Eintracht Frankfurt will host Union SG in the Round of 16 of the Europa Conference League. The Belgian league leaders rallied in a spectacular first leg to draw the tie going into the return match in Germany, after falling by two goals.
Preview (Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Union SG)
After just ten minutes, the 2022 Europa League winners had a commanding lead thanks to goals from Fares Chaibi and Sasa Kalajdzic for the visitors. The game ended 2-2 after a gift allowed Union SG to regain momentum. Gustav Nilsson then equalized in the second half. In Sunday’s 3-3 Bundesliga tie with Freiburg, Frankfurt’s inability to maintain a lead cost them again.
Despite Borussia Dortmund losing as well, that caused them to lose ground in the race for the top four. RB Leipzig’s victory put them seven points ahead of Toppmoller’s team. Following Oliver Glasner’s leadership to the Europa League triumph and the Champions League knockout stages, there has also been a noticeable decline in their performance on the continent. They lost at Aberdeen and stumbled through their UECL group behind PAOK Salonika.
Before this journey to Western Germany, the team had gone three games without a victory. They ended that streak at the top with a 3-1 victory away at Kortrijk. However, during the Europa League group stages, Alexander Blessin’s team’s performance away from home was by no means strong. They lost handily to LASK Linz and Liverpool, failing to score a single goal on the road. Les Unionists will play Club Brugge in the Belgian Cup semifinals next midweek. They are trailing 2-1 from the first leg, as they look to continue fighting on three fronts. They will also aim to win the first of two crucial second legs they have coming up.
Team News
The terrible news that Frankfurt forward Kalajdzic ruptured his ACL again earlier this week. It was the third time he had suffered the injury in his career—ended his season. Hugo Larsson is also out of the lineup in midfield due to a tendon problem, and the towering Austrian striker is joining Mehdi Loune on the sidelines with the same injury.
On the other hand, Loic Lapoussin’s suspension kept him out of Union SG’s victory over the weekend, but the Malagasy wide player is also expected to make a comeback to the starting lineup. Kevin Mac Allister is doubtful for this one due to a hand injury, while Charles Vanhoutte will not play after he was sent off late in the first leg. Blessin’s team will also be without Fedde Leysen (shoulder) and Kevin Rodriguez (muscular) from elsewhere in the Union SG ranks.
Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Union SG
For more football previews, click here
