Fear travels with Eintracht
April 14, 2022, has definitely secured its place in the history books of Eintracht Frankfurt. Backed by over 30,000 traveling fans, coach Oliver Glasner’s protégés sensationally prevailed 3-2 against FC Barcelona at Camp Nou, securing their place in the Europa League final, which they later won.
Three and a half years later, the omens are completely different. It seems almost impossible that the Bundesliga club will once again prevail against Barcelona. And a renewed invasion of SGE fans in the Catalan metropolis has already been nipped in the bud by various measures taken by the home club. So it looks set to be a long evening for the Hessians.
The latest impressions from the weekend have further reinforced what was already a completely one-sided starting position. While Lamine Yamal and Co. set off another offensive fireworks display and won the thoroughly complicated away game at Betis Sevilla 5-3, Eintracht suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat at RB Leipzig on Saturday evening. Even with patriotic glasses on, it is difficult to justify any potential prediction for the Eagles ahead of the Barcelona vs. Frankfurt match.
The fact that the home side cannot afford any slip-ups in view of the current table situation in the Champions League league phase completes the monotonous picture that is being painted in the run-up to the match.
Barcelona vs. Frankfurt prediction AI
Artificial intelligence also fears that Eintracht Frankfurt could be in for a heavy defeat at the modernized Camp Nou on Tuesday evening. The Catalans are assigned an xG value of 3.13, which is also enough for a probability of victory of over 80%. With an expected goal difference of 2.22 goals, no value can be generated, but the total number of goals can. Adding the 3.13 goals for FCB to the 0.91 for SGE gives a value of 4.04. The Barcelona vs. Frankfurt AI prediction is therefore for over 4 goals and can be played at Bet365 with odds of 1.91.
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
Hansi Flick and his coaching team definitely cannot be satisfied with the Champions League group stage so far. Only seven out of a possible 15 points were earned in the first five matchdays. There were defeats against Paris St. Germain and Chelsea, and in Bruges they had to settle for a draw. Only Olympiacos Piraeus and Newcastle were brought to their knees.
The logical consequence is a sobering 18th place in the table and three points behind the top eight, which was actually the target. However, because the remaining schedule looks absolutely feasible and, after Tuesday evening’s home game, matches against Slavia Prague and FC Copenhagen are still on the agenda, the Catalans have by no means written off a direct place in the round of 16. However, it is also clear that in FC Barcelona’s home game against Frankfurt, a prediction in favor of the Blaugrana is essential in order to actually maintain their chances.
There have been 35 goals in Barca’s last seven games!
In any case, the reigning Spanish champions are in decent form. At the national level, FCB has recently celebrated six wins in a row, pushing them back to the top of the La Liga table. Across all competitions, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Co. have been able to put the ball in the back of the net at least three times in eight of their last ten competitive games. With their 5-3 win at Betis Sevilla at the weekend, Flick’s team underlined their outstanding attacking quality.
I am therefore convinced that the favorites will create numerous chances against the very vulnerable SGE defense. That’s exactly why, ahead of the match between Barcelona and Frankfurt, I’m checking the odds on the star ensemble from Gaudí’s city scoring in both halves. Combined with the expected home win, you can pocket 1.52 in the Betano app.
Frankfurt – Statistics & current form
Eintracht Frankfurt made a sporting declaration of bankruptcy on Saturday evening in the Bundesliga. In their away game at RB Leipzig, the Hessians were dismantled by every trick in the book. The final score was 0-6 from the SGE’s perspective, which once again fell short of their own expectations and is now in a form crisis. Toppmöller’s team has won just four of its last 15 competitive games. In the same period, they suffered seven (!) defeats.
Will Eintracht’s defense be exposed at Camp Nou?
The biggest problem remains the defense, which has now conceded 13 goals in the last four games. No other club in the Bundesliga has conceded more goals than the Champions League participants from Frankfurt. In the Champions League, too, only bottom-of-the-table Ajax Amsterdam has conceded more than their 14 goals. It now seems irrelevant whether the coach opts for a back three or back four against the ball. His team appears unsettled, is prone to individual errors and is likely to reach its limits against the attack of their upcoming opponents.
While the many goals conceded at the start of the season could still be concealed thanks to an equally potent offense, SGE has also declined significantly in this regard. The injury-related absence of Jonathan Burkardt weighs particularly heavily. The Black, Red, and Whites have failed to score in their last two Champions League games in a row.
At least that could change on Tuesday evening, as FCB’s very high back line could play into Eintracht’s hands, with their fast players quickly running deep. Although I expect a clear defeat for the Bundesliga club, the betting odds on both teams scoring are definitely recommended ahead of the Barcelona vs. Frankfurt clash.
Barcelona – Frankfurt Head-to-head record
As mentioned in the introduction, Frankfurt fans will fondly remember the only two direct duels between the two sides. The first leg of the 2021/22 Europa League semi-final in Germany ended in a remarkable 1-1 draw from SGE’s point of view.
But the second leg took the madness to a whole new level. The Eagles sensationally won 3-2 at the Catalan football temple and celebrated reaching the final. Ironically, it was against the mighty FC Barcelona that the path to the Europa League title was paved, which was secured a month later in Seville against Glasgow Rangers.
Barcelona – Frankfurt Tip
Actually, an away game at Camp Nou is a real highlight for any professional soccer player. However, it remains to be seen how excited the Eintracht players will be after their recent slump. After losing 6-0 in Leipzig and 3-0 in their last Champions League match against Atalanta Bergamo, which significantly reduced their chances of advancing, the Hessians are desperate to avoid another heavy defeat in Catalonia. However, this will be a difficult task, as Barca have recently been in relentless scoring form again. In eight of their last ten competitive games, Flick’s team have scored at least three goals.
In my opinion, it therefore makes the most sense to bet on a high-scoring game. The home side are also very vulnerable defensively, keeping a clean sheet in only one of their last 15 competitive games and conceding at least three goals in six Champions League games in the 2025 calendar year – the highest number in the competition. Over 1.5 (1st half) is offering odds of just under 1.70.
However, if the Blaugrana score twice before the break, a corresponding Barcelona vs. Frankfurt tip on over 1.5 Barca goals in the first half is tempting, with betting odds of up to 2.05 at Bet-at-home! My stake is four units.
