Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham Hotspur

Eintracht Frankfurt hosts Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final at Deutsche Bank-Park on Thursday, with the tie poised at 1-1 from the first leg in London. Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou faces intense pressure, as progressing in this competition is crucial to securing his position.

In the first leg, Frankfurt took an early lead through Hugo Ekitike, but Pedro Porro’s equalizer before halftime leveled the score. Frankfurt’s young goalkeeper Kaua Santos stood firm, thwarting Spurs’ second-half efforts to secure a draw. Frankfurt followed this with a confident 3-0 Bundesliga win against Heidenheim, boosting morale for the upcoming match.

Frankfurt, now five points clear in the Bundesliga’s top four, are in strong form at home, winning their last three domestic matches and four consecutive European games at Deutsche Bank-Park, including a 4-1 rout of Ajax. Their home defensive record is impeccable, with no goals conceded in these European fixtures.

As favorites to reach their third Europa League semi-final, Frankfurt aim to join elite company alongside Sevilla and Manchester United. Despite only one win in five prior European clashes with Spurs—a 2-1 victory in the 1982 Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final—Frankfurt hold the upper hand.

Tottenham’s prospects look bleak, with a poor record in Germany, losing six of their last seven knockout-stage visits and failing to score in four of the last five. Their most recent defeat, a 3-0 loss to RB Leipzig in 2020, and the failure to win the first leg at home further dim their chances.

Five losses from their last seven away games in Europe help to explain why Spurs are the slight underdogs here. Their thrilling Champions League semi-final victory over Ajax in 2019 is the only time in the previous ten that they have advanced from a European tie after losing at home in the first leg.

With a 4-2 loss at Wolves over the weekend, Postecoglou's team dropped to 15th place in the Premier League standings, only two points above 17th, after suffering six losses from seven away games in all competitions.

Postecoglou just has to win this game because, if it weren't for their chances in cup competitions, he would have been fired much sooner given their present league standing.

Postecoglou just has to win this game because, if it weren't for their chances in cup competitions, he would have been fired much sooner given their present league standing.

The Frenchman, who has helped to 11 goals (three goals, eight assists) in as many Europa League games this season, is anticipated to join Thiago Almada and either Lacazette or Mikautadze in the final third. Cherki has flourished in Nuamah's absence.