After an absence of a year and a half, the SGE, alias the Franfurter Eintracht, is back in the UEFA Champions League, a historic first for the club thanks to its sensational third place in the Bundesliga. This qualification is part of a steady progression, following the Conference League experiences two years ago and the encouraging performances in the Europa League last season. The first eagle opponent will be Turkish champion Galatasaray Istanbul, a team rich in a history of 19 participations in European competitions, an unparalleled number among Turkish clubs. Despite this experience, Galatasaray has encountered difficulties outside, winning only one match out of the last ten international matches and only one out of the last seventeen group phase matches in the Champions League.

Dino Toppmöller, the Eintracht coach, emphasises the importance of the atmosphere and the uniqueness of international competitions, while stressing that the club is used to playing in large stadiums. He admits that the team has not always faced the easiest opponents, but insists that a victory is always possible in football. He sees this competition as an opportunity to grow up facing renowned teams and outperform. The team has changed considerably in recent years, and the club is looking forward to this new challenge. The game will take place on Thursday 18 September at 9 p.m. at Deutsche Bank Park, under the arbitration of Marco Guidia, with the broadcast by DAZN and Eintracht FM.

For this crucial match, the Eintracht Frankfurt will face several absences, including Rasmus Kristensen, Jessic Ngaankam and Mario Götze. Galatasaray Istanbul will be without Victor Osimhen. Ilkay Gündoğan, a key player for midfield control, will bring his experience and precision in the distribution of the ball. A home victory against the Turkish champion would be a major asset for the Eintracht in its Champions League phase. The return of important players like Nené Brown and Hugo Laursson is also a positive factor. Michael Zetterer will make his debut in the Champions League, while only a few players on the team have already had the experience of this competition. Mario Götze, Ansgar Knauff and Aurelio Buta are the only ones who have already participated in the Champions League, but Götze will not be able to play against Galatasaray. Knauff is considered a serious option for the start of the game. The likely composition of the Eintracht Frankfurt is Zetterer, Collins, Koch, Theate, Brown, Laursson, Chaibi, Doan, Uzun, Bahoya and Burkardt. Galatasaray Istanbul should align Cakir, Singo, Sanchez, Baardakcı, Elmali, Torreira, Sara, Akgün, Gündogan, Sané, Icardi.