Eintracht Frankfurt vs Stuttgart: Bundesliga Preview

Eintracht Frankfurt: Recent Form & Team News

Eintracht Frankfurt come into this clash sitting fourth in the Bundesliga standings with 45 points, following a solid 3-1 victory over VfL Bochum last weekend. The Eagles showcased their attacking prowess with 14 shots from inside the box and five big chances created, but their defensive struggles continue to be a concern.

Despite their win, Dino Toppmoller’s men have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 matches, and their record of 40 goals conceded is the joint worst among the top nine Bundesliga teams. With RB Leipzig and Freiburg breathing down their necks, Frankfurt cannot afford to slip up if they want to secure a top-four finish.

The Eagles have been inconsistent at home recently, losing their last two Bundesliga fixtures at Deutsche Bank Park, despite previously winning seven of their previous 11 home games while suffering just one defeat.

Injury concerns are a major issue for Toppmoller’s side. First-choice goalkeeper Kevin Trapp is unavailable, meaning Kaua Santos is expected to start between the posts. Additionally, midfielders Ellyes Skhiri, Hugo Larsson, and Oscar Hojlund have been ruled out, likely forcing Mario Gotze to drop deeper alongside Mahmoud Dahoud.

Offensively, the Eagles will be without the likes of Elye Wahi, Eric Ebimbe, and Igor Matanovic, potentially leading to a forward line consisting of Ansgar Knauff, Can Uzun, and Jean-Matteo Bahoya.

Stuttgart: Recent Form & Team News

For Stuttgart, their last outing was a frustrating 4-3 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen where they squandered 2-0 and 3-1 leads. Despite a strong attacking display, their defensive issues were evident as they allowed their opponents to score four goals from just 1.74 xG.

Die Roten are currently in 10th place with 37 points, and have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six matches, conceding 13 goals in that stretch. Their poor run of form has seen them go winless in their last five fixtures, suffering three defeats and conceding twelve goals while scoring eight.

However, Stuttgart’s away form offers some hope for improvement, as they have only lost one of their last nine away games, winning five times in that period. Manager Sebastian Hoeness will be hoping his side can replicate their strong road performances and avoid a repeat of their 3-2 loss to Frankfurt earlier in the season.

On the injury front, Leonidas Stergiou remains suspended following his red card against Holstein Kiel, while Dan-Axel Zagadou is still sidelined and expected to return only in May. In defense, Ameen Al-Dakhil and Ramon Hendriks are likely to be supported by full-backs Finn Jeltsch and Maximilian Mittelstadt.

Meanwhile, striker Justin Diehl is not expected to recover from a muscle injury until mid-April, leaving Ermedin Demirovic and Nick Woltemade as the probable front two for Stuttgart.

Head-to-Head & Key Stats

• Eintracht Frankfurt won the reverse fixture 3-2 against Stuttgart, despite the visitors’ late fightback.
• Stuttgart are winless in their last five matches across all competitions.
• Eintracht Frankfurt have not kept a clean sheet in their last 11 Bundesliga matches.
• Stuttgart have only lost one of their last nine away games, highlighting their resilience on the road.

What to Expect

Both teams are struggling with defensive issues, and this match could see plenty of goal-scoring opportunities. Frankfurt’s attack has been consistent, but their inability to keep clean sheets could be exploited by a Stuttgart side that has shown promise on the road.

With injuries plaguing both squads, it may come down to which side manages to cope best with their absentees. The hosts are aiming to strengthen their hold on a top-four finish, while the visitors seek to bounce back from their disappointing collapse against Leverkusen.

A high-energy encounter with plenty of attacking football is expected at the Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday.