Two-time UEFA Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt are within touching distance of another semi-final berth after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last week. With their form at home looking formidable, the German outfit need just one more win at Deutsche Bank Park—where they’ve won their last four UEL games—to secure a third semi-final appearance in the competition in just seven seasons.
Their most recent home triumph, a commanding 4-1 victory over Ajax in the last 16, highlights just how dangerous Frankfurt can be on their own turf. That momentum continued domestically too, with a 3-0 win over Heidenheim at the weekend boosting their hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League via their Bundesliga position. But history tempers expectations slightly—half of Frankfurt’s eight home fixtures against English opposition in UEFA competitions have ended in draws.
Tottenham, meanwhile, find themselves facing a familiar uphill battle. The North London side haven’t reached a European semi-final since their thrilling UEFA Champions League run in 2018/19, and recent history isn’t on their side. In fact, that UCL campaign remains the only time in their last ten two-legged European knockout ties that Spurs have progressed after failing to win the home leg.
Their struggles against German clubs in Europe further compound the challenge. Tottenham have lost six of their last seven European knockout away matches in Germany (W1), and their general away form is just as uninspiring. A 4-2 defeat to Wolves at the weekend marked their sixth loss in seven games on the road in all competitions—a worrying trend ahead of such a high-stakes clash.
Players to Watch:
- Hugo Ekitiké (Frankfurt): The French striker has directly contributed to seven UEL goals this season. Impressively, he’s been on the winning side in five of his last six home games in which he has scored.
- Son Heung-min (Tottenham): The South Korean forward could make a club-record 68th major European appearance for Spurs, although he’s found the net just once every 217 minutes in Europe this season—his least prolific return in recent years.
Hot Stat: Tottenham have lost five of their last seven UEFA knockout stage away fixtures.
As Frankfurt prepare to defend their home fortress, and Spurs attempt to rewrite a worrying European narrative, all signs point to a thrilling and tense second leg in Germany.
