Two of two German Bundesliga sides are on the road to making the Europa League final, and Eintracht Frankfurt have the upper hand in this encounter as they welcome West Ham to the Deutsche Bank Park. The Hammers journey into the second leg of their Europa League semi-final with The Eagles on Thursday night looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit.
UEFA Europa League Semi Finals (2nd Leg)
Thursday 5 May
Thursday 5 May
Deutsche Bank Park
21:00
To Win (90 minutes)
Eintracht Frankfurt 17/10
Eintracht Frankfurt 17/10
Draw 49/20
West Ham United 15/10
West Ham United 15/10
To Qualify
Eintracht Frankfurt 1/3
Eintracht Frankfurt 1/3
West Ham United 21/20
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht have progressed from 22 of their previous 25 two leg-legged affairs in major UEFA European competition when winning the first leg, while they have never been eliminated after winning the first leg away from home (6/6).
The German side have made life easier after leaving England the victors, but questions are raised when eyeing that six-match winless streak in the Bundesliga seeing them drop to the bottom half of the table with just two fixtures left.
In their history as a professional club, Frankfurt have only lost one semi-final match when playing at home (P12 W9 D2), losing 0-3 to Bayer Leverkusen in the DfB Pokal in 1992/93. Their last semi-final match on home soil saw them draw 1-1 with Chelsea in this competition in 2018/19.
The visitors enjoyed the perfect start through Ansgar Knauff, scoring with the first attack of the game in just the first minute. Frankfurt were unable to hold onto the lead heading into the break 1-1, but they regained the advantage in the second half with Daichi Kamada netting his ninth of the season in all comps.
No injuries for Eintracht, and Oliver Glasner gets a bigger boost in personnel with the return of both Evan Ndicka and Kristijan Jakic after they missed the first leg due to suspension.
Despite the poor league form, Frankfurt has gone unbeaten in 11 Europa League fixtures and a win will cement a final spot in Sevilla.
West Ham United
West Ham sit seventh in Premier League standings six points away from leveling with Man United for a Europa League spot. David Moyes knows the urgency and quality his side have to put out when they travel to Germany.
The Hammers face a German side away from home in Europe for the first time since the first leg of the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1975/76 – a 2-1 defeat away to Eintracht Frankfurt.
West Ham are yet to win away to German opposition in three attempts, also drawing against FC Magdeburg and losing to Borussia Dortmund in years prior.
After going down a goal so early in the first leg on home soil, it is fortunate that West Ham travel to the second leg with a slither of hope.
Injuries and suspensions have really nailed West Ham this season. However, there have been a number of first team players making their returns. Tomas Soucek and Michail Antonio were named as substitutes in their recent defeat to Arsenal.
Craig Dawson has sereved a domestic suspension, while Vladimir Coufal is an option at right back, and finally, Issa Diop was fit enough to return over the weekend and is an option for Moyes.
The Hammers head into this all-important encounter on the back of one win, one draw, and three straight defeats in their last five across all competitions.
Prediction: BTTS (Yes) & Totals Over 2.5 Goals (1/1)
With a 2-1 aggregate score line, West Ham have to be aggressive, and Eintracht Frankfurt cannot just sit back and soak up pressure. I expect goals on goals in Germany, and the tip from me is both teams to score and over 2.5 goals at 1/1. Eintracht Frankfurt to qualify at 1/3 is not enough value, and I’m not sold on them getting the job done in 90 minutes.
Written by Joshua Gaillard