Jonathan Burkardt is fit for Eintracht Frankfurt's Bundesliga opener away to Union Berlin on Saturday. However, three other key players have been ruled out through injury, the club confirmed on Thursday.
The 24-year-old forward Burkardt had been managing a minor thigh issue during pre-season. After individual sessions, he completed full team training on Wednesday. "He has no more problems and is available," said head coach Dino Toppmöller. Burkardt was one of Eintracht's most valuable attacking players last season with seven goals and four assists.
Three midfield absences
The injury concerns are concentrated in midfield. Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe is out with a thigh muscle injury. Hugo Larsson and Ellyes Skhiri are also unavailable. Larsson sustained a minor strain in training, while Skhiri has been diagnosed with inflammation in his knee. All three players are expected to be sidelined only for a short period.
The absences force Toppmöller to adjust his starting lineup. In central midfield, Mario Götze and Kristijan Jakic could form the double pivot. On the wings, Ansgar Knauff and a replacement for Dina Ebimbe, likely Niels Nkounkou or Philipp Max, are options. The full overview of the squad list is available on our squad page.
The match in Berlin kicks off at 15:30. It is the first of 34 matchdays for Eintracht, all listed in our fixtures calendar. The team aims to return to European competition immediately after finishing seventh last season. Frankfurt's last away win at Union Berlin came in February 2023 with a 2:0 scoreline.
Toppmöller stressed the importance of a strong start to the campaign. "We did good work in pre-season and now we want to translate that into points," the coach said. The remaining days before kick-off will be used for final tactical preparations and set-piece work. Eintracht will travel to Berlin on Friday.
