Conference League
Difficult European draw: Eintracht against Saint-Gilloise
Eintracht Frankfurt meets Saint-Gilloise in the second round of the Conference League. photo
© Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa
The fight for a place in the round of 16 of the Conference League awaits Eintracht Frankfurt is an attractive but also difficult task.
The Bundesliga soccer team will face the Belgian top team Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the playoff games on February 15th and 22nd next year. That was the result of the draw in Nyon.
“With Saint-Gilloise we have a strong opponent waiting for us who has made a name for itself on the international stage in recent years,” said Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller about their rivals. At the same time, the 43-year-old confirmed: “We definitely want to get to the round of 16.”
Toppmöller: Approach the task with respect
Sports director Markus Krösche also spoke of a challenging draw. “They have done a very good job in recent years and have produced strong players. We have to reach our limit in both games in order to progress,” said Krösche. If that succeeds, the Hessians will continue in the round of 16 on March 7th and 14th. The final will take place on May 29th in Athens.
The Hessians, who missed direct entry into the round of 16 teams as second in the group, have to play against the sovereign leaders of the Jupiler Pro League in the first leg and enjoy home advantage in the second leg a week later. “We will approach the task with respect,” promised Toppmöller.
Leaders in the Belgian league
Caution is advised, because last season the Belgians eliminated 1. FC Union Berlin in the round of 16 of the Europa League. The European journey of German coach Alexander Blessin’s team, whose ranks also include two German professionals, Dennis Eckert Ayensa (formerly FC Ingolstadt) and Frankfurt-born Henok Teklab, only ended in the quarter-finals against Bayer Leverkusen.
The club from near Brussels has dominated the Belgian championship so far this season and appears to be well on its way to its first title in 89 years. There have only been two defeats so far this season and the lead over pursuers RSC Anderlecht is already eight points.
Things didn’t go quite so well for Eintracht’s opponents in the Europa League, where Saint-Gilloise only finished third in Group E behind Liverpool FC and Toulouse FC. At least they managed a 2-1 win against coach Jürgen Klopp’s English league leaders on the last matchday.