As the Bundesliga season draws towards its climax, all eyes will be on the upcoming fixture between Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen this Sunday. It’s a match that holds significant implications for both sides, albeit for differing reasons. Eintracht Frankfurt are striving to cement a place in European competition next season, while Bayer Leverkusen have already wrapped up the league title in a historic, unbeaten run.
Date: 05/05/2024
Kick-off time: 16:30
Location: Deutsche Bank Park
Eintracht Frankfurt, currently sitting 6th in the Bundesliga with 45 points from 31 games, are aiming to secure a spot in next season’s Europa Conference League. After missing out on qualification through the playoffs this season, securing a direct spot is paramount. Under the stewardship of Dino Toppmöller, Eintracht have shown commendable consistency, positioning themselves to potentially surpass last season's 7th-place finish. Last year, they amassed 50 points, and now they require six points from their remaining two games to better that total. While this is a challenging task, it’s within the realm of possibility for a side that have shown resilience throughout the campaign.
Eintracht’s standout player this season, Egyptian attacking midfielder Omar Marmoush, has been a pivotal figure. With 12 goals and 6 assists, Marmoush has been instrumental in driving the team’s offensive play, making him the team’s top scorer. Alongside him, defender Willian Pacho has also been a key asset, bolstering the defence and contributing to their solid performances.
At the other end of the spectrum, Bayer Leverkusen, under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, have had a season for the ages. Already crowned Bundesliga champions with 81 points from 31 games, they have set numerous records along the way. Not only have they clinched their first-ever Bundesliga title, but they have also done so without losing a single game thus far. With three games left in the season, they are on the brink of completing an unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga campaign.
Leverkusen’s success isn’t confined to the domestic league. They are also making significant strides in European and cup competitions. Positioned in the semi-finals of the Europa League and the final of the DFB-Pokal, they are pursuing a rare unbeaten treble — a feat not often seen across Europe’s top leagues.
Key players such as Florian Wirtz, Álex Grimaldo, and Granit Xhaka have been instrumental in their success. Wirtz, one of Europe’s most coveted young talents, has been a creative powerhouse in midfield. Grimaldo's contributions from the left wing-back position have added a new dimension to their attacks, while Xhaka has been a linchpin in midfield, providing stability and experience.
In recent meetings, Bayer Leverkusen have had the upper hand over Eintracht Frankfurt, winning three out of their last five encounters. This includes a commanding 3-0 victory in December, highlighting Leverkusen's dominance in this fixture. However, each match presents a new opportunity, and with Eintracht's pressing need for points to secure European qualification, this upcoming game could be fiercely contested.
Given the contrasting motivations — Eintracht’s push for Europe and Leverkusen’s quest to maintain an unbeaten record — the match promises to be an intriguing affair. Eintracht will need to leverage their home advantage and focus on containing Leverkusen’s dynamic attack while posing threats through Marmoush and their other key players.
As we look towards Sunday's matchup, it's set to be a captivating encounter with both teams having a lot at stake. For Eintracht Frankfurt, it’s about securing European football next season, while for Bayer Leverkusen, it's about etching their name into the annals of Bundesliga history with an unbeaten season. With strategic battles on the pitch and significant outcomes off it, this Bundesliga fixture is poised to be one of the highlights of the footballing weekend in Germany.
Bundesliga 
