Eintracht Frankfurt will begin their UEFA Champions League journey this Wednesday when they welcome Portuguese side Sporting CP to Deutsche Bank Park.
Venue: Deutsche Bank Park (Frankfurt)
Key Statistics
Eintracht Frankfurt are unbeaten in their last six European competitions at home (W2, D4).
They have mixed results against Portuguese opponents in UEFA competitions (W2, D2, L2).
The hosts have failed to score once in their last seven games.
Sporting Lisbon have never won a European fixture in Germany (D1, L13).
The visitors have lost just one of their last five away games (W3, D1).
They have scored 2+ goals in seven of their last ten away games.
Head to head
This will be the first meeting between both sides.
Latest performances in all competitions
Eintracht Frankfurt: W-W-D-D-L
Sporting: W-L-L-W-D
Eintracht Frankfurt
Last season’s Europa League Champions kick off their Champions League campaign with a clash against Sporting Lisbon.
The German team defied all odds to reach the Europa League final beating the likes of Barcelona and West Ham on the road to the final, where they eventually lifted the trophy after beating Rangers on penalties.
Oliver Glasner’s men have not started the season quite in the manner as was expected. Despite their lofty achievement last season, they currently sit 10th in the German Bundesliga table after five rounds of football.
Die Adler opened up their Bundesliga season with a 1-6 drubbing in the hands of German Champions Bayern Munich, followed by back-to-back draws. However, Oliver Glasner’s men come into this game in good shape and form, having secured their second win in a row by thrashing RB Leipzig 4-0.
In a group consisting of Tottenham Hotspur, Marseille and Sporting Lisbon, the top spot is up for grabs. Oliver Glasner will fancy his chances of capitalizing on a favourable Group D.
The Deutsche Bank Park played a pivotal role in their Europa League run last season, especially in the game against Barcelona, and head coach Oliver Glasner will be counting on such support again to give his team the edge when the Portuguese heavyweights roll into town in what will be the first ever encounter between both teams.
Possible Frankfurt starting line-up
Kevin Trapp; Ansgar Knauff, Tuta, Evan NDicka, Christopher Lenz; Kristijan Jakic, Djibril Sow; Jesper Lindstrøm, Mario Götze, Daichi Kamada: Randal Kolo Muani.
Injured: Sebastian Rode, Luca Pellegrini, Almamy Toure.
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Sporting Lisbon
Sporting Lisbon are a household name when it comes to the European Competition and have a UEFA Cup winner’s medal to boot.
Just like their Wednesday night hosts, Sporting Lisbon have not started the season as their fans would have wanted after winning the Portuguese League after a 19-year wait. The Portuguese Champions currently occupy ninth position in the Portuguese Premier League.
Ruben Amiron’s wards are yet to string together back-to-back victories this season despite winning three out of the five games they’ve played so far this season. However, the Portuguese side come into this encounter off the back of a 2-0 win over Estoril last time out. The Portuguese tactician Ruben Almiron will be hoping his boys will use the win as a springboard to secure better results as they look to return to the glory days after years of mismanagement have rented the club.
Just like Frankfurt, Sporting Lisbon will fancy their chances of topping Group D, but must first come back with a positive result from the battle awaiting them in Germany.
Possible Sporting Lisbon starting line-up
Antonio Adan; Jerry St. Juste, Sebastian Coates, Matheus Reis; Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte, Hidemasa Morita, Nuno Santos; Marcus Edwards, P. Gonçalves Pote, Francisco Trincão.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Frankfurt 2-2 Lisbon
