Matchday in focus: Bielefeld coming with confidence | OneFootball

Some statistics favour Eintracht against Arminia Bielefeld, but nobody will be underestimating Friday’s opponents.

Tactics

Bielefeld coach Frank Kramer favours a 4-2-3-1 system, although in two of his team’s last four matches – none of which the visitors have lost – the 49-year-old has changed things around. The former Germany youth coach opted for a 4-3-3 in the 2-2 draw against Freiburg, and in the 2-0 win over Bochum he went with a 4-4-2 diamond.

Absentees

Kevin Trapp and Danny da Costa have been back in full training since Wednesday. Jens Petter Hauge and Christopher Lenz are on the verge of the same, but the match against Bielefeld will come too soon. Filip Kostic is due to resume training with the team on Thursday, while Aymen Barkok remains on international duty with Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Kramer has a full squad to choose from, with everyone fit for Arminia.

Statistics

Eintracht Frankfurt are unbeaten in eight Bundesliga matches against Bielefeld since a 3-0 loss at home in November 2006.

Bielefeld have won just once in their last 14 Bundesliga visits to Frankfurt.

Both SGE and Bielefeld have conceded considerably fewer goals this season than predicted by the expected goals (xG) metric. Arminia’s 26 goals conceded is 6.4 less, while Eintracht’s is 5.8 less with 28 goals against.

Head-to-head

Eintracht and Arminia have met 34 times to date, with 29 of those matches happening in the Bundesliga. The Eagles have come out on top 12 times in the top flight, with the points being shared on 11 occasions and Bielefeld winning just six.