.
Frankfurt failed to bring their A-game in their previous clash and subsequently paid the price for it when the referee blew the final whistle. Although the home team are without an away goal at hand, home advantage is what they will be looking to cash in on and to make the ultimate difference.
Strasbourg have been a nervous bunch in their recent outings and have returned with a win just once from their last three trips on the road, two of which were across Europe. Additionally, some of the finest footballing names were taken down at this very venue in the previous edition of the cup.
By all means, it far too soon to write off Frankfurt’s chances of making it into the group stages, even though they are handicapped by the dearth of an away goal.
The home team are unbeaten in their last three games at home and have been leading at half time in their previous two games in a row. So, you can certainly count on Eintracht Frankfurt to level the scorings before the teams head for the break and to find a winner before the end of the ninety minutes.
The visitors have not been at their offensive best away from home and have scored just two goals from their last three outings. Given that they managed just one shot on target in the first leg of their tie as well, expect Frankfurt to taste success, with no more than two or three goals at the most on the scorecards.
