Will Glasner get his first win at the ninth attempt?
“Mr. 3:1” has caused quite a stir in TV commercials in recent months. Eintracht Frankfurt, a Bundesliga team, is currently following in the footsteps of this marketing gag. However, not with the result 3:1, but with the less satisfactory 1:1 from the club’s point of view. In fact, the Hessians have finished the past five competitive games with this result In total, there have already been six draws in a row.
With this in mind, it is somewhat surprising that the odds on an away win for the SGE in Thursday night’s Europa League clash between Antwerp and Frankfurt are relatively low. The team of coach Oliver Glasner is thus put in the role of favourites and this despite the fact that they have not yet been able to celebrate a single victory on all three weddings on which they dance.
It is doubtful that a prediction on Eintracht will pay off in the crucial group match between Antwerp and Frankfurt. After all, the Eagles are up against an in-form Belgian team that has been unbeatenin its domestic league since the beginning of August and has been performing very well in front of its own fans of late. Our first choice therefore does not go in the direction of the away win. Instead, we are aiming for a bet that at least three goals will be scored in the course of the game
Belgium Antwerp – Statistics & current form
The start of the Europa League group stage went anything but according to plan for Royal Antwerpen a fortnight ago. The Belgians lost 1:2 at Olympiakos Piraeus, but gave the Greeks, who are so strong at home, a good fight. In the end, it was a goal in the 87th minute that sealed the victory for the home side. In total, it was one of only four defeats in the first twelve matches of the current season.
Especially in the domestic Jupiler League, the team of Danish coach Brian Priske has made a promising start. After nine matchdays, last year’s third-placed team has five wins, two draws and two defeats to its name. In view of the fact that the two aforementioned defeats occurred on the first two matchdays, the red and white are now unbeaten in the league for seven matches on the road.
Antwerp have been extremely in-form and attack-minded of late
The current form is definitely a reason to take a closer look at the odds between Antwerp and Frankfurt for a point win for the hosts. Four times in a row, “The Great Old”, as the oldest football club in the country likes to be called, left the pitch as winners in the Jupiler League.
What was particularly striking was that the spectators in attendance were regularly treated to spectacle in games involving Royal. 32 goals have been scored in nine games so far, an average of almost four goals per match. In four of the Flanders’ most recent five league matches alone, a bet on over 2.5 goals would have paid off.
Across competitions, exactly two-thirds of Antwerp’s matches (eight out of twelve) have featured at least three goals, including the aforementioned first group game in Greece. It is quite possible that this mark will also be broken on Thursday evening against Eintracht from Frankfurt. With the exception of the injured Coopman and Vines, all players will be ready for action.
Predicted line-up of Antwerp:
Butez; Buta, Almeida, Dessoleil, De Laet; Gerkens, Verstraete; Miyoshi, Samatta, Nainggolan; Frey
Last matches played by Antwerp:
Germany Frankfurt – Statistics & current form
The fans of Eintracht Frankfurt are really not to be envied at the moment. Their club has played eight competitive games in three competitions so far this season, but there has not been a win yet The team of coach Oliver Glasner, who is still waiting for his debut win, drew six times and only lost in the Bundesliga against Borussia Dortmund and in the DFB Cup against the third-division team Waldhof Mannheim.
Nevertheless, those responsible are far from being able to speak of a decent result. In particular, the many draws in recent days and weeks have meant that complete identification with their own supporters has not yet taken place. In view of these almost worrying figures, we would also be cautious about making a prediction on the away win between Antwerp and Frankfurt.
Seventh Eintracht draw in a row?
A small glimmer of hope is at least the fact that the offensive has been rolling better and better recently. Even against Fenerbahce Istanbul at the start of the season, a victory could have come with a slightly better use of chances. In the Bundesliga, too, there was rarely a lack of scoring opportunities, but rather a lack of efficiency.
In only two of the eight matches mentioned above did the black and red team fail to score a goal of their own. Only once was Kevin Trapp able to keep his box clean A bet on both sides to score is therefore just as worth considering as the over 2.5.
Predicted Frankfurt line-up:
Trapp; da Costa, Ndicka, Hinteregger, Chandler; Sow, Jakic; Hauge, Borre, Kostic; Lammers
Last matches played by Frankfurt:
Antwerp – Frankfurt Direct comparison / H2H-Balance
These two clubs have never crossed paths before. For the Belgians, it is the 15th match against a German club. Their record is relatively balanced, with only four wins, five draws and five defeats. Frankfurt’s experience with opponents from the neighbouring country is not ideal either. There was one win, two draws and three defeats against Belgian teams. However, this cross-comparison does not have a lasting influence on the upcoming forecast anyway.
Belgium Antwerp – Frankfurt Germany bet
After Antwerp lost 2-1 at Olympiakos Piraeus in their opener and Frankfurt Eintracht couldn’t get beyond a 1-1 draw at home against Fenerbahce, we can expect a landmark clash at the Bosuilstadion on Thursday evening. The loser will have a worse chance of reaching the knockout round.
If we believe the bookmakers’ betting odds between Antwerp and Frankfurt, the Bundesliga team is seen surprisingly clearly ahead. Surprising because the Hessians have not won a single match so far this season and have drawn six times in a row. Moreover, because the Belgians are in strong form, the double chance 1/X is the better choice in our eyes.
In the end, however, our tip in the clash between Antwerp and Frankfurt goes to the number of goals. We are convinced that at least three goals will be scored in the course of the match and argue in particular with the offensive power of the home side. In the nine league games of 2021/22, almost four goals were scored on average with Antwerp involvement. Glasner’s side also scored in almost all of their competitive matches, but also conceded at least one goal in seven of their eight matches.