Basel vs Eintracht Frankfurt 07/08/20

07 August 2020

A disastrous 3-0 loss in Germany means Eintracht Frankfurt are at a massive disadvantage to Basel going into the second leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 that will take place at St. Jakob-Park this week.

It’ll be a unique opportunity for Basel to improve a dismal record against the German sides in UEFA ties (L4). Although they’ve lost five of their previous seven European home clashes against the Bundesliga visitors (W2), the Swiss giants go into this encounter on a run of nine Europa League home matches without a loss, qualifying included (W7, D2). Indeed, the hosts won all three of their group stage home fixtures this season before beating APOEL in the round of 32, with three of those triumphs yielding a clean sheet. The ‘RotBlau’ seem very likely to qualify for the quarter-finals, especially considering they’ve run out winners in all but one of 13 UEFA two-legged ties in which they won the first leg on the road.

Meanwhile, Frankfurt qualified for the knockout stage after finishing runners-up to Arsenal in Group F (W3, L3), subsequently beating RB Salzburg in the round of 32, 6-3 on aggregate (4-1 H, 2-2 A). Notably, three of their four Europa League trips this season have seen over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet, qualifying excluded. Eintracht’s overall away record in the Europa League stands at W11, D4, L4, qualifying included. Also, the Bundesliga giants can draw inspiration from the fact they’ve been triumphant in three of four UEFA two-legged ties against the Swiss opponents (L1). Additionally, ‘Die Adler’ have lost at the hands of Swiss clubs on the road only once in four of their previous European trips to the country (W2, D1).