HJK vs Eintracht Frankfurt prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-08 17:45.
Just two weeks after HJK’s joint-heaviest European defeat since 1979/80, a 6-0 drubbing in the reverse fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt, the Finnish club could well be finished in this season’s UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) with two games to spare with another defeat. That result was HJK’s third straight defeat, and with their domestic season ending back in late October with a 33rd Finnish title, they’ve had plenty of time to prepare for this one.
That downtime may be a godsend as HJK look to build on what is an incredible three-game unbeaten run of European home games against German opponents (W2, D1). One of those games was a 2-0 win over Schalke back in 2011/12, the same season in which they lost 6-1 away against them. Coincidental sources of confidence aside, HJK have failed to win two of their last four home games when taking the lead, indicating they may falter even with a strong start.
One man who may expect a strong start from his men is Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmöller, as he looks to emulate Oliver Glasner’s 2022 Europa League triumph by potentially securing a top-two finish with victory here. The chances of that win coming here appear plentiful given the Eagles are unbeaten in each of their last six competitive matches (W5, D1), scoring at least twice in all of those games, with each victory accompanied by a multi-goal margin.
Warm favourites to continue that run, Frankfurt are unbeaten in 12 of their last 15 UEFA group stage games (W8, D4, L3), although they are yet to win away in the UECL after two trips between qualifying and the group (D1, L1). This could be the perfect time to break that duck then, as Frankfurt enter this after a run of 267 minutes of regulation time without conceding a goal away from home (W3), which directly follows a six-game winless away run!
Players to watch: HJK’s Bojan Radulović picked up the Finnish Veikkausliiga golden boot (G18) on the way to their fourth consecutive domestic crown and has hit four goals across his last four UECL appearances, including two match openers. For Frankfurt, Omar Marmoush has netted six goals across his last five appearances, with the last five coming on or before the 30-minute mark.
Hot stat: None of Frankfurt’s last eight matches have been level at half-time (HT: W6, L2).