Manchester City-Manchester United, FA Cup final: streaming, formations, predictions
With the Bundesliga already a week old, there is only one title left to be awarded in Germany: the national cup. And it will be contested on the neutral pitch of the Olympiastadion in Berlin not by Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund, the two big contenders for the Meisterschale, but by defending champions Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt, who are almost obliged to win it in order to participate in the next Europa League.
Oliver Glasner’s team only finished seventh in the league: they finished on 50 points like Bayer Leverkusen, but came off worst on goal difference. As of today, the Adlers, who are paying dearly for a disappointing second half of the season – in the Bundesliga they were winless for several months after being eliminated from the Champions League by Napoli – would qualify for the Conference League. This was a major downgrade from last season, which had ended with the historic Europa League victory in the final in Seville and qualification for the Champions League as top seeds. Eintracht had not won the German Cup for five years: once they realised it would be difficult to make up points in the league, they became the number one target. In the quarters and semi-finals, Kolo Muani and his team-mates eliminated Union Berlin (2-0) and Stuttgart (3-2). Frankfurt, however, finished on a high, winning their last two home games against Mainz and Freiburg.
Fourth final in the last five years for Leipzig
A positive moment for Leipzig as well, who have always won in their last five Bundesliga matches, securing third place behind Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Rose and Glasner next to the trophy
A Champions League place is already in the bag: winning the German Cup would be nothing more than the classic icing on the cake in a season that has brought some satisfaction. For the second year in a row Leipzig has the opportunity to win a title, the second in its short (but intense) history: the club was only born in 2009. The Roten Bullen have played four finals in the last five years, but only last season did they break what had become a taboo, beating Freiburg on penalties in the last act in Berlin. Marco Rose will be able to count on the magical moment of Christopher Nkunku, who has become the top scorer in the German top league with 16 goals. The French striker, absent for several months due to injury, has regained his best form in recent weeks.
And he is ready to take Leipzig’s attack on his shoulders. The precedents between the two teams are in perfect balance, and even the season’s ones have ended with a victory on each side (4-0 and 2-1). Rose, however, will have to contend with two heavy absences: Gvardiol (disqualified) in defence and André Silva in attack, with the former AC Milan man out for at least four months. Glasner’s only doubt instead is between Kamada – close to AC Milan – and Rode.
The Prediction
In the Bundesliga Leipzig have collected sixteen more points than Frankfurt and have also done better in terms of goals. The Roten Bullen may have less motivation than Glasner’s men, having already qualified for the Champions League, but they arrive at the final in great confidence. And they should confirm their superiority, especially technical superiority, over their opponents. In any case, it will be a hard-fought match, as any dry final can be, with both teams scoring. Watch out for the unleashed Nkunku.
Leipzig-Eintracht Frankfurt line-up odds
- LIPSIA (4-2-2): Blaswich; Simakan, Orban, Klostermann, Halstenberg; Laimer, Haidara; Szoboszlai, Dani Olmo; Nkunku, Werner.
- EINTRACHT FRANCOFORTE (3-4-2-1): Trapp; Tuta, Hasebe, N’Dicka; Buta, Rode, Sow, Lenz; Lindstrom, Gotze; Kolo Muani.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1