When Eintracht Frankfurt was last in the quarter-finals of the Europa League almost exactly three years ago, a lot revolved around the line-up up front in the run-up to the game. The big topic at the time: Ante Rebic, the cup hero, twisted his knee in the Bundesliga home game against Hoffenheim and dropped out of both duels with Inter Milan. The herd of buffalo was scattered, and in the end “only” Sébastien Haller and Luka Jovic formed the attack. It’s been a long time. And from today’s perspective, the problems of that time were pure luxury.
Before the Duel with FC Barcelona the Hessians are once again on a desperate search for some goal danger. Coach Oliver Glasner’s team has scored just 39 goals after 28 Bundesliga matchdays, which is 20 fewer than at the same time last season and 17 fewer than in 2018/19. “We don’t have any header monsters in it, and we don’t have any players who have previously scored 15 goals with their clubs,” Glasner summarized the offensive dilemma Zero number against Fürth fitting together. There is (at least) one real goalscorer missing.
Who should score the goals?
So what to do against Barca? At least tactically, which is more forced than selected, Eintracht relies fully on counterattacks. The Catalans will, it’s in the nature of things, like to have the ball often and impose their game on Eintracht. That means there should be room for quick switching games every now and then. “We’re the underdog, there will be more room for us, it’s easier for us,” said Glasner. “We’ll get good counterattacks, I’m sure of that.”
However, who should then play out these counterattacks and, above all, successfully complete them, is complicated. Rafael Borré, striker number one, but actually not a center forward at all, has been there since his at the latest Penalty miss by Sevilla in low form and has been waiting for a goal for a month. With Jesper Lindström and Daichi Kamada, two good footballers whirl around him, but they are anything but tough in front of goal. Filip Kostic and Ansgar Knauff come from the outside, who are fast and often get their way, but then have no customers for their crosses. It’s complicated.
Borré is threatened with a place on the bench
The most obvious solution is therefore that Glasner, as has often been the case this season against strong teams, adjusts the tactics a bit and possibly even does without a real striker. The motto: stand compactly at the back, align everything at the front with as much speed as possible. Borré would then have to go to the bench, the offensive triangle would consist of Lindström and Kamada as well as Kostic or Knauff. Should Kostic move forward, a right-footed player would have to take over the left part in the back five due to Christopher Lenz’s injury. Not optimal, but in view of the rather limited tasks on the offensive but probably to get over.
Another variant would be that Glasner reduces the offensive trio to an offensive duo and strengthens the central midfield. Makoto Hasebe, who despite his strong performance against Fürth has to give up his place in the back three to the more robust Martin Hinteregger, could then act as a kind of vacuum cleaner behind Djibril Sow and Kristijan Jakic. A role that has never existed under Glasner, but that Hasebe has mastered. Side effect: Hasebe could appear as a fireman wherever there are gaps and thus help Kostic on the left with defensive work. Even the wing tongs Kostic/Knauff would not be excluded.
A cream day is needed
Either way: It is clear that Eintracht needs an absolute cream day for all systematic and personal considerations and is dependent on the support of the ranks. With a reasonably normal course of play, the Hessians have no chance. Your only chance is that there is no halfway normal gameplay. “We’ll need a fantastic day twice,” coach Glasner summarized the chances of success. “We need superior defense and efficiency on offense.”
At least it is encouraging that Eintracht is doing better against stronger teams this season. There have only been four defeats against the top six in the Bundesliga so far (one Bayern, two BVB, once Hoffenheim), wins against Bayern, Leverkusen and Freiburg, and the Hessians have scored two points against RB Leipzig. In the Europa League there has not been a defeat in eight games. “We have already proven our qualities against top teams from the Bundesliga and in the Europa League,” Tuta underscored. FC Barcelona should be warned. So at least a little bit.
This is how Eintracht Frankfurt could play against FC Barcelona:
Source: HR