Strasbourg v Eintracht Frankfurt
Thursday 22 August, 19:30
Strasbourg on latest step of amazing journey
One of the things we perhaps love about football is the capacity for redemption and rebuilding. Strasbourg were liquidated in 2011, and reinstated in the fifth tier of French football. Last season, they won the Coupe de la Ligue (the French League Cup), qualifying for European competition. It is a truly remarkable recovery.
Strasbourg finished eleventh in the top flight last season, and they have kicked off this campaign with unremarkable draws against Reims and newly promoted Metz. In the UEL qualifiers they overcame Israeli side Maccabi Haifa 4-3 on aggregate, and picked up a pair of 1-0 victories against Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
Strasbourg’s home form is something of a concern, with just one victory in their last nine home games in Ligue 1. However, it’s worth examining how they did at home to the top sides last season. They held PSG, Lyon and St Etienne to draws last term at the Stade de la Meinau, and they only lost five league games there all season.
Eagles keep soaring despite big departures
When you accept your place in the football food chain, it can soften the blow when you lose key players to bigger clubs. This summer, Eintracht Frankfurt have sold strikers Luka Jovic and Sebastien Haller to Real Madrid and West Ham respectively, but fans are already excited about what happens next. New striker Dejan Joveljic (from the same home city as Jovic) has already had some bright moments, while Goncalo Paciencia looks to have shaken off the long-term injury he suffered last season. After successful loan spells, Filip Kostic, Kevin Trapp, Sebastian Rode and Martin Hinteregger have all signed permanently.
Frankfurt got all the way to the semi-finals of the Europa League last season, and their fans truly embraced the competition. Thousands of Eagles’ fans have travelled the continent, and they make away games seem like matches at the Commerzbank Arena. Frankfurt on all six of their group games in the UEL last term, and they have already won all four qualifiers this time around. There is no doubt that SGE are taking the competition seriously.
Frankfurt started the domestic season in rather haphazard fashion, as they went down 2-0 at lower-league Waldhof Mannheim, but they recovered to win 5-3, largely thanks to a hat-trick from Ante Rebic. The Croatian is the last remaining member of last season’s terrific trio in attack, with Jovic and Haller having departed. Frankfurt then edged out Hoffenheim 1-0 in their Bundesliga opener.
Frankfurt a touch short given key departures
Frankfurt’s recent experience in this competition justifies their status as favourites, but at [2.26] they are a little too short for my liking. Strasbourg did well against the more technically gifted teams last season, and they have made a solid start to the season.
If you fancy Strasbourg to avoid defeat here, you could back Home and Draw in the Double Chance market at [1.75].
Frankfurt should score, but hosts can strike too
Strasbourg usually score on home soil – they have netted in 21 of their last 23 home matches in all competitions. However, they rarely keep a clean sheet – they managed just six shutouts in those 23 games.
Frankfurt still have plenty of firepower despite the loss of Haller and Jovic, but they have looked a little fragile defensively so far, especially in that cup game in Mannheim.
You can either back Both Teams To Score at [1.75], or Over 2.5 Goals at [1.93]. I think either is a sensible play, but I’ll go for the bigger price here.
Source: Betfair Europa League
