Leipzig have two opponents this Monday, February 19, in the match that closes the twenty-third round of the German Championship 2017/2018 edition. He will face Frankfurt at the Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt from 4:30 p.m. and also his Achilles Heel in the first half of the season: the lack of a cast to split between two competitions.
The recent performance of Frankfurt
Frankfurt are also in two tournaments. In addition to the Bundesliga, it continues in the dispute of the Glass of Germany. But in that case, the calendar turns out to be more adjusted. So, even having to split up, you can do well in both tournaments.
In the German Championship, they beat Cologne 4-2 at home on the previous day and moved up to fourth. He has 36 points (ten wins, six draws and six losses). Close the qualifying round for the 2018/2019 Europa League season. An excellent result if you take into account the investment capacity of the club.
In the German Cup, also in their domains, they beat Mainz 3-0, advancing to the semifinals. He will face Schalke at the rival’s home in the fight to reach his second consecutive final of the tournament. In the previous season, lost the title to Borussia Dortmund.
Coach Niko Kovac not only had the week off for preparation as he can count on all his athletes. He does not face any problem of injury or suspension to climb the team that will put on the field on Monday.
The current form of Leipzig
Leipzig completed the twenty-second round in second place. It is the maximum that can be expected in a tournament widely dominated by Bayern Munich, champion of the last five editions and widely favored to reach the sixth title in a row.
In his first season in the elite division of German football in 2016/2017, Leipzig was with the vice. But in the first half he struggled to maintain his status when he needed to split up between the Bundesliga and the Champions League. It was almost out of the zone of classification for European tournaments in the national competition and was eliminated of the international dispute. Had to settle for the ‘relegation’ to the Europa League.
He took advantage of more than two months off the continental tournaments to recover in the German Championship. Outside the German Cup, he has won three of the last five Bundesliga clashes, regaining the vice-lead.
But on Thursday, Leipzig made its debut in the Europa League. It started in style. Against Napoli, leader of the Italian Championship, scored 3 to 1, of turn, in full stadium San Paolo. It opened great advantage for the game back, which is scheduled for next Thursday, February 22.
Now it remains to be seen if he will be able to maintain his intensity in the German Championship where he has not performed satisfactorily when he plays away from his dominions. With 14 points (four wins, two draws and five losses) won in this situation is only the seventh best visitor to the Bundesliga.
Frankfurt, on the other hand, has skidded home. He is only the fourteenth best with 15 points (four wins, three draws and four losses). However, he was much worse off. He reversed this trend in the last four rounds when he won two wins and two draws at the Commerzbank-Arena.
History of the bouts between Frankfurt and Leipzig
Frankfurt never managed to defeat Leipzig. The meetings were only three, but two successfully ended the Red Bull team and there was an equality. In the first round of the current season of the German League, Leipzig made it 2-1.
The two points that separate them in the classification of the German Championship indicate that there is a technical difference of the greater between the teams. On the rise, working at home and against a more tired rival, Frankfurt is the best choice for a guess. The prize for this possibility is 2.40 in Bet365. Draw yields 3.30 and visitor success pays 2.87. Quotes were in effect at 20:28 on 15/2/2018.