Home boys Hannover entertain Eintracht
Hanover - The Bundesliga's penultimate Matchday 25 fixture pits improving Hannover 96 against fellow European hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt (kick-off 15:30 CET).
"Exceptional stuff"
As many as ten sides are vying for a piece of the European pie, with positions four through six very much up for grabs.
Tenth-placed Hannover can take their all-time Bundesliga points haul to 1,000 with victory at the AWD-Arena, where they've already enjoyed eight wins from 12 in the league this season. Frankfurt, nevertheless, remain the Bundesliga's surprise package, having spent only two out of 24 Matchdays outside of the top four this term.
"For a promoted side, Frankfurt have done brilliantly," said Hannover sporting director Jörg Schmadtke. "It really doesn't matter where they end up. They've been playing some exceptional stuff." The Eagles themselves might beg to differ, though, with a return to European competition now a distinct possibility after a seven-year hiatus.
"Goals will come"
The post-winter blues have, however, proved somewhat of a stumbling block for Armin Veh's men, who have only picked up two points from their last four encounters in what's been an uncharacteristically barren, 415-minute spell on the goals front.
"Of course it's a shame when you create so many chances but can't stick the ball away," explained Eintracht coach Armin Veh, "but it's not something I'm worried about. I won't be putting the players under pressure. We're not playing badly and the goals will come."
"Keep going"
Goals, meanwhile, have been anything but problematic for Hannover, with the fortress that is the AWD-Arena taking in a handsome 28 goals this season - a number bettered only by top two Bayern Munich (36) and Borussia Dortmund (27).
"We're getting good results at home [...] but it's going to be tough and we have to keep going to pick up the points," said loanee defender . "For us, it's all about the battle for the Europa League places or maybe even the Champions League."
Possible line-ups:
Hannover: Zieler - Chahed, Djourou, C. Schulz, Pocognoli - da Silva Pinto, Hoffmann - Ya Konan, Rausch - Sobiech, Abdellaoue
Frankfurt: Trapp - S. Jung, Zambrano, Anderson, Oczipka - Schwegler - Celozzi, Inui - Meier - Aigner, Matmour
Christopher Mayer-Lodge