Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Union Berlin: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

Andre Silva and Luka Jovic could line-up in the same Eintracht Frankfurt starting line-up for only the third time against Union Berlin on Saturday (kick-off: 2.30pm GMT).

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Frankfurt will need Silva back to his best against the third-meanest defence in this season's Bundesliga if they are to maintain their push for UEFA Champions League qualification. The Portuguese forward has scored 19 Bundesliga goals in 2020/21, but two matches without scoring represents his longest drought of the campaign. With attacking midfielders Daichi Kamada a doubt and Amin Younes suspended, Real Madrid-owned Jovic could come in to partner the former AC Milan striker in attack. Head coach Adi Hütter also has a decision to make on the right-hand side where Australian Ajdin Hrustic and former US international Timothy Chandler are the candidates to fill in for injured pair Erik Durm and Almamy Toure. Midfielder Aymen Barkok is another useful option, while Stefan Ilsanker is expected to keep his place in defence, with Tutu serving a mandatory one-match ban. Frankfurt may only have taken two points from the last nine available, but fought back from 1-0 down to draw 1-1 with RB Leipzig last time out, and remain fourth in the table - two ahead of fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund.

Union are just six points behind the Eagles in the standings and right in the mix for European qualification, even if head coach Urs Fischer insists reaching the 40-point mark typically seen as the benchmark for top-flight survival remains the objective. That is surely already guaranteed for the capital city club, who are some 17 points clear of the bottom three after extending their unbeaten run to five matches in last week's 2-1 triumph at home to Cologne. Leading marksman Max Kruse scored his eighth goal of the season in that outing and is set to begin again here as he continues to feel his way back from a lengthy injury-enforced absence, but fellow attacker Taiwo Awoniyi - on a season-long loan from Liverpool - remains in the treatment room alongside Sheraldo Becker. Midfielder Keita Endo and forward Petar Musa will hope to keep their places in the side, but left-back Christopher Lenz is out and Julian Ryerson is doubtful, so Marius Bülter could get the nod on the left-hand side.

Watch: Max Kruse and Andre Silva scored twice as Union and Frankfurt shared six goals on Matchday 9

Match stats

Silva has scored eight times in seven meetings with clubs from Berlin, including three in as many games against Union.

Only league leaders Bayern Munich have claimed more points in 12 matches in 2021 (28) than Frankfurt (27).

Eintracht are unbeaten in their last 14 Bundesliga home games, dating back to last season. Fifteen would mark their longest run for over 20 years.

Kruse scored seven goals in his first 10 games of the season, and has netted two in three since returning from injury. He has the best shot accuracy of all players on at least six goals for the season (87 percent).

Only second-placed Leipzig are on a longer unbeaten league run (seven matches) than Union.

Frankfurt and Union have each played out 11 draws this season - a league high.

Probable line-ups

Frankfurt: Trapp - Ilsanker, Hasebe (c), N'Dicka - Chandler, Sow, Rode, Kostic - Kamada - Silva, Jovic

Out: Durm (hip), Toure (pelvis), Tuta (suspended), Younes (suspended)

Doubtful: Hinteregger (thigh)

Coach: Adi Hütter

Union: Luthe - Friedrich, Knoche, Schlotterbeck - Trimmel (c), Prömel, Andrich, Bülter - Kruse, Endo - Musa

Out: Awoniyi (thigh), Becker (ankle), Gießelmann (shoulder), Lenz (muscular), Ujah (knee)

Doubtful: Ryerson (knock)

Coach: Urs Fischer