Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Ferencvaros

Eintracht Frankfurt will look to return to their winning ways in the Europa League when they host Ferencvaros at Deutsche Bank Park on Thursday evening. This match follows the end of their remarkable unbeaten streak, which was broken in their last match, a 3-2 loss to Lyon in France. Despite that setback, the German side has already secured their place in the knockout stages and will now aim to finish in the top eight of their group, which would allow them to progress directly into the last 16. On the other hand, Ferencvaros is striving to maintain their position in the top 24 to secure a spot in the knockout rounds.

Frankfurt has been one of the standout teams in the Europa League so far this season, having taken the lead in all six of their group-stage matches up until now. However, that impressive feat was not enough to keep their unbeaten run intact, as they suffered a disappointing defeat to Lyon. This loss ended their record-setting streak of 18 unbeaten matches in the competition. Frankfurt had been in excellent form for much of the campaign, but a tough end to 2024, which saw them fail to win any of their last five games, left them with much to prove.

Despite this difficult spell, the winter break appeared to have revitalized the team. They have returned in 2025 with renewed vigor, winning all three of their games so far, including an important victory over Borussia Dortmund at the weekend. Remarkably, this victory came without the services of Omar Marmoush, who is set to join Manchester City in the near future. With this win, Frankfurt has maintained their strong position in the top three of the Bundesliga, though the title is likely beyond their reach. However, the team remains in contention for a Champions League spot, which is now a realistic possibility.

If Frankfurt were to win the Europa League again, they could secure a spot in the Champions League, just as they did in 2022. Their current form in the competition has been impressive, earning them 13 points from six matches, which has placed them in a good position to finish in the top eight and advance to the knockout round. Their next match, against Roma on matchday eight, will be crucial, and Frankfurt will hope to ease the pressure on that encounter by securing a win against Ferencvaros. If they can replicate their dominant 4-1 victory from their only other encounter with Ferencvaros back in the 1966-67 Fairs Cup, it would be a major boost for the team.

In contrast, Ferencvaros has struggled historically against German clubs, having won just two of their nine meetings with teams from Germany. Their most recent encounter with a German side was a two-legged loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 of the Europa League two years ago. However, despite their poor record against German opposition, the Hungarian side has been enjoying their best European campaign in recent memory. Sitting 16th in the group standings, Ferencvaros are on the verge of securing a place in the knockout stages. With just a few points needed to guarantee progression, they are focused on securing a result in Frankfurt.

Ferencvaros has won three of their six Europa League matches so far, and they are now aiming to achieve their fourth victory of the campaign, something they have not done since the 1994-95 Cup Winners’ Cup. However, they will be facing Frankfurt under the guidance of a new manager, following the departure of Pascal Jansen earlier this year. Jansen left the club to take up a position with New York City FC in Major League Soccer, and Ferencvaros opted to hire former Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane as his replacement. Keane faces a challenging task ahead, as the Hungarian league is still on a break, meaning his team will head into this match against Frankfurt without any competitive action since mid-December.

The last time Ferencvaros played a competitive match was on December 15, when they defeated Nyiregyhaza 1-0 in the Hungarian league. This win came just days after a humbling 5-0 defeat to PAOK Salonika in the Europa League, a result that highlighted the team's inconsistent form. The winter break provided Ferencvaros with an opportunity to regroup, and although they have played two friendlies since then, the results have not been encouraging. They drew 0-0 with third-tier German club Munster and suffered a 1-0 loss to Polish side Piast Gliwice, failing to score in either match. Despite these underwhelming performances, Keane will be hoping that his team can turn things around in their upcoming Europa League matches.

For Ferencvaros, their record in the group stage has been solid, with just six teams outscoring them so far. Their defense has held up reasonably well, and with three wins from six matches, they are still in contention to advance to the knockout stages. Keane will be aware that a strong performance in this match is crucial to their chances of progression, and they will be looking to secure an upset against one of the competition's most formidable sides.

While Frankfurt remains the favorite for this encounter, Ferencvaros will be keen to prove their worth in European competition. Both teams have plenty to play for, with Frankfurt looking to secure a top-eight finish and a potential Champions League spot, while Ferencvaros aims to secure their place in the knockout round. The outcome of this match will have significant implications for both teams as they look to make their mark on the Europa League this season.

With Frankfurt in strong form and Ferencvaros facing a tough task under new management, this match promises to be an exciting encounter with plenty of intrigue. Fans will be hoping to see a high-quality contest as both teams push for vital points in their respective campaigns. As the Europa League reaches its business end, every result counts, and both clubs will be fully aware of the importance of securing a positive outcome in this crucial fixture. Whether Frankfurt can maintain their momentum or Ferencvaros can pull off a surprise remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain: Thursday’s clash will be an exciting spectacle for fans of both teams.