Europa League

2025-04-17 - Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham Hotspur

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham Hotspur
Football: UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg
Thursday 17th April 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

Eintracht Frankfurt

Some late goalkeeping heroics just helped Eintracht Frankfurt avoiding having to start this Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg from behind, but there is still work to do. The 2022 Europa League Winners remain on course to do the same in 2025, although a 1-1 away draw is not as effective as it may have been in the days of the 'away goals' rule.

Despite that, Eintracht Frankfurt have to kick off in confident mood following the draw in North London last week. Dino Toppmoller has kept his team on course to return to the Champions League through their Bundesliga form, but winning trophies is always that much more important and Eintracht Frankfurt have not lost any of their 5 home Europa League games played this season and have won the last 4 in a row.

Eintracht Frankfurt have won 4 of their last 7 games in all competitions, including a thumping win over Heidenheim on Sunday, although they have suffered 2 defeats in that run. Home form has just picked up again with 3 wins in succession here, but a slightly longer look will point out that Eintracht Frankfurt had lost consecutive home games before that run began.

Tottenham Hotspur

Ange Postecoglou has acknowledged that winning the Europa League may not prove to be any guarantee of keeping his job as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, but he would certainly be able to hold his head high if he can end the club's 17 year wait for silverware. Like Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur's season has long rested on their performance in the Europa League and their draw in the Quarter Final First Leg has left much more work to do compared with their Premier League rival.

Unlike the other English club playing in the Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur were held to a home draw in the First Leg, although the performance will have given the manager and the players some belief. There does seem to be a fracture within the club and Ange Postecoglou's time as manager looks to be running down, but he needs four big performances to go out on a high beginning here. The side have only won 1 of their last 4 away Europa League games, but Tottenham Hotspur fans can travel to Germany knowing that win was in this country at Hoffenheim.

Tottenham Hotspur have won 1 of their last 5 games in all competitions since earning their spot in the Europa League Quarter Final and the 4-2 defeat at Wolves means they have suffered 3 losses in that run. The away form has to be a concern with that defeat at Molineux the fourth in a row that Spurs have suffered on their travels.

Some changes were made to the starting eleven on Sunday to keep players ready for this big game on Thursday. Dejan Kulusevski may be able to offer more minutes from the bench, but is unlikely to be risked in a start.

Head to Head

This is the third time Eintracht Frankfurt will be hosting Tottenham Hotspur and they are unbeaten in the previous couple of home games.

In 1982, Eintracht Frankfurt beat Spurs 2-1, but the most recent fixture between the clubs ended goalless in October 2022.

Prediction

On the balance of play, Tottenham Hotspur can feel aggrieved that they do not have a lead to take to Germany for the Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg, but there is still all to play for.

Under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur have continued to pose a real attacking threat, especially when having all options available. However, the 4-2 defeat at Wolves underlined the defensive frailties that Postecoglou has failed to address and that is the reason they are now underdogs in their bid to reach the Semi Final.

Eintracht Frankfurt were not that impressive seven days ago, but they are different prospect at home and have won their last 4 Europa League games here. They have also turned things around overall with 3 wins in a row in front of the passionate home fans and Dino Toppmoller has to be convinced that his team can offer much more in the final third throughout this Second Leg.

In the First Leg they have proven they can be very dangerous even with limited opportunities, but the onus will be on Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday and that should aid Tottenham Hotspur too.

The home team have been strong here in recent games, although Spurs won at Hoffenheim in the League Phase of the Europa League and they do look a team that are much more comfortable going forward than defending. It would be a surprise if Tottenham Hotspur were not able to score here, but a bigger one to see them keeping a clean sheet and it could end up being a slightly higher scoring Second Leg compared with the First.

Any goal in the first half of this fixture should just open the entire game up and backing at least three goals to be shared out looks the right approach. Of course if this game is 1-1 with twenty minutes left, the likelihood is that risks will not be taken, but any other scoreline might just see one of the teams open up for long enough to be hit on the counter and that overall third goal to be scored.