DFB-Pokal final: RB Leipzig to claim back-to-back cup wins against Eintracht Frankfurt
- George Dempsey
- 2 June 2023
RB Leipzig will have to cope without several key players when they face Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB-Pokal final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Saturday.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
DFB-Pokal final, Saturday June 3, Kick-off 7pm, live on Viaplay streaming
Predicted score
RB Leipzig 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Suggested bets
Both teams to score and no draw
RB Leipzig to score in both halves
RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt key stats
RB Leipzig have won nine of their last 10 matches in all competitions, averaging 2.2 goals per game and keeping four clean sheets.
Eintracht Frankfurt have failed to win six of their last 10 matches, suffering a 4-0 defeat to Dortmund (2nd), a 3-1 defeat to Leverkusen (6th) and a 3-1 defeat to Hoffenheim (12th).
RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt possess three of the top four scorers in the competition in Randal Kolo Muani (6), Timo Werner (5) and Daichi Kamada (4).
RB Leipzig have won the DFB-Pokal once in their history, but Frankfurt have lifted the trophy five times. Their most recent victory came in 2018 under Niko Kovac.
RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt team news
Former Frankfurt man Andre Silva (thigh) is set to miss the final after picking up an injury in training, which is a sizeable blow for Leipzig. Dani Olmo (muscle) and Konrad Laimer (toe) are questionable.
First-choice goalkeeper Peter Gulasci (ACL) is unavailable due to injury and highly touted centre-back Josko Gvardiol is suspended after a red card in the semi-final.
Lucas Alario (knee), Hrvoje Smolcic (knee) and Marcel Wenig (foot) are all expected to be absent for Frankfurt. Kristijan Jakic (calf) and Philipp Max (leg) could recover in time to play a part.
RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt verdict
RB Leipzig have lifted the trophy four times fewer than their opponents Eintracht Frankfurt, but they'll have the opportunity to become the sixth club to lift the Pokal in back-to-back seasons.
Bayern Munich have completed the feat on numerous occasions, but no one else has managed it since Schalke, a club relegated this season, in the 2000 and 2001 finals.
Because of the Bundesliga standings, Eintracht Frankfurt are guaranteed to feature in European competition. If they win, they'll qualify for the Europa League. If Leipzig wins, a Europa Conference League place will cascade down to them.
Die Rotten Bullen are in near-perfect form coming into this game, winning nine of their last 10 matches and hitting Freiburg, the team they beat in last year's final, for five in the semi-final.
The Eagles of Frankfurt have had a whirlwind 12 months, winning the Europa League, reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League and now the final of the DFB-Pokal.
Their form in recent weeks leaves a lot to be desired and led to them missing out on a top-six finish in the final weeks of the season. They've failed to win six of their last 10 matches.
It can't be understated just how good the duo of Josko Gvardiol and Andre Silva have been for Marco Rose's men this season. Their absence is a real blow.
No one has featured more than Silva and Gvardiol's performances have seen him linked to the world's top clubs.
Although their absence is a blow, Christopher Nkunku, Emil Forsberg and Dominik Szoboszlai have provided the vast majority of goal contributions this season, with Timo Werner netting five times in this competition.
Leipzig look like a better bet based on recent form and the seasons these teams have had, but both teams are extremely dangerous in front of goal.
We expect the Red Bulls to lift the trophy and it seems inevitable that this game will descend into end-to-end chaos at some stage, with plenty of goalmouth action.
