Eintracht Frankfurt go start their rare Champions League journey on Thursday as dem host Turkish giants Galatasaray for Deutsche Bank Park. Na only their second appearance for UCL history, while Gala dey come fresh from Super Lig title run wey dem lose just one game.
Match Preview
Dino Toppmoller guide Frankfurt finish third for Bundesliga last season after dem show steady improvement from sixth position the year before.
Dem still waka reach Europa League quarter-final before Tottenham dump dem. Now Die Adler dey back for Europe top table after three years away, since dem last UCL campaign reach round of 16.
This season don start mixed: DFB-Pokal dem hammer 5-0, Bundesliga dem win first two games, but last weekend Bayer Leverkusen beat dem 3-1 even as Frankfurt get one-man advantage.
Still, Frankfurt dey strong for home soil, losing only two of their last 13 group/league fixtures for Europe. Against Turkish sides, dem get only one loss from eight meetings, and that na long time ago (1992) against Galatasaray self.
For the away side, Okan Buruk don establish legacy with Galatasaray: three Turkish titles back-to-back, after him even win UEFA Cup and Super Cup with the club as player back in 2000.
Gala run domestic football last season, just one defeat in 36 games, carry Super Lig title and Turkish Super Cup. This new season don start well too — five wins from five, three goals average per match, last weekend beat Eyupspor 2-0.
But for Europe, story dey different. Galatasaray don win only one of their last 17 UCL group matches and dem never win any of their last nine European away games. Dem last reach knockout round for 2014, since then na group stage exit steady. So pressure dey heavy for Istanbul side to prove say dem no be only local champions.
Form Guide
- Eintracht Frankfurt (all competitions): W W W L
- Galatasaray (all competitions): W W W W W
Team News
Frankfurt dey hope say Hugo Larsson fit return from illness, but Rasmus Kristensen don sidelined with thigh injury. Mario Gotze, World Cup winner, still likely miss out too. Jonathan Burkardt dey wait for him first goal since he sign from Mainz, so Michy Batshuayi or Elye Wahi fit replace am. Support behind striker go come from Jean-Matteo Bahoya, Ritsu Doan and Can Uzun.
For Galatasaray, captain Mauro Icardi dey lead attack, already get three goals this season. But big summer signing Victor Osimhen no go play because of ankle injury. New keeper Ugurcan Cakir wey join from Trabzonspor don debut last weekend and go start again. Buruk also get plenty familiar Bundesliga faces: Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan, Kaan Ayhan and Roland Sallai.
Eintracht Frankfurt Possible XI:
Zetterer; Brown, Collins, Koch, Theate; Hojlund, Chaibi; Doan, Uzun, Bahoya; Burkardt
Galatasaray Possible XI:
Cakir; Sallai, Sanchez, Bardakci, Elmali; Torreira, Sara; Akgun, Gundogan, Sane; Icardi
Prediction
Galatasaray dey always dominate for Turkey, but their European away form dey poor — na why Frankfurt fit take advantage. With their sharp signings and strong home record, Die Adler fit carry three points for opening day.
We Say: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Galatasaray
