Matchday in focus: Aiming to make history

If Eintracht progress to the final against West Ham United, it would be remarkable in two respects. Caution is advised, though, as their opponents travel well.

Tactics

West Ham lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in the first leg, as they have done for most of this season. As Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner suspected ahead of the match, David Moyes’ side were physically very strong in this formation, winning 58 per cent of the duels.

Absentees

For Eintracht, there’s a doubt over Jesper Lindström’s involvement due to thigh problems. Evan Ndicka and Kristijan Jakic are available again having been suspended for the first leg.

West Ham are without centre-backs Angelo Ogbonna and Issa Diop because of injury.

Der Oberschenkel von Jesper Lindström wurde umgehend gekühlt, sein Einsatz für Donnerstag ist allerdings fraglich.

There’s a doubt over Jesper Lindström’s involvement.

Head-to-head

Thursday will be the fourth competitive meeting between Eintracht Frankfurt and West Ham United, and all of them have been in the semi-finals of a European competition. In 1976, the Eagles won 2-1 in the first leg but were knocked out following a 3-1 loss at the Hammers’ former Upton Park home.

The Eagles are looking to add another chapter to their European journey when they take on West Ham United for a place in their first continental final in 42 years.

Statistics

Eintracht have only ever lost one semi-final match on home soil at professional level. The Hessian club lost 3-0 to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the DFB Cup during the 1992/93 season. In 12 games, they’ve won nine and drawn two.

SGE can become the first German team to reach the final of both the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Europa League.