There is more at stake than just three points for both VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt when they meet on Bundesliga Matchday 34 on Saturday (kick-off 15:30 CEST).
While Sebastian Hoeneß’ side are out to clinch UEFA Champions League qualification with a win, the home side are also looking to seal European football for next term. “After a long season, it all now comes down to this one game – that’s what makes it so special,” said Hoeneß of the match at Deutsche Bank Park. “It’s going to be a lively game. It’s always difficult to play in Frankfurt. Eintracht are still fighting for the Conference League, so we can expect to face a strong team.”
“We’ll need a top performance”
Although the Eagles have a team “full of fantastic individual players”, Hoeneß is focusing on his own side’s strengths when they travel to the club currently eighth in the standings: “I can clearly see patterns in their play that could cause us problems. But we’ll prepare well, look to nullify their strengths with the right defensive approach and pose problems for them ourselves.”
In the wake of VfB’s commanding 3-1 home win against Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, Hoeneß believes that another cohesive team performance will be the path to success in Frankfurt as well: “We’ll need a top performance, just as good as – or even better than – the one against Leverkusen. The boys have shown that they can handle the pressure that comes with games at this stage of the season.”
Finn Jeltsch set to return
The Stuttgart boss almost has a full squad to choose from for Saturday’s game. After Finn Jeltsch returned to full team training, captain Atakan Karazor is the only absentee on the final matchday of the season as he completes his two-match ban for a red card.
