Eintracht learned the identity of their group opponents in this season’s Europa League on Friday lunchtime. Coach Adi Hütter and his side will take on Lazio, Olympique Marseille and Apollon in Group H. The exact times and order of the fixtures will be confirmed later this afternoon.
Reaction to the draw
Axel Hellmann:
“We’ve been given great destinations. All three venues are great for the supporters. In sporting terms it’s tough, demanding and a wonderful challenge. We wanted to be in Europe and now we are in Europe, playing against top-quality opposition. We accept the challenge and look forward to it.”
Fredi Bobic:
“We’ve been handed a very tough group with big obstacles. We’ll have to give everything in order to achieve our objective of reaching the second round. Lazio are a team who know all about Europe. Ciro Immobile and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic are clearly their biggest names. Rome’s Olympic Stadium is definitely worth a visit.
“A wonderful stadium also awaits us in Marseille, as well as a very strong team - an absolutely top opponent from the land of the world champions. The Olympique supporters are in a league of their own. In Apollon Limassol, we’ve been drawn against the toughest possible opponents from Pot 4. Cypriot teams are very difficult to play against. I’m looking forward to our travels and the wonderful games. It’s going to be very special for our fans – even more so than they expected with these opponents.”
Key Europa League dates this season
• Matchday 1: 20 September
• Matchday 2: 4 October
• Matchday 3: 25 October
• Matchday 4: 8 November
• Matchday 5: 29 November
• Matchday 6: 13 December
• Round of 32 draw: 17 December 2018
• Round of 32: 14/21 February 2019
• Round of 16 draw: 22 February 2019
• Round of 16: 7/14 March 2019
• Quarter-final draw: 15 March 2019
• Quarter-finals: 11/18 April 2019
• Semi-final draw: 19 April 2019
• Semi-finals: 2/9 May 2019
• Final: 29 May 2019
