Eintracht Frankfurt and Hoffenheim meet on Sunday with both clubs' hopes of Champions League qualification in the balance. Frankfurt's recent away form has hurt the club's chances of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time ever.
The club has lost four straight away matches, and it is just Frankfurt's home form that has kept their hopes alive. Currently fifth, Frankfurt need to win on Sunday to keep pace with RB Leipzig and the rest of the top four. Unfortunately, Frankfurt's recent form may see the club drop points once more.
Hoffenheim sit just three points back of Frankfurt. The club qualified for the Champions League knockout stages last term and could qualify for Europe once more. It hasn't been smooth sailing for Hoffenheim as the team's road form has been hit and miss. Hoffenheim have won just three times away from Rhein-Neckar-Arena. The club has secured a mere 14 points from 42 away from home. The team's poor play and Frankfurt's 24 points from 42 at home makes these two clubs evenly matched when over the 34 game Bundesliga season.
Frankfurt's defence has given up the fourth fewest goals in the Bundesliga (32). However, the team's scoring has been hot and cold. Die Adler have tallied just 39 goals and recently manager Niko Kovac has benched leading goal scorer Sebastien Haller.
Kovac has assembled a team that is difficult to score against usually favouring a back three and wing-backs that bomb forward. However, Kovac changed his tactics in the team's last match against Werder Bremen. The change took Frankfurt out of their normal formation and the match ended in a 2-1 loss.
Hoffenheim are undefeated in their last five matches, and the team has kept three clean sheets in that time. Despite selling striker Sandro Wagner in January, Hoffenheim's Mark Uth (12) and Andrej Kramaric (nine) have stepped up to score goals for the team. Hoffenheim have tallied the third most goals in the Bundesliga (52) and have posted a +11-goal difference.
Frankfurt have several injured players out of action this weekend. Star attacker Ante Rebic is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a muscle injury against Werder Bremen. Centre-back Carlos Salcedo is also out due to a collarbone fracture.
Both teams are fighting for a European spot. Frankfurt are desperately holding onto the final Europa League place, but Die Adler have their sights set on the Champions League. Unfortunately, the match will end in draw between the sides and Frankfurt could find themselves further away from the Champions League by the end of the weekend.