Eintracht Frankfurt Hosts Galatasaray in Champions League Opener

FRANKFURT, Germany — Eintracht Frankfurt will kick off its UEFA Champions League campaign against Turkish giants Galatasaray on Thursday, September 18, at Deutsche Bank Park. The match is set to start at 9:00 PM CEST (3:00 PM EDT).

Eintracht Frankfurt, returning to the Champions League after a two-year absence, began the Bundesliga season with three straight wins. However, their momentum was halted last weekend by Bayer Leverkusen, whom they lost to 3-1 despite having a two-man advantage late in the game. Currently, Frankfurt sits fifth in the Bundesliga standings with six points.

Galatasaray arrives in Frankfurt with impressive form, boasting a 21-match unbeaten streak across all competitions. The Super Lig leaders have won their first five matches of the season, solidifying their top position.

Frankfurt is hoping to have midfielder Hugo Larsson back in action after he dealt with an illness. However, injuries will sideline Rasmus Kristensen, Mario Götze, and Jessic Ngankam. New signing Jonathan Burkardt has struggled for form, leading coach Dino Toppmoller to possibly switch to a more recognized pairing of Michy Batshuayi and Elye Wahi.

Galatasaray’s only notable absentee is striker Victor Osimhen, who is recovering from a thigh injury. The Turkish club will rely on Mauro Icardi to spearhead their offense.

The last time these two teams faced off in UEFA competition was during the 1992/93 UEFA Cup, with Frankfurt yet to secure a win over Galatasaray in their two prior meetings.

Fans can tune into the match on CBS Sports Network and various streaming platforms, including Fubo.