Conference League Challenges: Eintracht Frankfurt Takes on Powerhouse Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Eintracht Frankfurt, a Bundesliga powerhouse, faces a formidable task in the Conference League. The German club must overcome Belgian powerhouse Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the play-off matches scheduled for February 15 and 22 in 2025.
The draw, held in Nyon, pitted Eintracht against a Belgian side that has made waves on the international stage. "Saint-Gilloise are an impressive opponent," said Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller, "with a rich history and a reputation that speaks for itself."
Football maestro Markus Krösche, who serves as the club's sporting director, echoed Toppmöller's sentiments, stating that Saint-Gilloise is a formidable adversary who has proven themselves on the international stage and produced several top-class players in recent years.
Eintracht Frankfurt, who narrowly missed out on a direct place in the last 16 due to their second-place finish in their group, will play the first leg at Saint-Gilloise, the leaders of the Belgian league. The Hessians will have the opportunity to claim home-field advantage in the second leg set for a week later.
"We are determined to approach this challenge with respect and put in our best effort to secure our place in the last 16," Toppmöller declared.
However, Eintracht Frankfurt's competitors should not be underestimated. In the previous season's Europa League, they dispatched German side 1. FC Union Berlin in the round of 16. The European journey of the Berlin side, which boasts two German professionals, Dennis Eckert Ayensa (formerly of FC Ingolstadt) and Frankfurt-born Henok Teklab, came to an end in the quarter-finals against Bayer Leverkusen.
While Union Saint-Gilloise enjoyed success in the Europa League, their Conference League performance was less impressive. They finished third in their group behind Liverpool FC and FC Toulouse, but managed to secure a 2:1 victory against Jürgen Klopp's English league leaders on the final matchday.
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The Bundesliga club, Eintracht Frankfurt, face a tough struggle in the Conference League, as they are drawn against the Belgian top-tier team, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. Although Eintracht Frankfurt has a rich history and a reputation as a powerful club, the Belgian side has proven itself on the international stage and boasts several talented players.
The play-off matches are set for February 15 and 22, 2025. Eintracht Frankfurt, who missed out on a direct place in the last 16 due to their second-place finish in their group, will have to compete fiercely against Saint-Gilloise. And despite Union Saint-Gilloise's less-than-impressive Conference League performance, their showing in the Europa League, where they eliminated Union Berlin, should not be underestimated.
In the case of Heidenheim, a Bundesliga club participating in the UEFA Conference League, they have already advanced to the knockout rounds. They defeated Häcken of Sweden in the play-off and currently lead 2:1 against Copenhagen in their second-leg play-off match. The final draw for the Conference League last 16 will be made on February 21, 2020, and Heidenheim will face either Vitória of Portugal or Chelsea.
