Preview: Straightforward situation | OneFootball

The Eagles know what’s required at home to Hamburger SV. They can count on a strong midfield in their bid for three points.

Backdrop: One position in mind

Just as Hamburg want to hold onto their current position in 15th at the end of the 2025/26 season, Eintracht Frankfurt’s sole objective is to defend seventh place – the final European spot – that they regained with a 1-1 draw at Augsburg last time out. Mathematically, the Eagles can no longer finish any higher. “It’s just about throwing everything at getting three points three more times, so that we finish in seventh place,” Michael Zetterer told EintrachtTV. “Everything that happens either side of us doesn’t really matter at all.” 

Ansgar Knauff is sure the Eagles are capable of that: “It’s often been tight in recent years, too. We know what it’s about, we’ve got two home games with our fans behind us and we’re going to give everything to still qualify for Europe.” Hamburg are the next visitors to Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday 2 May at 15:30 CEST. Merlin Polzin’s side are without a win in six matches but could climb up to five places with three points here. Threat from midfield

Eintracht’s record against HSV is good: They are unbeaten in their last 13 Bundesliga meetings with the Red Shorts. From the current squad, the player who has been most prolific against Hamburg across his career is Mario Götze with seven goals. 

Götze is just one of many Frankfurt players who could make an impact. During Albert Riera’s tenure alone, apart from the 0-0 draw at St. Pauli, at least one central midfielder – Nathaniel Brown is generously included – has registered a goal involvement on each matchday:

Talking of Uzun: the 20-year-old was recalled to the starting XI against Augsburg and repaid the faith not just with his assist, but with an all-action display. Uzun either took or set up ten of Eintracht’s 19 attempts on goal – a record for an Eintracht player in the Bundesliga this season. 

‘We want to be on fire’ 

With goalscorer Ritsu Doan suspended after collecting his fifth yellow card of the campaign, Uzun will fancy his chances of keeping his place in the starting line-up. That, of course, is a decision for Riera, who as mentioned has plenty of options in the middle of the park, and even accommodated two of his central midfielders in different positions against Augsburg: Ellyes Skhiri in defence and Love Arrhov on the wing. 

“We have our idea, we want to be really aggressive and on fire straight away,” Skhiri said ahead of the match against Hamburg. If the Tunisian and his team-mates want to keep hold of seventh place, only a win will do against HSV on Saturday. Come on Eintracht!

“We have our idea, we want to be really aggressive and on fire straight away,” Skhiri said ahead of the match against Hamburg. If the Tunisian and his team-mates want to keep hold of seventh place, only a win will do against HSV on Saturday. Come on Eintracht!