OM - Eintracht : Not an easy start
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Suspended by UEFA, the Stade Velodrome will be devoid of spectators for the first match of OM's European campaign. The stadium will sound hollow at the start of the group H match against Eintracht Frankfurt. The Olympians will have to, if necessary, draw some support from elsewhere. The atmosphere of this match will be unique, that's for sure. But if the absence of the fans is an obvious disadvantage for the Marseillais, it also risks discomforting the opponent ...
Take the points, and fast!
In the league, OM hit the ground running at home by beating Toulouse (4-0). Despite a mishap in Nîmes, the Olympians then took enough points to now occupy second place. In the Europa League, the group phase has only six games, so you have to quickly position yourself by taking big points especially when the first match is at home. Last season, OM qualified for the last 32 by taking 7 of our 8 points at the Stade Velodrome.
Frankfurt, not in good form?
In pot 3 in the draw at the end of August, Eintracht Frankfurt secured its ticket to the UEFA Europa League by winning the German Cup in 2017-18 against Bayern Munich (3-1). However, the beginning of the season is not so positive. Adolf Huttler's players first lost the Super Cup to Bayern (5-0) who took their revenge from the Cup final. They were then eliminated from the German Cup in the first round. Fortunately, they attacked the championship with a success in Freiburg before losing at home against Werder Bremen (1-2) and then at Borussia Dortmund (3-1).
With three points in three matches, Frankfurt is twelfth in the Bundesliga, four points off second. The club will probably be eager to show another side of itself for its return to the European scene.
The words of the manager
"It will be very special, we will draw our strength of character to disregard this unique context. I think this is the second time that this occurs in the history of the club. This must not change our desire to win. Despite these conditions and the quality of the opponent that I recall beat Bayern in the final of the German Cup, we want to come out of this match with three points of victory, we want to start this competition well."
