Looking back: Spotlight on January’s match-winner
VfB beat Eintracht 3-2 in their first home game of the calendar year. Ermedin Demirovic cancelled out Rasmus Kristensen’s early opener before Deniz Undav made it 2-1, but Frankfurt restored parity again with 11 minutes remaining. VfB had the last laugh, though, as Nikolas Nartey – who extended his contract with the club on Friday – netted his first Bundesliga goal to clinch all three points.
Permutations: How VfB can make the Champions League
Stuttgart will finish fourth …
… if they beat Frankfurt and Hoffenheim fail to overturn VfB’s five-goal advantage in goal difference against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
… if they draw and Hoffenheim fail to beat Gladbach.
… if they lose, Hoffenheim lose and Bayer Leverkusen fail to beat Hamburg.
Hoffenheim will finish fourth …
… if Hoffenheim and VfB both win and Hoffenheim overturn VfB’s advantage in goal difference.
… if they win and VfB fail to win.
… if they draw and VfB lose.
Leverkusen will finish fourth …
… if they win and VfB and Hoffenheim both lose.
Eye for goal: Undav prolific from open play
Undav scored his 19th Bundesliga goal of the season against Leverkusen last time out, with none of those efforts coming from the penalty spot. The only VfB players to net more goals not counting penalties in a single top-flight season are Serhou Guirassy in 2023/2024, Mario Gomez in 2008/2009 (both 24), and Karl Allgöwer in 1985/1986 (21) and 1982/1983 (20). Timo Werner (25 goals in 2019/20) is the last German player to score more Bundesliga goals without finding the net from the spot.
Personnel: Skipper only absentee
After Finn Jeltsch’s return from injury, the only absentee against Frankfurt is captain Atakan Karazor, who was sent off against Leverkusen last time out.
Attendance: Nearly 6,000 fans heading to Frankfurt
VfB have sold out their away allocation for the final league match of the campaign, with Sebastian Hoeneß’s side backed by at least 5,800 supporters at Deutsche Bank Park.
