Will the SGE be convincing in the top flight?

An old saying goes: anticipation is the best joy. It was a similar story for many Eintracht Frankfurt supporters who, immediately after last year’s sensational Europa League title win, immediately set their sights on the top flight. As the only debutants in the 32-team field for the new edition of the Champions League starting on Tuesday, the Hessians are looking to make a splash once again.

It is already clear that the fans of the SGE need not fear any other club in international comparison. Perhaps the unconditional and, in most cases, enthusiastic support is also one of the reasons why coach Oliver Glasner’s team can justifiably hope to reach the last 16. In order to lend weight to this goal, it would be of immense importance if a prediction on a home victory in the duel between Frankfurt and Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday would pay off immediately.

The task certainly seems doable from the SGE’s point of view, especially if the Eagle Bearers can build on their strong performance from the weekend in the 4-0 home win over RB Leipzig. In addition, the Bundesliga side will be facing a struggling opponent who have not had a good start to the league season, have had a number of key departures in the summer and also have a disastrous record in German stadiums. Perhaps that’s why the odds are leaning towards the hosts ahead of Frankfurt’s match against Sporting Lisbon.

Frankfurt – Statistics & current form

For the first time ever, five German clubs will take part in the UEFA Champions League this year. In addition to the four clubs that qualified via the Bundesliga, Frankfurt’s Eintracht secured their ticket to the top flight via the Europa League. Nevertheless, the players from the Main metropolis naturally have their sights set high. After all, the last six winners of the Europa League have always made it to the knockout rounds of Europe’s most important club competition the following year.

In any case, the SGE should not lack self-confidence and motivation. In recent years, the Hessians have impressively demonstrated that the international stage suits them very well.

Performance against RBL as a benchmark for the coming weeks

It shouldn’t matter that the last CL debutants all didn’t really start well in the group stage. Since the start of the 2013/14 season, only two of the 19 clubs that played a competitive match in the top flight for the first time were able to win it. Eintracht should take Sheriff Tiraspol as an example. As is well known, the Moldovan underdog started last year with a surprising victory against Shakhtjor Donetsk.

Admittedly, however, the role of Glasner’s eleven cannot be compared to that of Sheriff Tiraspol. As the reigning Europa League champions and with a side that thrashed RB Leipzig 4-0 from their own stadium at the weekend, the black and white should not make themselves smaller than they are. If the Eagle Bearers can build on their convincing performance against the central city side on Wednesday evening, our top priority in Frankfurt’s clash with Sporting Lisbon is to bet on a home win.

Is the SGE attack running at full speed again?

Because the attack has been working well so far, always scoring at least one of their own in the five Bundesliga matches so far and the attack around shooting star Kolo Muani recently even scored eight goals in the last two matches, it is conceivable to bet on an over-goal game.

If you want to push your luck more, BildBet offers 2.75 for Kolo Muani as the goal scorer. The Frenchman has been convincing so far and should be the front runner again during the week. Defensive players Buta, Touré and Onguéné will continue to be missing.

Predicted Frankfurt line-up:
Trapp; Jakic, Tuta, Ndicka, Pellegrini; Rode, Sow; Lindström, Götze, Kamada; Muani

Last matches played by Frankfurt:

Bundesliga
03/09/2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 4 – 0 RB Leipzig

28/08/2022 – Werder Bremen 3 – 4 Eintracht Frankfurt

21/08/2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 1 – 1 1. FC Köln

13/08/2022 – Hertha BSC 1 – 1 Eintracht Frankfurt

UEFA Super Cup
11/08/2022 – Real Madrid 2 – 0 Eintracht Frankfurt

Sporting Lisbon – Statistics & current form

Last season, Sporting Lisbon somewhat surprisingly made it to the last 16 of the Champions League. The main reason for this was the 3:1 home win against Borussia Dortmund, which secured the direct comparison against BVB and kept them in second place behind Ajax. Even though they were knocked out by Manchester City in the last 16, Ruben Amorim and his charges made a name for themselves.

This in turn led to other clubs taking notice of the protagonists and the Portuguese had to report important departures in the summer. Among others, they had to let go two absolute top performers, Palhinha and Matheus Nunes. Although they were able to sign promising new players in return, the new Sporting team has not yet really found its feet.

Sporting 22/23 not to be compared with Sporting 21/22

This becomes clear when we look at the results so far in the domestic league. With a disappointing record of two wins, one draw and already two defeats, the Lions are only in eighth place. With a current eight-point gap to leaders and city rivals Benfica, the topic of the championship can already be ticked off. The eight goals conceded should also be a thorn in the side of those responsible.

Although the dress rehearsal in the 2-0 away win in Estoril was positive, the mood in the surroundings of the multiple Portuguese champions is rather tense. The situation is aggravated by the fact that European Cup matches in Germany have not been good at all so far. The Green-Whites have lost 13 of the past 14 away matches at Bundesliga clubs, including the most recent seven such duels.

Irrespective of the rather irrelevant historical and statistical considerations for many sports bettors, we do not see last year’s quarter-finalists in a position to take three points in the financial metropolis at the moment. The Amorim eleven will have respect, could be lulled by the impressive backdrop and is therefore rightly treated as an underdog in the Frankfurt vs. Sporting Lisbon encounter according to the odds. Braganca, Cabral and Paulinho are definitely out.

Predicted line-up of Sporting Lisbon:
Adan; St.Juste, Coates, Reis; Porro, Ugarte, Morita, Santos; Trincao, Edwards, Pote

Last matches played by Sporting Lisbon:

Liga Portugal
03/09/2022 – Estoril 0 – 2 Sporting CP

28/08/2022 – Sporting CP 0 – 2 Chaves

21/08/2022 – FC Porto 3 – 0 Sporting CP

14/08/2022 – Sporting CP 3 – 0 Rio Ave

07/08/2022 – Braga 3 – 3 Sporting CP

Frankfurt – Sporting Lisbon Direct Comparison / H2H Balance

For the first time these two clubs face each other in the European Cup. For Eintracht, however, it is already the seventh meeting with a club from Portugal. So far, their record is absolutely balanced with two wins, two draws and two defeats. We have already discussed Sporting’s weakness away from home in Germany. Another interesting fact: Bundesliga teams are unbeaten in 15 home games against Portuguese representatives. Since November 2006, there have been 13 German victories and two draws.

Frankfurt – Sporting Lisbon Tip

For many Eintracht supporters, Wednesday is a holiday. For the first time in the club’s history, Frankfurt will get to hear the UEFA Champions League anthem before kick-off. The reigning Europa League champions love the big international stage and, in our eyes, also have a good chance of continuing their winning run from the previous season in the top flight.

With a view to progressing, the home match against last year’s quarter-finalists from the Portuguese capital already has a trend-setting significance. With a lot at stake and a false start in the form of a defeat in the group stage, which lasts only about two months and comprises six matches, it is not surprising that the betting odds between Frankfurt and Sporting Lisbon tend to point to a balanced duel. However, with slight advantages for the SGE.

These advantages are primarily due to the home bonus, Saturday’s strong performance against RB Leipzig and the visitors’ poor season so far. Some statistics also point in the direction of the Hessians, which is why we – coupled with our subjective impressions – are considering a bet on a three-goal win for the home side before the match between Frankfurt and Sporting Lisbon.