Europa League | League Stage

Jan 23, 2025 at 8pm UK

Deutsche Bank Park (Frankfurt am Main)

Frankfurt vs Ferencvaros

Match preview

One of the most impressive sides in the Europa League so far this season, Frankfurt have taken the lead in all six of their matches in the league phase so far, but that was not enough to extend their 18-match unbeaten UEL run at Lyon, where they were beaten 3-2.

That contributed to a miserable run of form at the end of 2024, with Dino Toppmoller's men failing to win any of their last five games of the calendar year, losing four of them.

The 'winter break' has clearly had a positive effect on Frankfurt, however, as they have returned to win all three of their games so far in 2025, and continued that run with a win over Borussia Dortmund at the weekend, without the Manchester City-bound Omar Marmoush.

That has kept Toppmoller's side comfortably in the top three, and while the title may be out of reach, Champions League football is once again a real possibility.

The hosts, however, could secure a place in the Champions League by winning the competition again, as they did in 2022, and a start that has seen them take 13 points from six games will see them finish in the top eight and progress directly to the last 16.

With Roma coming up on matchday eight, the Eagles will be hoping to ease the pressure of that fixture by winning here and repeating the 4-1 success they achieved against the only other team they have hosted, Ferencvaros, back in the 1966-67 Fairs Cup.

Ferencvaros also have an abysmal record against German sides, losing seven of nine matches against them, most recently losing both legs of a last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen in this competition two years ago.

However, the Hungarians are enjoying their best European campaign for some time and look set to make the knockout rounds, sitting in 16th place with two or three points likely to be enough to seal their progress.

With three wins from their six UEL games so far, Ferencvaros will be looking for a fourth in a single season for the first time since the 1994-95 Cup Winners' Cup, but they will have a new coach in the dugout looking for a crucial win.

Pascal Jansen left the club earlier this year to join New York City FC in the MLS, and Ferencvaros have appointed former Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane as his replacement.

Keane faces a tricky test next week as Hungary's domestic competition has yet to resume, so he will take his team to Frankfurt on a bye before hosting AZ Alkmaar next week.

The Greens were last in competitive action on 15 December, when they beat Nyiregyhaza 1-0, just days after they were thrashed 5-0 by PAOK Salonika in the same competition, so the break was needed with their form waning.

The visitors have played two friendlies in the past week, but they have offered little to cheer about, drawing with German third-tier side Munster and losing to Piast Gliwice, both without scoring.

However, Keane is unlikely to be too concerned as only six of the other 35 teams in the Europa League have beaten Ferencvaros in the league so far.

Recent Performance

Eintracht Frankfurt Europa League form:DWWWWL

Eintracht Frankfurt form (all competitions):LLLWWW

Ferencvaros Europa League form:LLWWWL

Ferencvaros form (all competitions):WDLWLW

Team News

Frankfurt will be without their player of the season so far, as Marmoush has agreed a move to Man City, and they have yet to sign a direct replacement.

However, Hugo Ekitike looks set to replace him, having found the net in back-to-back games, including the weekend opener against Dortmund.

On the injury front, Aurele Amenda is out long-term with a cruciate ligament injury, while Eric Ebimbe is still recovering from illness.

Ferencvaros raised some eyebrows last week with the signing of former Liverpool man Naby Keita, but as has often been the case, he is currently out injured and not registered for this competition.

Barnabas Varga returns from suspension for the visitors and that could be crucial to the away side's chances here, given his form on the continent so far, with five goals in five games.

That is the highest tally for a Hungarian player in Europe since Balazs Dzsudzsak's five-goal haul in 2010-11, and Varga is one away from equalling Zoltan Gera's record of six goals in a single season in the 21st century.

Possible starting lineup

Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:

Trapp; Collins, Koch, Theate; Kristensen, Skhiri, Gotze, Larsson, Brown; Ekitike, Knauff

Ferencvaros possible starting lineup:

Dibusz; Makreckis, Cisse, Gartenmann, Ramirez; Rommens, Maiga, Abu Fani; Kady Borges, Varga, Traore