FC Barcelona visits Eintracht Frankfurt (9:00 p.m.) in one of the most complicated duels of the group stage
Both teams arrive at the event in their best moment of the season so far, although in different dynamics
The duel that FC Barcelona faces against Eintracht Frankfurt at Deutsche Bank Park (9:00 p.m.) tIt has all the incentives to make it one of the great games of the group stage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The historic German team, which won the first edition of the continental competition in 2002 right on this same stage and is second in the record – with four titles, only behind Lyon -, is back in the competition seven years later as one of the revelation teams of this edition, having left Slovacko (1-0), Juventus (in the penalty shootout) and Sparta in the previous round. Prague (5-0 and 0-3).
A CHALLENGE
Because of the weather – very cold and humid -, because of the German team’s more physical style of play, and because away games, especially in Europe, cost more, the challenge is even greater. In fact, Barça hasn’t won in Germany for two years. It was against Hoffenheim, in the group stage of the 2021-22 season. A ‘little hand’ with goals from Alexia, Paredes, Aitana, Torrejón and Crnogorcevic. Neither in Wolfsburg – the return of the Champions League semi-finals that were already on track in which Barça lost 2-0 – nor in Munich – in last year’s group stage, a 3-1 defeat -. The third time lucky.
Both teams arrive at the event in their best moment of the season so far, although in different dynamics. The German is on a roll, after a somewhat irregular start to the season and after winning the first game on his return to Europe against Rosengard by the minimum (1-2). They are fifth in the Bundesliga, tied on points with third -Hoffenheim- and fourth -Essen-, behind Bayern and Wolfsburg.
WITHOUT ALEXIA OR WALLS
Those of Jonatan Giráldez face this duel after signing four consecutive wins. The last ones, the ‘little hands’ against Benfica and Real Madrid in the Clásico that was played on Sunday in Montjuïc, with almost 39,000 fans in the stands and an exhibition of play, individual and collective.
The coach will not be able to count on either Alexia Putellas, still with knee discomfort after the contusion she suffered against Benfica, or Irene Paredes, with the after-effects of tonsillitis. An eleven similar to that of the Classic is expected, with Engen as center back and Salma at the top.