Notebook – Eintracht Frankfurt vs Spurs

Our Champions League journey continues on Tuesday night as we take on Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday Three (kick-off 8pm UK).

Ahead of the match, here are all of the game’s key points of note…

1 - A rare opponent

Eintracht Frankfurt might be a side we have a very limited history with to date, but we have met once before. Back in March, 1982, we faced Eintracht in the third round of the UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup and, over two legs, we emerged victorious, winning 2-0 at White Hart Lane before falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat in Frankfurt.

2 - Spurs in Germany

Despite tasting defeat on each of our last two visits to Germany in the Champions League, we generally have a strong record there in the competition. To date, we have travelled to Germany six times, and those last two visits are the only occasions in which we have come away empty handed (W2 D2).

3 - Returning to the top table

This season marks Eintracht’s debut in the UEFA Champions League, and their first campaign in the European Cup since 1960. Having progressed all the way to the final that year - in what was their debut season in European football - the Frankfurt side failed to qualify for the competition for 62 years before winning last season’s Europa League to book their place in the group stages.

4 - Eintracht’s form

Despite enduring a slow start to their Bundesliga campaign, going three games without a win, Eintracht have begun to find form in the last few weeks. Having initially fallen 6-1 at home to Bayern Munich on the opening day, die Adler have since lost just once in the German top flight, winning five and drawing two of their last eight games. That includes a 2-0 win over league leaders and previously unbeaten Union Berlin last time out.

5 - Frankfurt’s Champions League start

It has been a mixed start to Group D for Eintracht. Despite Sporting CP having ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Deutsche Bank Park on Matchday One, our German opponents then went and pulled off a 1-0 win away at Marseille on Matchday Two. It sees Die Adler come into our meeting on Matchday Three level on points with us and just goal difference seeing us sit above them in the group in second.

6 - Our Matchday Three record

Previously in the Champions League, we have generally struggled on Matchday Three. Of our previous six group stage campaigns, we have won just one of our third group stage matches (D4 L1). However, that sole victory did come in our latest attempt as we defeated as we defeated Crvena zvezda 5-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in October, 2019.

7 - Son’s Champions League half century

Our match against Eintracht Frankfurt could be a landmark outing for Heung-Min Son. Currently, Sonny has made 49 appearances in the Champions League. If he plays his part for us against Eintracht, he would hit his half century of appearances in the competition, becoming just the second Asian player to do so after Park Ji-Sung (54).

8 - Kane versus German opposition

Harry Kane has a habit of scoring against German opposition. Not only did he edge towards the England national team all-time goalscoring record last week with his stunning penalty against Germany – his fourth in as many appearances against them – he also has a strong record against German clubs in our colours. To date, Harry has five goals to his name against German opposition, four against Borussia Dortmund and one against Bayern Munich.