Tottenham Hotspur sit in 14th place in the Premier League and have crashed out of the two domestic cups. Spurs are desperate to salvage this disappointing 2024/25 season, and the only option that will appease fans is to clinch the Europa League title.
Tottenham take on Eintracht Frankfurt in North London for the first leg of their quarter-final match-up this Thursday, April 10, determined to secure a decent result. Easier said than done, considering Spurs’ diabolical form (only two wins in their last seven games).
However, Tottenham will take some confidence from condemning Southampton to relegation with a 3-1 beating over the weekend. Ange Postecoglou’s men gave a better account of themselves than they did in the Chelsea game, where they were hapless.
They also bounced back from adversity in the first leg against AZ Alkmaar to secure a place in the final eight. Spurs will back themselves against a Frankfurt team that has been poor recently.
Frankfurt have managed just two wins from their last five Bundesliga matches, losing momentum after a terrific (almost surprising) start.
After underwhelming under Dino Toppmoller last season, Bundesliga experts expected the manager to leave and for the Eagles to seek a fresh start. They stuck with the German tactician, and it paid dividends.
Despite their recent drop-off, Toppmoller has them as high as third on the league table and in the quarter-final in Europe.
Frankfurt are a dangerous outfit built around technically excellent yet energetic midfielders like the ever-green Mario Gotze, young Hugo Larsson and Fares Chaibi.
They also have the ever-dangerous Hugo Ekitike leading the line excellently, even without his partner in crime, Omar Marmoush. Ekitke is the dangerman – the one Spurs must keep an eye on.
The Frenchman is deceptively shifty and can pierce teams with his dangerous, long-bursting runs behind the defence. He has 19 goals and eight assists across all competitions.
Head to Head
Tottenham and Frankfurt previously locked horns in the UEFA Champions League in 2022. Spurs held Die Adler to a 0-0 stalemate in Germany before an epic showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the return leg.
Frankfurt stunned Tottenham early on, as Daichi Kamada gave the Bundesliga side the lead before Son Heung-min brought Spurs back into the tie with a brace.
Harry Kane also scored, and the North Londoners were en route to a comfortable win, but Faride Alidou scored in the 87th minute to set up a tentative final few minutes. Tottenham saw out the win.
Frankfurt have a strong Europa League pedigree. They lifted the trophy in 2021/22 and 1979/80 while finishing as runners-up in 1959/60. Their track record shows they are no strangers to deep runs in European competition.
On the other hand, Tottenham have also claimed the title twice – first in 1972 and again in 1984. However, it has been decades since Spurs last clinched the trophy.
Team/Injury News
Tottenham will be without Radu Dragusin, who suffered a serious knee injury in February and has since undergone surgery.
Meanwhile, Dejan Kulusevski and Kevin Danso are weeks away from returning to action, as Postecoglou confirmed.
Despite having three players missing, the Australian coach will be happy to have most of the squad fit after the plague of injuries that befell the club earlier this season.
As for Frankfurt, influential goalkeeper Kevin Trapp is on the treatment table, meaning talented goalkeeper Kaua Santos should get the nod in goal. The Brazilian shot-stopper could be Frankfurt’s next big-money sale after Larsson and Ekitike.
Frankfurt players like Krisztian Lisztes, Timothy Chandler, Elye Wahi, Ansgar Knauff, Junior Dina Ebimbe, and Can Uzun will also miss the tie.
Best XIs
Tottenham
Guglielmo Vicario should start between the sticks for Tottenham with a back four of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven, and Djed Spence protecting him.
Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur are expected to anchor the midfield. That base in the engine room has been a problem, but Tottenham can only put their best foot forward with Bergvall and Bentancur.
The attacking band of Son, Johnson, and Maddison will try to wreak havoc up top, with Dominic Solanke leading the line.
The former Bournemouth striker gets the nod despite his non-existent display versus Chelsea and lack of cutting edge against Southampton. This is a chance for Solanke, who earns £90,000 per week, to prove his mettle.
(4-2-3-1): Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven, Djed Spence; Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur; James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-min (c); Dominic Solanke.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt line up with Kaua Santos in goal. At the back, Rasmus Kristensen, Arthur Theate, Tuta and skipper Robin Koch will try to contain Tottenham. They must stay switched on.
Ellyes Skhiri and Larsson form the midfield axis. It is a workmanlike pairing – reliable, industrious, and quietly influential.
Ahead of them, Nnamdi Collins, Mario Gotze, and Jean-Matteo Bahoya offer a mix of raw promise and seasoned creativity. Gotze still sees the game a step ahead. Bahoya brings the spark.
Up top is Ekitike. His talent is undeniable. This game is the perfect stage for him to earmark himself as one of the best strikers in Europe.
(4-2-3-1): Kaua Santos; Rasmus Kristensen, Robin Koch (c), Tuta, Arthur Theate; Ellyes Skhiri, Hugo Larsson; Nnamdi Collins, Mario Gotze, Jean-Matteo Bahoya; Hugo Ekitike.