Eintracht Frankfurt take on RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday with the hosts looking to get back to winning ways having failed to win their last four matches.
Leipzig, meanwhile, will be determined to keep the gap between them and leaders Bayern Munich to within two points in the table.
Match preview
Despite failing to win their last four league matches, Frankfurt showed excellent resolve last time out at Stuttgart by coming back from two goals behind to take a point home with them.
Adi Hutter's side could not live with the passing and movement of Stuttgart's Nicolas Gonzalez and Gonzalo Castro in the first half, with Gonzalez drawing a foul from Ibrahima Toure and duly converting from the spot. Castro later doubled Stuttgart's lead with a fine finish from a trademark third-man run in behind the Frankfurt defence.
However, substitute Aymen Barkok turned the game on its head in the second half, skilfully beating two men down the right before pulling the ball back for Andre Silva, who in typical fashion did not allow the chance to go begging by firing into the bottom corner for his fifth goal in seven Bundesliga matches this season. Barkok's corner was headed home by David Abraham to complete the turnaround and earn his side an important point.
Frankfurt are unbeaten in five home meetings with Leipzig, so Hutter will be confident that the likes of Silva and Bas Dost can cause Julian Nagelsmann's side plenty of problems.
Leipzig looked back to their best in their last match against Freiburg, comfortably dispatching their opponents by three goals to nil.
Emil Forsberg was in inspired form, striking the post in the early stages after excellent hold-up play from Yussuf Poulsen, before the Sweden international was scythed down by Philipp Lienhart. Nordi Mukiele teed up his defensive partner Ibrahima Konate, who fired Leipzig ahead from the resulting free kick.
Having gifted three goals to Bayer Leverkusen in Freiburg's previous match, Nicolas Hofler continued his poor form by tripping up Christopher Nkunku in the penalty area, with Marcel Sabitzer duly converting from the spot. Hofler almost redeemed himself but was excellently denied by Peter Gulasci from close range, before Angelino sealed the three points in sensational style with his 30-yard free-kick firing into the top right corner.
That win put Leipzig back into the top two, ahead of Borussia Dortmund after BVB were defeated by leaders Bayern Munich, but Nagelsmann will be fully aware that his side must continue winning if they are to keep pace with Hansi Flick's side.
Eintracht Frankfurt Bundesliga form: WWDLDD
RB Leipzig Bundesliga form: DWWWLW
RB Leipzig form (all competitions): WWLLWW
Team News
Hutter will be without Amin Younes due to coronavirus, with Felix Irorere, Jetro Willems, Sebastian Rode and Ragnar Ache all injury doubts.
However, Frankfurt should welcome key player Filip Kostic back to the side, with the Serbian winger featuring against Scotland during the international break. He has not played for his club since sustaining an injury in the win over Hertha Berlin in late September.
Nagelsmann, meanwhile, was dealt a severe blow with Dayot Upamecano ruled out for several weeks with a torn muscle prior to the win over Freiburg. Lukas Klostermann and Marcel Halstenberg also both remain sidelined, leaving Leipzig short at the back.
Fabrice Hartmann and Konrad Laimer also remain injured, so with his side travelling to Paris Saint-Germain for a crucial Champions League fixture on Tuesday, Nagelsmann may be tempted to rest a few key players.
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Abraham, Hasebe, Hinteregger; Toure, Kohr, Ilsanker, Kostic; Kamada; Dost, Silva
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulasci; Mukiele, Konate, Orban, Angelino; Kampl, Sabitzer; Nkunku, Olmo, Forsberg; Poulsen
We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 RB Leipzig
with Leipzig missing key defensive players, we think Frankfurt's excellent front two can exploit defensive deficiencies to gain a positive result in what should be a high scoring, entertaining affair.
Any dropped points by Leipzig will be received with welcome arms in Munich, as Bayern look to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Top betting tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a draw or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Draw/Away:databody check tags ::
