Muted euphoria: Eintracht Frankfurt in profile

Things could really only get better after last season’s second half under Albert Rieira. That, at the latest, was likely the thought at Eintracht Frankfurt when Adi Hütter returned to the Main as head coach before the season, bringing back memories of atmospheric European nights and the “buffalo herd” of Sébastien Haller, Luka Jović and Ante Rebić. The aim: a return to the high-tempo, consistently intense football that Eintracht stood for over many years, including under the Austrian. However, the first two matchdays, with just one point and seven goals conceded, have already dampened the mood a little. Alongside promising signs in attack, it is above all the defence that remains a concern.

We take a closer look at Mainz 05’s next opponents ahead of the Rhine-Main derby at the MEWA ARENA on Saturday (15:30, live on Sky, DAZN and 05ER.fm).

The coach:

New coach, familiar face: after five years, Adi Hütter is back on the Eintracht Frankfurt touchline and has been tasked with restoring a sense of renewed momentum. The failed experiment with the eccentric-seeming Spaniard Rieira prompted a rethink in Hesse. What was needed was an experienced, calmer type of coach who knows Eintracht and the Bundesliga inside out, gives the team a clear plan and can thereby breathe new life into the club and make it successful again. Hütter, now 56, has meanwhile had spells at two other clubs, with varying degrees of success: more so at AS Monaco, less so at Borussia Mönchengladbach.

“Under Adi Hütter, Eintracht Frankfurt are supposed to play Eintracht Frankfurt football again, and that was indeed visible from the very first training session: early pressing, high turnovers, short routes to goal, paired with intensity, intensity and more intensity,” wrote hessenschau.de about the positive elements that were already visible in pre-season.

The squad:

Eintracht’s standout area is their attack, which is still packed with big names and real quality. Jonathan Burkardt, who was developed in the academy at Bruchweg and went on to become Mainz 05’s record Bundesliga goalscorer and one of the club’s key figures, is the key player at centre-forward. Last season, he scored 13 goals in 22 Bundesliga matches. Together with Younes Ebnatoulib, who has already scored three times this season, Burkardt forms the strike partnership. Behind them, Ritsu Doan and Can Uzun, two above-average Bundesliga talents, provide flair in the wide areas. New signing Raphael Onyedika and veteran Mario Götze form the central midfield. Eighteen-year-old attacking talent Malik Pimpong, who arrived from FC Midtjylland, still needs to gain experience, while Noel Aséko, who joined from FC Bayern, is also initially a challenger.

In defence, the squad lacks depth. That is where Frankfurt had to cope with the biggest losses, following the departures of leaders such as Arthur Theate, Rasmus Kristensen and Nathaniel Brown, as well as Aurèle Amenda. Pacy left winger Jean-Mattéo Bahoya has now moved to the Premier League to seek his fortune. Lilian Brassier and Otávio have been brought in for the defence alongside academy prospect Jeremiaha Maluze, but they are either still inexperienced or have only just arrived. In the full-back positions, 36-year-old Timothy Chandler is the only alternative to the two young players Elias Baum and Keita Kosugi. In goal, SGE are very well positioned following Michael Zetterer’s move to Leeds, with Noah Atubolu joining on loan from Freiburg.

The last meeting:

The MEWA ARENA has long been a difficult place for Eintracht. Of the 14 matches there since the 2012/13 season, the Hessians have won just one. In the last meeting in March, a brace from academy product Paul Nebel crowned a perfect busy week for FSV, with wins in Bremen, against Olomouc and a hard-fought three points against the Hessians. Nathaniel Brown had cancelled out Mainz’s lead before the break, before Nebel delivered another special Mainz moment in the 89th minute. Given Mainz’s advantage in chances in the first half and Frankfurt looking somewhat more dangerous after the break, a draw would probably not have been undeserved either.