Eintracht Frankfurt take on RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga's Saturday evening kickoff.

Both sides will represent Germany in the Champions League this season, and they head into the weekend's meeting level on five points from four matches.

Match preview

© Reuters

Having made a slow start to the season, Frankfurt finally claimed their first league win at the fourth time of asking with a thrilling 4-3 win away to Werder Bremen last weekend.

Mario Gotze opened the scoring after only two minutes with his first league goal since returning to the Bundesliga from PSV Eindhoven in the summer transfer window, but Anthony Jung and Leanardo Bittencourt both struck within three minutes of each other to turn the game in the hosts' favour.

However, two blistering counter-attacks were finished by Randal Kolo and Jesper Lindstrom to provide Frankfurt with a half-time lead, before Djibril Sow's well-placed finish from the edge of the area gave them breathing space after unselfish play from the in-form Daichi Kamada.

Yet another late Bremen comeback looked possible when Niclas Fullkrug dispatched a penalty in injury-time, but Die Adler held on for a crucial victory, which moved them up to 11th in the table ahead of the weekend's clash against Leipzig.

Oliver Glasner will hope that his side have recovered from any lingering hangover after the high of winning the Europa League in May, with plenty of domestic and continental action ahead of them in the coming weeks.

© Reuters

Leipzig, meanwhile, also claimed their first league victory of the season by dispatching Wolfsburg 2-0 at home last time out in the Bundesliga.

Christopher Nkunku's fifth-minute penalty gave the hosts a strong platform to build from in the game, although it was not until the France forward's injury-time strike that the three points were finally secured.

In truth, though, the Wolves were kept at arms length throughout the encounter, with Dani Olmo and Timo Werner both particularly guilty of profligacy in front of goal.

The same could not be said in midweek, though, with Die Roten Bullen thrashing Teutonia Ottensen 8-0 in the first-round of the DFB Pokal on Tuesday. Werner bagged himself a hat-trick with Olmo and Nkunku also both on the scoresheet, while Andre Silva scored twice to add to Emil Forsberg's strike in the rout.

Domenico Tedesco will hope for similar ruthlessness in front of goal away to Frankfurt on Saturday, with his side needing to put together a winning run if they are to keep pace with the likes of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table.

Team News

© Reuters

Glasner has switched to a four-man defence in recent weeks and may persist with that system, especially with Almamy Toure (muscle), Aurelio Buta (knee) and Jerome Onguene (thigh) all expected to be ruled out of Saturday's clash against Leipzig.

That means Kristijan Jakic is expected to continue out of position at right-back in what could be an unchanged XI from last weekend's win in Bremen, although Tuesday's clash against Marseille in the Champions League could be factored into selection considerations.

Leipzig, meanwhile, will travel without Lukas Klostermann (ankle) and Youssouf Poulsen (thigh) as the duo continue to miss action through injury.

However, they should welcome Peter Gulasci back between the sticks after the Hungary goalkeeper missed his side's last three matches with a muscle strain, while Josko Gvardiol may replace Marcel Halstenberg at centre-back.

Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Jakic, Tuta, Ndicka, Pellegrini; Rode, Sow; Lindstrom, Gotze, Kamada; Kolo

RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulasci; Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol; Henrichs, Kampl, Laimer, Raum; Olmo, Nkunku; Werner

We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 RB Leipzig

We expect a high-quality affair between two talented teams, who both found their first league wins of the season last time out, but we expect the visitors to earn a narrow win.

Werner's hat-trick in midweek should improve his confidence in front of goal, with himself and Nkunku likely to score plenty of goals this season.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Brett Curtis

Previews by email