As the race for a top-four finish in the Bundesliga intensifies, Eintracht Frankfurt welcome RB Leipzig to the Deutsche Bank Park in what promises to be a defining clash in the pursuit of Champions League qualification. With just four games remaining, third-placed Frankfurt sit three points ahead of Leipzig in fourth, but a slip-up could see the visitors leapfrog them by the end of the weekend.
Dino Toppmoller’s side may hold the upper hand in the table, but their recent performances tell a more cautious tale. A goalless draw against Augsburg last Sunday highlighted their growing inefficiency in front of goal, as they failed to record a single shot in the first half and managed just one clear-cut chance, which was squandered by Hugo Ekitike.
The Eagles have now gone two league matches without scoring and have failed to find the net in three of their last five across all competitions. That said, their domestic league form has not completely crumbled; they have picked up three wins in their last five Bundesliga outings, dropping points only once at home in that span.
Crucially, they have been solid at the Deutsche Bank Park, winning three of their last four games there, with their only blemish being a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Europa League. That home form, coupled with a four-point cushion over fifth-placed Freiburg, gives them a slight psychological edge heading into Saturday.
RB Leipzig’s inconsistencies have prevented them from cementing their status as a top-four lock. Their 1-1 draw against bottom-dwellers Holstein Kiel earlier this month was a missed opportunity, particularly with their opponents opening the scoring and Leipzig relying on a late Benjamin Sesko penalty to salvage a point.
Despite boasting offensive talent like Sesko and Lois Openda, Leipzig’s xG (expected goals) tally of 42.8 ranks only 10th in the Bundesliga, underlining their inefficient finishing and reliance on moments of individual brilliance rather than sustained attacking quality.
That said, Zsolt Low’s men are unbeaten in three games (W2 D1), and their 3-2 victory away at Wolfsburg in their last road trip snapped a concerning nine-match winless streak on the road. They’ll be buoyed by their head-to-head record against Frankfurt this season, having already beaten them twice, once in the league (2-1) and once in the DFB-Pokal (3-0). The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Eintracht Frankfurt will be without experienced attacker Mario Gotze, who continues to recover from a hip injury that is expected to sideline him until mid-May. Additionally, striker Igor Matanovic is ruled out due to illness, further limiting head coach Dino Toppmoller’s forward options for this crucial clash against Leipzig.
The Eagles are likely to persist with Hugo Ekitike leading the line, despite his recent struggles in front of goal. The Frenchman is expected to receive attacking support from Ansgar Knauff, Nathaniel Brown, and Jean-Matteo Bahoya, who will occupy the advanced midfield roles in Toppmoller’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
In central midfield, Ellyes Skhiri and Hugo Larsson are likely to form the double pivot, providing a combination of defensive cover and ball progression. Behind them, the defensive line should consist of Rasmus Kristensen at right-back, Tuta and Robin Koch at centre-back, and Arthur Theate on the left flank. Having recently returned from injury, first-choice goalkeeper Kevin Trapp is expected to start between the posts.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Trapp; Kristensen, Tuta, Koch, Theate; Skhiri, Larsson; Brown, Knauff, Bahoya; Ekitike
Leipzig will travel to Deutsche Bank Park with a number of injury concerns affecting several key players. First-choice goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi is unavailable, joining defenders Benjamin Henrichs, David Raum, and Willi Orban on the sidelines. Their absences will require significant defensive reshuffling from interim boss Zsolt Low.
In goal, young Belgian Maarten Vandevoordt is expected to deputise for Gulacsi. Ahead of him, the backline may feature Kosta Nedeljkovic at right-back, with Lukas Klostermann and El Chadaille Bitshiabu likely to start as the central pairing, while Castello Lukeba slots in at left-back.
In midfield, Leipzig will also be missing Xaver Schlager, meaning Austrian international Nicolas Seiwald and promising youngster Arthur Vermeeren should anchor the engine room. Out wide, Ridle Baku may be preferred on the right with Xavi Simons operating from the left, offering both width and creative spark.
Up front, the two-man attack will be led by the in-form duo of Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda, who have formed a potent strike partnership this season. Their movement and finishing will be key to unlocking a Frankfurt defence that has not conceded much at home in recent weeks.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Vandevoordt; Nedeljkovic, Klostermann, Bitshiabu, Lukeba; Baku, Seiwald, Vermeeren, Simons; Sesko, Openda
RB Leipzig have already beaten Eintracht Frankfurt twice in competitive matches this season, a 3-0 victory in the DFB-Pokal and a 2-1 win in the Bundesliga. Notably, Leipzig have never won at Deutsche Bank Park in professional football, despite visiting more often than any other venue without success (D4 L5).
Eintracht Frankfurt have kept three clean sheets in their last four Bundesliga games, a defensive feat matched only by Werder Bremen (RB Leipzig have none). They’ve conceded just two goals in this period, and with only four goals scored, no Bundesliga team’s matches have seen fewer total goals over the last four rounds (6 combined goals).
RB Leipzig’s 3-2 win over Wolfsburg ended a seven-match winless away run in the Bundesliga (D4 L3). Zsolt Löw could become only the second Leipzig head coach to win both of his first two Bundesliga away matches, the first being Julian Nagelsmann.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s current total of 52 points after 30 matchdays is the lowest for a third-placed Bundesliga team in the past seven seasons. Still, history is on their side; 90% of teams with at least 52 points after 30 games have finished in the top four.
With 49 points from 30 matches, this is RB Leipzig’s second-worst Bundesliga campaign at this stage. Only their 2017/18 season (47 points) was worse. That was the only time they missed out on Champions League qualification, finishing sixth.
Simons leads Leipzig in assists and chances created, showcasing his vision, agility, and composure in tight spaces. His ability to drive at defences, play incisive through balls, and draw fouls in dangerous areas makes him a constant threat, particularly in transition. Even when Leipzig struggle to break teams down, Simons’ individual brilliance can tilt the game in their favour.
Despite Leipzig’s mixed form, Simons has consistently impressed and will be the one to watch against Eintracht Frankfurt, especially if the visitors are to breach a defence that has kept three clean sheets in their last four league matches.
Given what is at stake, this should be a fiercely contested affair. Frankfurt will look to reassert their authority at home and end their recent scoring drought, while Leipzig are desperate to maintain momentum and not fall behind in the chase for Champions League football.
However, Leipzig’s sharper edge in transition and Frankfurt’s recent attacking woes may tilt the scales. A draw seems highly possible, but Leipzig’s better recent head-to-head record gives them the edge.
