Mixing with the elite
Eintracht Frankfurt sprang a surprise last season by winning the Europa League and pulling off some stunning performances to beat the likes of Barcelona. But those believing it was a one-off are mistaken. Eintracht are in the process of establishing themselves permanently in Europe – and this year, their domestic form has been on par with their continental exploits too.
Last season was something of a rollercoaster ride for Eintracht: outstanding performances in Europe were followed by mediocre results in the Bundesliga – a curious contrast that ultimately saw the club that finished 11th in Germany win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League. Eintracht went into the group stages as underdogs but finished above Olympique Marseille and Sporting Lisbon to come second and qualify for the last 16, where they will face Napoli in the spring.
Head coach Oliver Glasner has succeeded in mastering the balancing act between the Champions League and the bread and butter of the Bundesliga. Frankfurt are in fifth place and have been impressing for weeks with strong performances.
The departure of star player Filip Kostic to Juventus has almost gone unnoticed for the Eagles, who have numerous weapons in their attacking ranks. New signing Randal Kolo Muani has already been involved in 15 goals in 21 competitive appearances (six goals, nine assists), with Jesper Lindström and Daichi Kamada behind him impressing too. A player rivalling Kolo Muani for transfer of the summer is 2014 World Cup winner Mario Götze, who returned to Germany and the Bundesliga following a two-year spell at PSV Eindhoven and has shone thanks to the flair that transformed him in the country's brightest footballing prospect more than a decade ago.
With that in mind, the TSG defence will have to be on high alert – but they will be able to count on the returning Ozan Kabak, who is available again following his suspension. Eintracht will be without the injured Sebastian Rode, but Glasner otherwise has virtually a full squad at his disposal – despite competing on two fronts.