Eagles aim for Europa League semi-finals | OneFootball

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Tottenham Hotspur: UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg probable teams, match stats & LIVE blog!

Eintracht Frankfurt will aim to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League for the third time in six years when they host Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday.

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The Eagles prepared for this crucial continental clash with a convincing 3-0 victory over Heidenheim on Matchday 29 of the Bundesliga campaign, with Jean-Mattéo Bahoya Robin Koch and Hugo Ekitiké finding the back of the net. That result gives Dino Toppmöller's men a five-point buffer over Mainz in fifth, meaning there is less pressure on them to win this competition as their sole route into the UEFA Champions League. For this clash, Frankfurt are expected to once again be without captain Kevin Trapp, but Kauã Santos has so far been a reliable deputy and would deserve to keep his place for another big occasion. Ansgar Knauff is a doubt having missed the match in London, but Toppmöller otherwise has a full squad to choose from. Ekitiké is again expected to lead the line having scored already in this two-legged meeting, with the likes of Hugo Larsson and Mario Götze ready to perform having been rested at the weekend.

In contrast, Tottenham were on the end of a 4-2 loss to relegation-threatened Wolves, a result which leaves them 15th in the English Premier League table, albeit in no danger of dropping down themselves. That result means they have now won just one of their past six league games, although this competition gives them a chance to put those domestic difficulties behind them. On-loan Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel and Richarlison were on the scoresheet at the weekend as the likes of ex-Wolfsburg man Micky van de Ven, first-leg goalscorer Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie were rested. Captain and star man Heung-min Son - once of Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen, as well as winger Wilson Odobert, were both left out of the squad due to knocks, but should be available to feature in Frankfurt.

Watch: Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 Heidenheim - highlights

Match stats

Probable teams

Frankfurt: Santos - Kristensen, Koch (c), Theate, Brown - Skhiri, Tuta - Götze, Larsson, Bahoya - EkitikéOut: Chandler (thigh), Matanović (ineligible)Doubtful: Knauff (knee), Trapp (shin)Coach: Dino Toppmöller

Tottenham: Vicario - Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie - Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison - Kulusevski, Solanke, Son (c)Out: Danso (thigh), Dragusin (knee)Doubtful: -Coach: Ange Postecoglou

LIVE blog!

First-leg report

Hugo Ekitiké was on target as Eintracht Frankfurt drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht FrankfurtGoals: 0-1 Ekitiké 6' (assist: Skhiri), 1-1 Porro 26' (assist: Maddison)

Dreaming of a repeat of their triumphant 2021/22 Europa League campaign, Frankfurt got off to the perfect start in London. Elyes Skhiri picked off James Maddison's errant pass and found Ekitiké, who matched the quality of the Tunisian's razor-sharp assist with a fabulous finish from 18 yards. Tottenham slowly wrestled back the initiative, though, and were level 20 minutes later courtesy of well-taken strike on the turn by Pedro Porro. Frankfurt almost got their noses back in front on the stroke of half-time, but Guglielmo Vicario was well placed to deny Ekitiké's attempt following a corner.

Eintracht did well to weather an testing Tottenham storm early in the second half. After Lucas Bergvall rattled the woodwork, Kauã Santos did really well to deny former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Heung-Min Son before Rodrigo Bentancur sent a corner onto the crossbar and Santos thwarted Maddison at close quarters. Spurs continued to ask all the questions as Bentacur put a header wide and Santos kept out Micky van de Ven's last-gasp attempt, but Frankfurt held on. They now need to win at home on 17 April to reach the last four.

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