Final fever before the final in Berlin: In RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt, two teams will face each other in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday (03.06.2023, 8 p.m., live in the ticker and in the radio report at the sports show) who know exactly how you win trophies.
Both teams presented themselves in good form just in time for the crowning conclusion of the season. Especially the people of Leipzig, who come to the capital with the power of five wins from the last five Bundesliga games.
There was also the 5-1 triumph in the cup semifinals at SC Freiburg. It couldn’t have gone much better. In general, there was only one defeat in nine wins from the last ten competitive games for RB.
Leipzig’s Kampl: “Mood is very good right now”
“The mood is very good in the team right now. There’s a mixture of a bit of tension, but also a lot of anticipation for the game,” said midfielder Kevin Kampl in the MDR interview.
Of course, the fact that the Saxons are going into the duel against Eintracht as cup defenders contributes to the increased self-confidence. Last year’s spectacular cup win after penalties against SC Freiburg will give RB an additional boost.
But Eintracht is also in good spirits that the cup will go back into the club’s own showcase. “You don’t play a final, you win it. I believe in it, we have great quality in the team and we’re also strong as a team.”, said star striker Kolo Muani in anticipation of the final. The Frenchman is Eintracht’s top scorer with 15 goals this season and eleven assists.
Frankfurt closed the Bundesliga season well and jumped up to seventh place after the two home wins against Mainz 05 and SC Freiburg and the draw against Schalke. Coach Oliver Glasner has all players fit for the final day and can therefore bring his best formation in his farewell game.
Frankfurt’s Krösche: “Everything is hidden that was before”
In Frankfurt, of course, you know about the current strength of the opponent. In the opinion of sports director Markus Krösche, however, this will not play a role. “They may have won a game or two more than we did. But in terms of this one, special game, what came before is really uninteresting. In finals, everything that came before is hidden.”said Krösche in an interview with the FAZ.
In Frankfurt, they know only too well how to fade out. After all, the Frankfurters have proven their skills in knockout games several times in the recent past: DFB Cup victory in 2018, triumph in the Europa League in 2022.
Leipzig pace, Frankfurt pace switching moments
Leipzig have a lot of quality and speed on the offensive, according to Eintracht official Krösche. “We, on the other hand, can grab them with our switching moments after winning the ball, because Leipzig is very offensive.”said Krosche.
In this Leipzig offensive, a man will be missing due to injury. Striker André Silva is not at the start due to muscle problems. That won’t be a big problem for the already strong RB offensive. Christopher Nkunku in particular, the shooting star of the past season, has recently presented himself in strong form again.
Leipzig jubilation against Schalke 04
Leipzig double six recently very reliable
Nkunku is guaranteed a place in the starting XI, as is Spain international Dani Olmo. Behind him, RB coach Marco Rose is spoiled for choice with Timo Werner, Emil Forsberg and Dominik Szoboszlai, about whom there has recently been a stir.
As recently, Rose should again rely on his 4-2-2-2 system, in which Konrad Laimer and Amadou Haidara formed a very reliable pair on the double six.
Frankfurt with a positive record against Leipzig
Eintracht won the only cup duel between the two clubs so far in the 2019/20 round of 16. It was a 3-1 home win. In general, the people of Leipzig really suit the Hessians. Because before the 2-1 defeat in Leipzig on the 22nd match day of the second half of the season, Frankfurt had remained unbeaten against the Saxons for seven competitive games in a row. In the first half of the current season, the Glasner team even celebrated a 4-0 home win.
In any case, the final has an impact on the distribution of the European Cup places. If Eintracht wins the cup, they will play in the Europa League and Bayer Leverkusen will have to go to the Conference League playoffs. If Leipzig wins, then Leverkusen is in the Europa League and Eintracht has to go to the Conference League playoffs.