It was almost exactly two months ago that Frankfurt Eintracht was on the brink. With seven games without a win in a row, the eagle bearers went into the winter break and at that point had to seriously worry about staying in the league. There is currently nothing left of the lousy mood just before Christmas. The Hütter-Elf has regained its shape and, as in the previous year, impresses with great performances, especially in front of a home backdrop.
On Monday evening, the Euro-Fighters from the main metropolis now have the next chance to add three points to their own account. Before the meeting between Frankfurt and Union Berlin, the odds of the best bookmakers are quite clearly in favor of the home side, although we would have expected an even clearer distribution of roles.
After all, the Hessians recently celebrated four home wins across all competitions, all of which were more than one goal different. If Kostic and Co. can build on where they left in the Europa League against Red Bull Salzburg (4: 1) on Thursday, the guests from the capital in the Commerzbank Arena should have little to report.
In any case, the Iron are considered one of the weakest teams abroad. Coach Urs Fischer’s team only collected eight of their 26 points abroad. As a result, between Frankfurt and Union Berlin, we venture the forecast that a tip on the host will pay off. A handicap bet also seems to be lucrative in order to push up the prices. You can find out exactly how such “handicaps” work in our betting ABC.
Frankfurt:
Thursday is Harmony Day! Under this motto, thousands of football fans flocked to the Commerzbank Arena on the city forest last week. The majority of the supporters will have shown a certain optimism before the kick-off, but only a very few will have believed in such a clear 4: 1 victory against the Austrian champions RB Salzburg.
The Hessians played themselves into a real frenzy in the meantime and shot themselves in an excellent starting position for the second leg next Thursday in Wals-Siezenheim. But because the next Europa League match is on the program in just over 72 hours, unexpectedly high odds for a home win are offered between Frankfurt and Union Berlin.
The question of whether the Hütter-Elf’s focus is on international business and the inserted Monday game against Union Berlin only represents the “annoying” everyday life is answered by the reputable betting providers in Germany with “yes”.
So far, the Adlerträger have played four home games in the Commerzbank Arena in 2020. All games were victorious, there was always at least two goals difference between Eintracht and the respective opponents, who had it all with RB Leipzig (2x), RB Salzburg or Augsburg.
In view of this and also due to the fact that the Frankfurt team did not concede a goal in the two Bundesliga home games and could set an almost 20-year internal club record with another “zero victory” on Monday evening, Frankfurt faces the duel Union Berlin is definitely close to a forecast for the Hütter-Elf, which wants to further reduce the gap to the European Cup ranks.
Speaking of Adi Hütter: The Austrian coached FC Basel from 2015 to 2017 and met Urs Fischer, the exercise manager at Union Berlin, eight times during this period. In the direct coaching duel, Hütter is currently leading with four to three wins (one draw). Will the next threesome follow on Monday evening?
Marco Russ, Lucas Torro and Gelson Fernandes are still injured. There were no new injuries after the Europa League evening, as of Sunday. Nevertheless, it is of course advisable to rotate something in order to be able to send a rested team onto the pitch again on Thursday.
Union Berlin:
If the Berliners’ greatest hope is that the otherwise atmospheric Commerzbank Arena will largely fall silent due to a fan boycott by Frankfurter, then that says a lot about the starting situation before the game on the 23rd matchday.
Although the Iron Riders continue to play an absolutely decent season as promoters, they are ranked 12th in the table (you can find our table service across Europe here) and will definitely maintain the lead of six points to position 16, but they still apply in the German financial capital as a clear outsider.
This is not least due to the fact that the team of coach Urs Fischer abroad has far more problems than at home. A meager eight points from eleven Bundesliga appearances are currently booked for the Berliners. Seven matches in the distance were lost. No other first division team scored fewer goals than the red-whites from Köpenick (eleven).
At least the last away game that the cult club on the Weser near Werder Bremen won 2-0 gives a little hope. It was also the first and, logically, the only match on an opposing lawn in which goalkeeper Rafael Gikiewicz remained without conceding a goal.
Only one of the last 18 away games in professional football, which was played on the first working day of the new week, could the Iron team win (seven draws, ten bankruptcies). Statistically speaking, there is every reason to focus on the betting odds in favor of the host at the Frankfurt vs Union Berlin match.
Another minus point that should undoubtedly be mentioned is the lack of captain and lead figure Christopher Trimmel, who has to watch because of his fifth yellow card. Julian Ryerson could move into the starting XI for the seasoned player. The missions of Keven Schlotterbeck, Manuel Schmiedebach and Sheraldo Becker are also questionable, all of which had to be shorter during the week.
