Frankfurt Vs Plzen

Eintracht Frankfurt kicks off their Europa League campaign with a highly anticipated home fixture against Czech side Viktoria Plzen at Deutsche Bank Park on Thursday. The German club, who triumphed in the 2022 edition of the tournament, will be looking to continue their positive form in the Bundesliga and make a strong start in the newly revamped league format of the Europa League.

Frankfurt has begun the 2024-25 Bundesliga season with impressive form, with only one loss so far—a 2-0 defeat against Borussia Dortmund on the penultimate weekend of August in North Rhine-Westphalia. Despite that setback, Dino Toppmöller’s side has shown remarkable resilience, bouncing back with three consecutive victories against Hoffenheim, Wolfsburg, and Borussia Monchengladbach. This string of wins has propelled them to fourth place in the Bundesliga standings, where they sit level with Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg on nine points after four rounds of fixtures.

Frankfurt's performance in all competitions this season has been commendable. Before the Bundesliga kicked off, they registered a dominant 4-1 win over Eintracht Braunschweig in the DFB-Pokal, setting the tone for their domestic campaign. Including that victory, Die Adler (The Eagles) have now won four of their five matches in all competitions and are eager to extend that run of form in their Europa League opener.

The latest of these wins, a 2-0 triumph over Borussia Monchengladbach, was particularly satisfying for the home supporters as it marked their first clean sheet of the season. Defensively, Frankfurt had been a little shaky, failing to register a shutout in their opening four games, but the performance against Gladbach will give Toppmöller and his team a confidence boost heading into Thursday night’s clash.

The Europa League holds special significance for Frankfurt, who were crowned champions of the competition under former head coach Oliver Glasner in 2022. Now, back in the tournament, they are eager to replicate their European success. With the introduction of a new format, Frankfurt will play eight matches in the group stage, giving them ample opportunity to assert their dominance in the competition once more. They will be confident heading into this match, especially with their impressive record of a 13-game unbeaten run in the Europa League, a streak they will be keen to extend at the expense of their Czech opponents.

While Frankfurt has enjoyed a strong start to their season, Viktoria Plzen's path has been a little more complicated. Unlike their German counterparts, who have only been playing since the start of August, Plzen began their domestic campaign in July and had to navigate Europa League qualifying to secure their place in the group stages. Despite this early start, Plzen has made an admirable beginning to their season, going undefeated in their opening 11 matches across all competitions.

However, that undefeated run came to an abrupt end last weekend when they were handed a 3-0 defeat by Slavia Prague in the Czech league. The result was a significant setback for Miroslav Koubek's men, who would have preferred to head into their European opener on the back of a positive result. Koubek, however, will be hoping that this defeat was merely a blip, and that his team can bounce back quickly when they take on Frankfurt in what promises to be a tough encounter.

Viktoria Plzen is no stranger to European competition, having participated in the Europa League and Champions League multiple times in recent years. However, their record against German opposition leaves much to be desired. Plzen has faced German clubs eight times in European competition, and their results have been abysmal—seven defeats and one draw, with a staggering 26 goals conceded in those matches. This poor record is likely to weigh heavily on the minds of both the players and the fans as they prepare for another daunting trip to Germany.

Further compounding their woes is Plzen’s dismal away form in European competition. The Czech side has managed just one away victory in their last 13 European matches, a run that stretches back to December 2017. On that occasion, they secured a 2-0 victory over Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the group stages of the Europa League. Since then, however, Plzen has struggled mightily on their travels, with three draws and nine defeats in their last 13 away games. For a team that has traditionally struggled away from home, ending this seven-year winless streak in Europe will be no easy task—particularly against a Frankfurt side that is in such fine form.

The strength of Eintracht Frankfurt lies in their dynamic and well-balanced squad, which has been molded under the leadership of Dino Toppmöller. The Eagles have managed to find a blend of experienced players and emerging talents who have come together to form a cohesive unit capable of competing on multiple fronts.

One of the standout performers for Frankfurt in the early part of the season has been forward Omar Marmoush, whose pace and clinical finishing have caused problems for Bundesliga defenses. Marmoush, who joined the club from VfB Stuttgart in the summer, has made an immediate impact at Deutsche Bank Park, quickly establishing himself as a key player in Toppmöller’s attacking setup. His goals, along with the creative influence of midfielders like Mario Götze and Jesper Lindström, have been crucial to Frankfurt’s success in the early stages of the season.

Defensively, Frankfurt has been solid, although there were some early concerns about their inability to keep clean sheets. The team’s defensive unit, anchored by the experienced Makoto Hasebe and aided by the industrious Kristijan Jakic, managed to correct that issue against Gladbach, securing their first shutout of the season. If Frankfurt can continue to tighten up at the back, they will be a formidable force not just in the Bundesliga, but also in the Europa League.

Frankfurt’s ability to perform on the European stage has been well-documented. Their 2022 Europa League triumph was a testament to the club’s resilience and tactical nous. With the club now competing in the revamped league format, which features eight group-stage matches instead of the traditional six, Frankfurt has the opportunity to build early momentum and secure their place in the knockout stages.

For Viktoria Plzen, the challenge will be significant, but not insurmountable. Although their recent form has been inconsistent, the Czech side has enough experience in European competition to know how to approach matches like these. Koubek will likely adopt a pragmatic approach, focusing on defensive solidity and looking to hit Frankfurt on the counterattack.

One of Plzen’s key players in this regard will be Pavel Sulc, whose energy and ability to link midfield and attack could be crucial if they are to cause Frankfurt problems. Sulc has been one of Plzen’s standout performers in recent seasons, and his performance against Slavia Prague—despite the team’s defeat—was one of the few positives to take from the match.

However, for Plzen to have any chance of getting a result, they will need to improve their defensive organization. Their record of conceding 26 goals in their last eight matches against German sides is a damning statistic, and one that Koubek will be keen to rectify. If Plzen can keep things tight at the back and frustrate Frankfurt, they may be able to snatch a draw or even an unlikely victory.

Eintracht Frankfurt will head into this Europa League fixture as overwhelming favorites, with their recent form and impressive home record making them a daunting prospect for Viktoria Plzen. Toppmöller’s side has shown that they can compete at the highest level, both domestically and in Europe, and they will be eager to start their European campaign with a statement victory.

For Viktoria Plzen, the task is a difficult one. Their poor record against German sides, coupled with their struggles away from home in European competition, makes them clear underdogs in this tie. However, football is full of surprises, and Plzen will be hoping that they can defy the odds and start their Europa League campaign on a positive note.

This fixture will be a fascinating encounter between two clubs with vastly different records in European competition. While Frankfurt will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run and build momentum, Plzen will be looking to bounce back from their recent domestic setback and make a statement on the European stage. Ultimately, the outcome of this match will depend on whether Frankfurt can maintain their impressive form, or if Plzen can find a way to overcome their German hoodoo and pull off an upset.