Fans from both camps have been able to hear the call of the Pokal final in the capital city for weeks now. Only one team will be able to fulfill their dream of making an appearance in the final game, and the battle to cement their place in the final will come tonight (20:45 CEST) in the semi-final game between Borussia Mönchengladbach and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Although Mönchengladbach and Frankfurt can both take solace in having a successful history in the Pokal, the opportunity to take part in the final on the 27th of May (20:00 CEST) will go down as more than just a side-note. The side from Hessen have waited eleven years for a return to the final, whilst the Foals have waited twice as long.
Statistics favour Gladbach
The North Rhine team could end a drought of 22 years without having played in the final, and it seems all the more likely when their home advantage is taken into account with their slightly stronger squad on paper. Borussia have also picked up some momentum en route to their goal of achieving a Europa League berth, whilst Eintracht have failed to build on their exceptionally strong first-half of the season, and are now considered the second-weakest team when you look at their results from 2017 onwards.
Manager Niko Kovac had only won two of his past twelve games until Saturday, and both of the said wins came in the Pokal. The 3-1 comeback victory against FC Augsburg propelled Frankfurt back above Borussia, who suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Dortmund. Frankfurt last defeated a Bundesliga outfit away from home in a cup competition over 24 years ago (!), back when the Hessen side defeated Karlsruher SC on penalties in December 1992.
Sommer: “It’ll be a great fight”
In addition, Gladbach are lucky enough to be managed by a real Pokal expert: Dieter Hecking impressively led VfL Wolfsburg on a run which ended with them successfully lifting the Pokal, and he was allowed to party like a king for a night, wearing a black cap with the word “King” written on it. He has only lost one of his last eleven Pokal games. “We’ll do everything we can in order to go to Berlin. We have to stay more compact in order to do so,” said Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who has had to pick the ball out of the back net ten times in his last three games. “There isn’t a favourite for me, it will be a great fight.”
Frankfurt will field Lukas Hradecky in net as a counterpart to Sommer. The former has managed to save 91% of all shots at his goal in his Pokal campaign so far. “The victory was a relief, we have our self-confidence back,” said the Finland international. “We’re turning our attention to Gladbach now. I think that they are a little scared of us.”
Two Bundesliga duels, yet no goals
Gladbach, who have come away from five finals with three Pokals in hand, are the favourites for the penultimate round of the tournament, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. They have lost all of their previous three Pokal semi-finals, including against then third-tier side 1. FC Union Berlin (2001) and neighbours and former 2. Bundesliga outfit Alemannia Aachen (2004). Frankfurt, who have won the Pokal four times and faltered in the final twice, were most recently eliminated in this stage at the hands of 1. FC Nürnberg, who later went on to win the whole tournament, in 2007.
That’s not the only reason that the semi-final will be no easy game for Gladbach. “We sought to be very disciplined with good structure against Frankfurt both times we played them in the Bundesliga this season,” said director of sport Max Ebert, who was perfectly aware of the results in both games against Eintracht. Following the 0-0 in the first fixture, the most recent encounter on 1st April also ended goalless. Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer was crucial in ensuring that his side returned home from Frankfurt with a point, with a penalty save to deny Marco Fabian in the dying embers of the game. And so, a plethora of goals are certainly not to be expected from this game – but goals have to come in a Pokal match. Gladbach have triumphed in three of their four Pokal encounters between the two sides, most recently winning 2-1 in Frankfurt, on 29th October 2014.
A minimalist approach
The two sides have not exactly been involved in games which have been showered with goals in their cup runs this season. Gladbach have seven goals in the competition over the span of knockout games, whilst Frankfurt have only put a total of four goals past their opponents, as well as getting the better of their opponents in penalty-shootouts against third-tier side 1. FC Magdeburg and Bundesliga competitors FC Ingolstadt.
The hosts will seemingly have to do without world champion and creative midfielder Christoph Kramer. Moreover, teammate Raffael will miss the encounter as well. On the other side of the pitch, Jesus Vallejo has been ruled out for Frankfurt, whilst Alex Meier’s involvement later on is questionable.
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Fans from both camps have been able to hear the call of the Pokal final in the capital city for weeks now. Only one team will be able to fulfill their dream of making an appearance in the final game, and the battle to cement their place in the final will come tonight (20:45 CEST) in the semi-final game between Borussia Mönchengladbach and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Although Mönchengladbach and Frankfurt can both take solace in having a successful history in the Pokal, the opportunity to take part in the final on the 27th of May (20:00 CEST) will go down as more than just a side-note. The side from Hessen have waited eleven years for a return to the final, whilst the Foals have waited twice as long.
Statistics favour Gladbach
The North Rhine team could end a drought of 22 years without having played in the final, and it seems all the more likely when their home advantage is taken into account with their slightly stronger squad on paper. Borussia have also picked up some momentum en route to their goal of achieving a Europa League berth, whilst Eintracht have failed to build on their exceptionally strong first-half of the season, and are now considered the second-weakest team when you look at their results from 2017 onwards.
Manager Niko Kovac had only won two of his past twelve games until Saturday, and both of the said wins came in the Pokal. The 3-1 comeback victory against FC Augsburg propelled Frankfurt back above Borussia, who suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Dortmund. Frankfurt last defeated a Bundesliga outfit away from home in a cup competition over 24 years ago (!), back when the Hessen side defeated Karlsruher SC on penalties in December 1992.
Sommer: “It’ll be a great fight”
In addition, Gladbach are lucky enough to be managed by a real Pokal expert: Dieter Hecking impressively led VfL Wolfsburg on a run which ended with them successfully lifting the Pokal, and he was allowed to party like a king for a night, wearing a black cap with the word “King” written on it. He has only lost one of his last eleven Pokal games. “We’ll do everything we can in order to go to Berlin. We have to stay more compact in order to do so,” said Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who has had to pick the ball out of the back net ten times in his last three games. “There isn’t a favourite for me, it will be a great fight.”
Frankfurt will field Lukas Hradecky in net as a counterpart to Sommer. The former has managed to save 91% of all shots at his goal in his Pokal campaign so far. “The victory was a relief, we have our self-confidence back,” said the Finland international. “We’re turning our attention to Gladbach now. I think that they are a little scared of us.”
Two Bundesliga duels, yet no goals
Gladbach, who have come away from five finals with three Pokals in hand, are the favourites for the penultimate round of the tournament, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. They have lost all of their previous three Pokal semi-finals, including against then third-tier side 1. FC Union Berlin (2001) and neighbours and former 2. Bundesliga outfit Alemannia Aachen (2004). Frankfurt, who have won the Pokal four times and faltered in the final twice, were most recently eliminated in this stage at the hands of 1. FC Nürnberg, who later went on to win the whole tournament, in 2007.
That’s not the only reason that the semi-final will be no easy game for Gladbach. “We sought to be very disciplined with good structure against Frankfurt both times we played them in the Bundesliga this season,” said director of sport Max Ebert, who was perfectly aware of the results in both games against Eintracht. Following the 0-0 in the first fixture, the most recent encounter on 1st April also ended goalless. Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer was crucial in ensuring that his side returned home from Frankfurt with a point, with a penalty save to deny Marco Fabian in the dying embers of the game. And so, a plethora of goals are certainly not to be expected from this game – but goals have to come in a Pokal match. Gladbach have triumphed in three of their four Pokal encounters between the two sides, most recently winning 2-1 in Frankfurt, on 29th October 2014.
A minimalist approach
The two sides have not exactly been involved in games which have been showered with goals in their cup runs this season. Gladbach have seven goals in the competition over the span of knockout games, whilst Frankfurt have only put a total of four goals past their opponents, as well as getting the better of their opponents in penalty-shootouts against third-tier side 1. FC Magdeburg and Bundesliga competitors FC Ingolstadt.
The hosts will seemingly have to do without world champion and creative midfielder Christoph Kramer. Moreover, teammate Raffael will miss the encounter as well. On the other side of the pitch, Jesus Vallejo has been ruled out for Frankfurt, whilst Alex Meier’s involvement later on is questionable.
