Preview: A fixture packed with history | OneFootball

After the draw in Berlin, it’s back to Deutsche Bank Park for Albert Riera’s first home match, where the opponents are Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Backdrop

Following on from the 1-1 draw against Union Berlin in the first game under new head coach Albert Riera, Eintracht host 12th-placed Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday 14 February. Kick-off at Deutsche Bank Park is at 15:30 CET.

According to sporting director Timmo Hardung after the match in Berlin, the key points will be proactivity, letting the opponents and the ball do the work, as well as having control. “That’s what we set out to do in Berlin and we executed it very well in parts,” said Hardung. “For the first match it was a good display. You can tell that the guys are following and want to follow the path. We still have potential, we know that.” 

Looking back

These two traditional clubs meet for the 104th time in the Bundesliga on Matchday 22. The record favours the Eagles slightly, with 39 wins to 33 defeats, plus 31 draws. 

It’s nearly five years since Frankfurt last lost to Gladbach – a 4-0 defeat in the Rhineland in April 2021. Since then there have been five victories and four draws in the league, as well as an enthralling DFB Cup encounter in 2024, which Eintracht edged.

The most recent encounter was certainly one for the history books. The Eagles led 6-0 after 47 minutes at Gladbach before the Foals replied with four goals, with the 6-4 final scoreline representing the highest-scoring Bundesliga match since March 2013, when Bayern Munich – Eintracht’s next opponents – thrashed Hamburger SV 9-2.

The run must end

It’s a while since either side tasted victory, though: the Eagles are winless in seven league matches, the Foals in five. That should change on Saturday – preferably for Eintracht. “I saw a lot of positives, but we can obviously do even better,” said Riera following his debut. “There were a lot of moments when we were flexible. I wanted the players to enjoy the game. It all takes time and the players will internalise it. Better results will also give us a better feeling on the pitch.”

In the Spaniard and his Borussia counterpart Eugen Polanski, two coaches who took over their team during the season face off on Saturday afternoon. Fun fact: Riera is taking charge of his first home game as Eintracht coach against Gladbach, while Polanski made his home debut as Borussia boss against – you guessed it – Eintracht, in the aforementioned thriller on Matchday 5. 

Riera and Polanski almost crossed paths as players in Spain’s La Liga, but after Polanski moved to Getafe CF in summer 2008, Riera left RCD Espanyol for Liverpool two weeks later.

Now they finally come face to face.