Actual Madrid and Eintract Frankfurt tonight meet in Finland for the standard curtain-raiser for the brand new European season. As ever, it’s the Champions League winners taking over their Europa League counterparts, with the German aspect within the one-off sport for the primary time of their historical past.
It’s a special story for Madrid, who’re vying for his or her fifth success to match the file variety of wins held by each Barcelona and AC Milan. Antonio Rudiger and Aurélien Tchouameni might get some minutes off the bench, with Carlo Ancelotti taking a full squad to Helsinki.
Eintracht final season received the Europa League membership towards the chances and tonight is identical story, and their process has been made more durable with the information that influential left-back Filip Kostic is closing in on a transfer to Juventus so is now not in competition to play. Comply with the sport dwell with Normal Sport beneath!
Stay updates
New tech
Tonight may even see Uefa implement semi-automated offside know-how (SAOT).
What’s that, you might be positively asking proper now? Properly, SAOT makes use of particular cameras that monitor 29 physique factors on gamers to “enable VAR groups to find out offside conditions shortly and extra precisely, enhancing the move of the sport and the consistency of the choices.”
It is going to even be used within the Champions League group stage onwards this season after which the World Cup in Qatar.
Virtually time
Ultimate preparations in Finland with kick-off 20 minutes away.
Karim Benzema to attain a pair, or extra, tonight? You wouldn’t wager towards it.
Heading to Helsinki
This marks the tip of Actual Madrid’s pre-season with the brand new La Liga season but to start. It’s Almeria first up for his or her league title defence on Sunday.
The Bundesliga, although, has kicked off a brand new marketing campaign and it was a removed from superb begin for Eintracht Frankfurt. They have been thumped 6-1 by Bayern Munich final Friday.
‘That is the reward’
Oliver Glasner guided Eintracht Frankfurt to the virtually unthinkable final season.
“That is the reward for our unbelievable season, to face a Actual Madrid aspect which have unbelievable high quality and final season knocked out a few of the greatest groups in Europe,” he instructed reporters.
“What we proved within the Europa League final season is that there is at all times an opportunity and it is the identical tomorrow. We’ll play with confidence as a result of we all know what we’re able to.”
Carlo chats
Carlo Ancelotti has loved fairly the journey since returning to Actual Madrid final summer season.
He spoke to reporters yesterday about it.
“Was final season probably the most wonderful of my profession? Maybe so, sure. I might by no means coached a workforce to a league and Champions League double.
“It is all the way down to the spirit, angle, high quality, enthusiasm of my gamers that we certified to be right here by successful the Champions League.”
The benches
Actual Madrid subs: Vallejo, Nacho, Hazard, Asensio, Lunin, Lucas, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Rodrygo, Rudiger, Mariano, Camavinga
Eintracht Frankfurt subs: Smolcic, Jakic, Muani, Alidou, Hasebe, Alario, Chandler, Hauge, Gotze, Grahl, Ramaj
Eintracht Frankfurt XI
Right here’s how the Europa League winners line up.
Helsinki celebration
Followers have flocked to Finland for tonight’s sport.
The Helsinki Olympic Stadium has a capability of 36,200, so a bit of smaller than what the La Liga giants are used to, however it’s a promote out tonight.
Identical XI as UCl remaining
So, as predicted, Actual Madrid go along with the identical line-up which received them the Champions League, and the explanation they face Eintracht tonight.
They’ve gone tremendous early with their XI, so it is perhaps a short while till we see how their opponents look.
Actual Madrid XI
Right here’s how the Champions League holders line up.
