Eintracht Frankfurt vs Barcelona

Barcelona head to the Deutsche Bank Park to take on UEFA Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.

An underwhelming goalless draw with Bundesliga basement boys Greuther Furth last time out made it three matches without winning for Eintracht Frankfurt (D2, L1 – 90min only). However, ‘Die Adler’ will fall back on their impressive European record against La Liga clubs of late, with no defeat from their last eight such fixtures (W5, D3). Moreover, the Germans have never lost a home match against Spanish visitors in major European competition (W2, D2), while they’re unbeaten in all 16 home games in the European quarter-finals (W12, D4). Against this backdrop, Oliver Glasner’s men have suffered five losses across their last seven competitive home outings (W1, D1), netting under 1.5 goals on five occasions in that sequence. On top of that, Frankfurt got past Barca’s fellow La Liga rivals Real Betis in the previous knock-out round to reach the Europa League quarter-finals for the second time in four years.

On the other hand, Barcelona have taken their first Champions League group stage exit in 20 years seriously, easing past Napoli and Galatasaray in the two previous Europa League knock-out rounds. Coming into this encounter, the ‘Blaugrana’ have won four competitive matches on the trot, including a 4-0 thumping of arch-rivals Real Madrid in their most recent game on hostile turf. Excluding three embarrassing defeats to Bayern Munich, the Catalan heavyweights are unbeaten in their last 21 European meetings with German clubs (W17, D4) since losing to Bayer Leverkusen in 2001. Xavi’s men are flying high on the road, having won their last five away fixtures by an aggregate score of 16-5, netting precisely four goals three times in the process. Interestingly, two of those five victories saw Barcelona come from behind, highlighting their burgeoning confidence.