Toppmöller Implements Four Changes with Knauff Leading the Attack
The sixth matchday of the Champions League is upon us. Eintracht Frankfurt faces FC Barcelona at 21:00. After a disappointing match against Leipzig, the SGE confronts another formidable offense. Barcelona, however, struggled recently in the tournament, highlighted by a 3-3 draw against Brugge followed by a 0-3 defeat to Chelsea.
Currently, Hansi Flick’s team sits at 18th place, while Eintracht Frankfurt has dropped to 28th place following a 0-3 loss to Atalanta. This positioning does not qualify them for the playoffs. In five matches, Frankfurt has conceded 14 goals, demonstrating defensive vulnerabilities. Though they started the tournament with an impressive 5-1 victory over Galatasaray, subsequent games featured two heavy defeats and a goalless draw.
Toppmöller Implements Four Changes with Knauff Leading the Attack
In preparation for the clash with Barcelona, coach Dino Toppmöller has made four significant changes to the starting lineup compared to the previous match against Leipzig. The following players will start:
- Ansgar Knauff
- Hugo Larsson
- Mario Götze
- Ellyes Skhiri
Replacements include Mishy Batshuayi, Nnamdi Collins, Mo Dahoud, and Jean-Matteo Bahoya. Notably, Rasmus Kristensen joins the defensive line in place of Collins, which could shift the team’s formation. Should Toppmöller opt for a five-man defense, Ritsu Doan is likely to move to the right flank.
Due to Batshuayi’s injury, Jessic Ngankam has been reinstated to the squad. He was previously excluded from the season lineup due to injury but is now available for the Champions League.
FC Barcelona’s Lineup
Barcelona’s expected starting lineup includes:
- Garcia
- Koundé
- Cubarsi
- Martin
- Balde
- Garcia
- Pedri
- Yamal
- Lopez
- Raphinha
- Lewandowski
On the bench, Barcelona will have:
- Ter Stegen
- Szczesny
- Christensen
- Jofre
- Dro
- De Jong
- Bernal
- Casado
- Ferran Torres
- Rashford
- Bardghji
As both teams gear up for this critical encounter, Frankfurt aims to secure crucial points to maintain realistic chances of advancing in the Champions League.
