Eintracht Frankfurt: Defensive strength and attacking worries

Eintracht Frankfurt have been synonymous with some major sporting successes in recent years – but this season there have been some big question marks. The club, whose squad has been overhauled, have made a mediocre start to the season under coach Dino Toppmöller, who arrived from FC Bayern in the summer. The departure of forward Randal Kolo Muani to Paris Saint-Germain might have elevated the club into new financial spheres, but it was a sporting setback that has not yet been overcome. Eintracht have scored only six goals in their first seven games, plus six goals from their four international matches to date. It is a rather meagre return for the Conference League participants, who recently lost 2-1 to Regionalliga outfit BSG Chemie Leipzig in a friendly. In addition, no player has scored more than one goal in the Bundesliga. Frankfurt’s struggles going forward are clear for all to see. But at the other end of the pitch, SGE have given a better account of themselves. Their tally of five goals conceded is the fewest in the league, with Eintracht’s rearguard proving tough to break down.

At the pre-match press conference, Toppmöller did not divulge how he planned to reinvigorate the attacking play in the game against TSG Hoffenheim (Saturday, 15:30 CET). Perhaps in part because he is not yet sure about his line-up. Mario Götze, Frankfurt’s creative outlet, has recently stood out more for yellow cards than for scorer points – and is also in danger of missing out: his wife is expecting their second child, Götze has been training on standby all week and could be at the hospital rather than the stadium on game day. Kristijan Jakic and captain Sebastian Rode are doubtful in midfield.

Another key player is also not 100% fit. Goalkeeper Kevin Trapp suffered from back problems while on international duty with the Germany squad, but Toppmöller is in optimistic mood. “We’re taking it day by day, but I’m confident.” There could hardly be a more fitting location for his back-up custodian to make his Bundesliga comeback, however: Jens Grahl, 35, plied his trade for TSG Hoffenheim from 2009 to 2011 and from 2012 to 2016, making a total of 12 appearances for the Kraichgau club in the Bundesliga and four in the DFB-Pokal. In Frankfurt, he has made only one cup appearance to date.

Regardless of who occupies the goalkeeper position, Eintracht will already be under pressure in Sinsheim not to let the club’s lofty ambitions disappear from view at this early stage of the season. Frankfurt are in a decent position in the table, occupying eighth place with 10 points from seven games, but they would already fall eight points behind currently fifth-placed TSG in the event of a defeat. If Leipzig were to win in Darmstadt, the gap to the European berths would already be seven points after eight rounds of matches.

For both coaches, the first match after the international phase will be a defining one. Another thing they have in common is that both have already worked as Julian Nagelsmann’s assistant: Toppmöller in Munich, Pellegrino Matarazzo at TSG.