In the fourth round of the German Bundesliga, Eintracht will take on Union in Frankfurt on Sunday, September 21. The match is set to kick off at 15:30 Central European Time. A high-scoring game is anticipated.
Match Preview
This summer, Eintracht sold Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool, losing a key player in their attack. Germany international Jonathan Burkardt, who joined from Mainz, has not yet made a significant impact.
27-year-old Ritsu Doan from Japan is crucial in attack, creating chances and impressing with his performances against Hoffenheim and Engers. However, the defense showed weaknesses recently, resulting in goals conceded.
Eintracht started the season with wins over Werder and Hoffenheim but suffered a loss to Bayer, despite the opponents finishing with nine players. Coach Dino Toppmöller expressed frustration with the team’s performance, saying they fell short of expectations.
Midweek, Eintracht began their Champions League campaign. After conceding the first goal, they retaliated with five unanswered goals against Galatasaray, with Burkardt scoring twice and assisting another.
Union, based in Berlin, have struggled in the lower part of the table for the past couple of years, focusing on avoiding relegation. This season appears no different, with a rocky start.
There isn’t much to criticize about Union yet, but there are few positives for supporters. They lost to Borussia Dortmund but managed a win against Stuttgart. The team’s organization at the back was solid, but they struggled to create scoring opportunities.
In their last match, Union lost to Hoffenheim despite showing determination. They are still trying to find the right attacking and midfield combinations and lost focus late in the game.
Their current position at 14th in the standings points to a disappointing beginning to the season, notably with eight goals conceded in just three games—the worst defensive record in the league.
Match Facts
- Eintracht has both scored and conceded in four straight matches.
- Union has lost just one of their last six Bundesliga away games.
- Eintracht averages 2.6 goals per home game, while Union averages 1 goal per away game.
Probable Lineups
- Eintracht Frankfurt: Zetterer, Braun, Collins, Koch, Theate, Uzun, Højlund, Chaibi, Knauff, Doan, Burkardt.
- Union Berlin: Rønnow, Doekhi, Kverfeldt, Kon, Trimmel, Skov, Khedira, Haberer, Ansa, Behr, Ilic.
Head-to-Head
Union is unbeaten in their last three encounters with Eintracht.
Prediction
With both teams’ current form, a tense and high-scoring match is expected. Eintracht has the advantage at home, but Union could pose challenges for a team that played in the Champions League midweek. The prediction is for over 2.5 total goals.