Preview: Eintracht Frankfurt Women vs. Barcelona Women - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 20 November 2023, 23:08
Eintracht Frankfurt Women will test themselves against the European Champions when they welcome Barcelona Women to Deutsche Bank Park for Wednesday's Women's Champions League meeting.

The hosts edged out Rosengard in their opening group match, while the Catalan giants began the defence of their trophy with a comfortable 5-0 win over Benfica.

Match preview

The hosts are competing under the Eintracht Frankfurt banner for the first time in the Champions League main draw after negotiating qualifying ties against Slovacko, Juventus and Sparta Prague.

Prior to their merger with the men's club in 2020, they enjoyed significant European success as FFC Frankfurt, winning four Champions League trophies, including their most recent triumph in the 2014-15 campaign when they beat Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

While they may technically be the second most successful club in the competition, they are now looking to create their own European history as Eintracht Frankfurt.

They certainly made a positive start to their group stage campaign after goals from Tanja Pawollek and Barbara Dunst guided them to a 2-0 away victory over Swedish outfit Rosengard.

The German side followed that result with another away win in Saturday's league clash with Nurnberg, which helped extend their unbeaten run to nine competitive games - a streak that will come under threat when they face the defending European champions on Wednesday.

Barcelona will travel to Germany in scintillating form, having won all 10 competitive matches this season, including their last two against Benfica and Real Madrid in the Champions League and Liga F respectively.

The Catalan side cruised to a dominant 5-0 victory over the Portuguese champions in their opening group match, as Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati both netted braces before Asisat Oshoala scored her sixth goal of the season.

The Spanish champions went on to register five more goals without reply in Sunday's Clasico, with Bonmati, Caroline Graham Hansen, Mariona Caldentey, Claudia Pina and Vicky Lopez all getting on the scoresheet at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

Having racked up 30 goals across their last five competitive matches, Barcelona will be targeting another dominant performance in Wednesday's away clash.

However, they will be mindful of the fact their most recent Champions League defeat took place on their last trip to Germany in December 2022 when they were beaten 3-1 by Bayern at the Allianz Arena.

Eintracht Frankfurt Women Women's Champions League form:

W

W

W

Eintracht Frankfurt Women form (all competitions):

Barcelona Women Women's Champions League form:

W

Barcelona Women form (all competitions):

Advert - content below:

Team News

Niko Arnautis made a number of changes to his Frankfurt side at the weekend, but he is expected to revert back to the lineup that started against Rosengard.

Sophia Kleinherne will feature in central defence alongside Sara Doorsoun-Khajeh, while Pia-Sophie Wolter and Verena Hanshaw are set to operate as the two full-backs.

Meanwhile, Laura Freigang will lead the line for the hosts, and the Germany international is expected to be flanked by Nicole Anyomi and Lara Prasnikar.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Jana Fernandez, Bruna Vilamala and Fridolina Rolfo.

There are also doubts over the availability of Putellas and Irene Paredes, who are struggling with illness and injury respectively.

After seeing his side breeze past Real Madrid, Giraldez could be tempted to name an unchanged lineup for Wednesday's encounter.

Eintracht Frankfurt Women possible starting lineup:

Johannes; Wolter, Kleinherne, Doorsoun-Khajeh, Hanshaw; Reuteler, Pawollek, Dunst; Anyomi, Prasnikar, Freigang

Barcelona Women possible starting lineup:

Coll; Bronze, Engen, Leon, Batlle; Bonmati, Walsh, Guijarro; Hansen, Paralluelo

We say: Eintracht Frankfurt Women 1-3 Barcelona Women

Previews by email

Top News

27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted 22-year-old Boca Juniors goalkeeper Leandro Brey as a transfer target for the January 2025 window. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has suffered the worst start of a Manchester United manager in 92 years thanks to Thursday's disheartening 2-0 Premier League loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea suffered their worst Premier League collapse of the 2000s in their shock 2-1 home loss to Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AVS and Estrela Amadora are in action for the last time in 2024 when they go head to head at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves in round 16 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Saturday. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool wing wizard Mohamed Salah hit yet another Premier League goalscoring landmark as Arne Slot's league leaders fought back to defeat Leicester City 3-1 on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Leicester City at Anfield on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have lost key midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to suspension for their trip to West Ham United in the Premier League this weekend. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The only team in the Premier League with their unbeaten home record still intact, Arsenal seek to avoid a festive giant killing in Friday's Emirates encounter with Ipswich Town. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The agent of Manchester United attacker Antony has confirmed that there is "concrete interest" in the Brazilian ahead of the January transfer window. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur's defensive crisis worsened in their 1-0 Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, as Djed Spence was sent off while Radu Dragusin sustained an ankle injury. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to end 2024 on top of Serie A, league leaders Atalanta BC will tackle close challengers Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea hotshot Cole Palmer broke a 23-year-old club goalscoring record set by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the Blues' shock 2-1 Premier League defeat to West London derby rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Julen Lopetegui's West Ham United beat Southampton 1-0 away from home on Thursday afternoon and spoiled Saints manager Ivan Juric's first game in charge of the club. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest have shot back into third place in the Premier League table thanks to Nuno Espirito Santo masterminding a 1-0 win over former club Tottenham Hotspur. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Andoni Iraola's Champions League hopefuls Bournemouth were held to a 0-0 draw away from home by Crystal Palace on Boxing Day at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rodrigo Muniz scored a last-gasp winner as Fulham sensationally came from behind to defeat West London rivals Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to arrest their underwhelming Primeira Liga results before Christmas, Estoril Praia and Moreirense clash at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday, keen to notch important victories in the gameweek 16 encounter. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Birmingham's Boxing Day clash with Burton had to be temporarily suspended due to a medical emergency at St Andrew's. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Kevin De Bruyne certainly wasn't in the festive spirit after walking down the tunnel immediately after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw against Everton. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jose Mourinho reportedly wants Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford at Fenerbahce, while Paris Saint-Germain will not sign the 27-year-old. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erling Haaland missed a second-half penalty as Manchester City's Premier League plight continued with a 1-1 draw at home to a dogged Everton unit at the Etihad Stadium. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Primeira Liga title contenders Porto could climb to first place on Saturday when they host relegation-threatened Boavista at Estadio do Dragao in gameweek 16. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Goalkeepers tend to be a little crazy and Jordan Pickford is no different. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and Fulham have announced their teams for the West London derby at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are paying increased attention to Atalanta BC midfielder Ederson ahead of a potential summer move to Old Trafford. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal pair Gabriel Jesus and David Raya could both write new chapters of Gunners history when Mikel Arteta's men host Ipswich Town in Friday's Premier League encounter. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Christmas may have come and gone, but Man City' boss Pep Guardiola - and his players - are hoping for presents in the form of new signings. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to finish a successful year with a streak of five straight Serie A wins, Inter Milan will visit Cagliari on Saturday, as both sides play their final fixture of 2024. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are supposedly all prepared to go head-to-head for the services of Club Brugge defender Maxim De Cuyper in the January window. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says that he loves the club but that the future is uncertain ahead of his side's clash against Leicester City at Anfield on Boxing Day in the Premier League.