Frankfurt/Leverkusen (dpa) – Eintracht Frankfurt is looking forward to another magical European Cup night, at Bayer Leverkusen the mood is rather tense after the recent sporting and personal setbacks.
In the fight for the ticket for the quarter-finals in the Europa League, the Werkself have to catch up against Atalanta Bergamo this Thursday (6.45 p.m. / RTL +) without their injured key players Florian Wirtz, Patrick Schick and Jeremie Frimpong. In the second leg of the round of 16 against Betis Sevilla (9 p.m. / RTL) after the 2-1 draw a week ago, a draw is enough for the Hessians, who have been unbeaten for three competitive games, to progress.
In just ten days, the previously ideal Bayer world has gotten a little out of joint. Due to the defeats in Bergamo and in the Bundesliga derby against 1. FC Köln (0:1), the third-placed player in the Bundesliga has to worry about international and national goals for the season. “We want to make it through to the next round and will give everything we have on the pitch,” promised Leverkusen coach Gerardo Seoane on Wednesday. But he also knows: “It will take a more constant performance than in the first leg. Bergamo is a ripped-off team with high intensity and strength in the duel.”
Bayer injured
In addition, the serious injury to young star Wirtz, who is out for a long time with a cruciate ligament tear, is depressing. No less bitter for the Werkself is the syndesmosis tear in right-back Frimpong’s right ankle, who will also not play again this season.
“We always mourn when a player gets injured. Nevertheless, we have to look ahead and everyone has to come together again. Everyone has to take responsibility and do their part,” said Seoane. Because even top scorer Schick is not fit again after his calf injury. “Obviously we’re missing very important players. Now it’s up to the others,” said midfielder Exequiel Palacios, adding pugnaciously: “It’s like a final for us that we want to win.”
Confidence in Frankfurt
High spirits prevail in Frankfurt. After the last three competitive wins in a row, the Hessians are confident in the second duel with Betis Sevilla, especially since coach Oliver Glasner has the strongest squad available. “We want to offer the fans a nice Europa League evening and we will play to win,” announced the 47-year-old Austrian about the route.
His protégés from the 2018/19 season provide additional motivation when Eintracht lost the semi-finals on penalties to eventual cup winners Chelsea. “We had a nice trip back then. We want to experience something like that again this time. Everyone has the ambition and ambition to get as far as possible,” said national goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
However, Glasner warned against underestimating the opponent. “As in the first leg, we need an absolute top performance,” said the Eintracht coach and warned: “We would do well not to build any castles in the air and think about where the journey could go.”
Expected Lineups
Bayer Leverkusen – Atalanta Bergamo (Thursday, 6.45 p.m. / RTL+):
Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky – Fosu-Mensah, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié – Palacios, Andrich – Diaby, Demirbay, Paulinho – Alario
Atalanta Bergamo: Musso – Toloi, Demiral, Djimsiti – Hateboer, de Roon, Freuler, Zappacosta – Koopmeiners – Malinovskyi, Muriel
Referee: François Letexier (France)