Germany Soccer DFB Pokal Final Prediction

RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt - Match Preview

⚽ 3 June 2023 - 18:00 GMT +0

After condemning Schalke to relegation on the final day of the Bundesliga season whilst cementing their own third-place finish, RB Leipzig now has the opportunity to cap off the 2022/23 campaign with their second piece of major silverware in the DFB Pokal final. This is the Red Bulls’ third successive DFB Pokal final appearance, and while they lost the first 4-1 to Borussia Dortmund, they got the better of Freiburg on penalties last season.

They’ll hope it won’t be as nervy this time around, as a run of nine wins across Leipzig’s ten previous competitive outings suggests they’ll be aiming to retain their crown inside 90 minutes here (W9, L1). Even so, a return of four draws across the previous six H2Hs against Eintracht Frankfurt (W1, L1) may serve to temper expectations as a close-fought contest looks set to ensue.

It has been a memorable two-year stint for Oliver Glasner at Frankfurt, with the boss set to leave the club following this game after leading them to UEFA Europa League glory in his first season before a first foray into the modern Champions League for the club this term. The board put Glasner’s early termination down to “overall performance in the second half of the campaign”, although he did eventually get a tune from his men in the final few rounds when it mattered most.

A three-game unbeaten run to end the Bundesliga season (W2, D1) saw Frankfurt finish in seventh, which curiously guarantees them a place in Europe next season thanks to their participation in this game. Should they defeat Leipzig, a place in the Europa League awaits, and while defeat will consign them to Europe’s third-tier competition as the qualification criteria move down one place, Frankfurt will be confident they can avoid that plight having won five of their previous eight DFB Pokal finals.

📋 Players to watch: Just one goal separates Leipzig’s Timo Werner (G5) and Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani (G6) in the DFB Pokal top-scorer race. Werner both scored and assisted in the most recent league H2H encounter (W 2-1), whilst Kolo Muani hit the decisive match-winner in Frankfurt’s quarter-final and semi-final games.

⚡ Hot stat: Frankfurt boss Glasner has a 60% draw rate against Leipzig (W1, D6, L3).