Champions League nights are back at Deutsche Bank Park! After two seasons away, Eintracht Frankfurt return to Europe’s top stage, and the excitement around the city is buzzing. The Eagles finished third in the Bundesliga last season and now kick off their campaign with a tasty home clash against Galatasaray.
It won’t be easy though. The Turkish champions come into this one flying high — five games, five wins, and they’ll be hungry to make it six out of six.
Team News to Watch
Frankfurt have a couple of selection headaches. Rasmus Kristensen is sidelined with a muscle injury and won’t be back until October, which is a blow. The good news? Mario Götze could be ready to return after his thigh issue, and Hugo Larsson might also be back in the squad after illness.
For Galatasaray, all eyes are on Victor Osimhen. He missed the weekend’s win over Eyüpspor with an ankle problem and is a big doubt. If he doesn’t make it, expect Mauro Icardi to step up again — and we all know how dangerous he can be.
A Bit of History
These two have only met once before in Europe — way back in the 1992/93 UEFA Cup. Galatasaray edged it 1-0 on aggregate in the Round of 32. Since then, Frankfurt have built a decent record against Turkish clubs: just one loss in eight games.
For Gala, things haven’t been as smooth against German teams in this competition. They’ve managed only two wins in 12 attempts, though one of those was a memorable 4-1 against Hertha Berlin in 1999. The other? A 3-2 thriller over Schalke in 2013.
Why This One Matters
For Frankfurt, this is only their second Champions League campaign ever. The last time out, in 2022/23, they reached the Round of 16, and the fans will be dreaming of another run. Galatasaray have far more experience at this level, but history shows German opposition hasn’t been too kind to them.
So, Thursday night in Frankfurt has all the ingredients: a packed stadium, two big clubs with something to prove, and a chance for the Eagles to make a statement on their Champions League return. Bring it on!
Source: Liverscore
