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

The visitors are still searching for their first win of the season having made a dreadful start, while Frankfurt have won two league games in a row.

Match preview

While Frankfurt's maiden outing in the Champions League ended in a disappointing 3-0 loss at home to Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday, Oliver Glasner will be pleased that his side's league form has recovered in recent weeks.

A dramatic 4-3 win away to Werder Bremen was backed up by a thumping 4-0 victory at home against RB Leipzig last weekend, contributing to Domenico Tedesco being relieved of his duties in eastern Germany earlier this week.

Daichi Kamada continued his superb hot streak in front of goal by opening the scoring having already had a goal disallowed for offside, before strikes from Sebastian Rode, Tuta and substitute Rafael Borre wrapped up an impressive victory.

With successive matches against sides yet to earn a league win in the Bundesliga this season, starting with the somewhat out of shape Wolves on Saturday, Glasner will hope Die Adler can continue their winning momentum and move up the table in the process in the coming weeks.

Indeed, Niko Kovac will return to his former stomping ground having successfully managed Frankfurt for two years between 2016 and 2018.

He is yet to make a similarly positive impact at Wolfsburg, though, having drawn two and lost three of his first five league games in charge.

Wolfsburg were second best at home against FC Koln last weekend, losing 4-2 despite a brace from Lukas Nmecha providing hope of a late comeback.

However, the visitors scored four goals from five shots on target in a ruthless counter-attacking display, with Florian Kainz's converted penalty on the stroke of half-time doubling his side's lead and taking the wind out of Wolfsburg's already damaged sails.

Kovac will be doubly determined to secure his first win in charge against his former club on Saturday, and will hope Frankfurt's European distractions and disappointment in midweek could give his new team an edge that they can capitalise on.

Eintracht Frankfurt Bundesliga form:

Eintracht Frankfurt form (all competitions):

Wolfsburg Bundesliga form:

Wolfsburg form (all competitions):

Team News

After scoring a rare goal against Leipzig last weekend, Rode was substituted 10 minutes later due to a thigh injury and will miss out once again here.

Christopher Lenz was withdrawn at half-time of Wednesday's defeat to Sporting with a similar injury, meanwhile, meaning Luca Pellegrini and Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe should both start.

Glasner may prioritise the Bundesliga and look to rotate against Marseille in midweek, meaning the likes of Ansgar Knauff, Makoto Hasebe and Borre may have to be patient before earning recalls to the starting XI.

Wolfsburg, meanwhile, will travel without Patrick Wimmer and Jonas Wind due to head and thigh injuries respectively.

Kovac switched to a back three against Koln without much success and could revert to a back four in Frankfurt, with Max Kruse likely dropping back to the bench after failing to impress in either of his starts this season.

The former Frankfurt and Bayern Munich boss could look to shake things up in the form of several changes, with Maxence Lacroix, Jakub Kaminski, Matthias Svanberg and Omar Marmoush all potentially starting.

Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:

Trapp; Jakic, Tuta, Ndicka, Pellegrini; Ebimbe, Sow; Lindstrom, Gotze, Kamada; Muani

Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:

Casteels; Baku, Lacroix, Van De Ven, Otavio; Guilavogui, Arnold, Svanberg; Kaminski, L Nmecha, Marmoush

We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Wolfsburg

With Frankfurt potentially tired after playing in midweek, we can envisage Wolfsburg avoiding defeat on Saturday.

They may have to wait before finding their first league win under Kovac, though, with a share of the spoils the most likely outcome.

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