Real Madrid – Eintracht

Eintracht have a good chance of holding out against Real Madrid in the first half

Finland will host Real and Eintracht on Wednesday, 10 August. The Champions League winners are regarded as favourites. Their status has been further cemented by start of the Bundesliga campaign. Eintracht were literally demolished by Bayern, 1-6. The German club will also play in the Champions League in the new season. Eintracht had a decent transfer campaign. Five newcomers joined the squad. Perhaps the main hopes are associated with the renewal of the attacking group. Hauge, Alario and Götze should help the team overcome a difficult season with two major tournaments. Importantly, the club have retained all their key players. Of the big losses, only defender Martin Hinteregger, but his departure does not look fatal, although the defence has suffered. It was evident from the first game as well. The match against Bayern did not work out from the start. Eintracht still acted quite bravely, leaving areas for their opponents to attack. In open football, Bayern crushed their opponents. It is doubtful that head coach Oliver Glasner will opt for a similar tactic in this historic encounter. Real have been gradually gaining form during the pre-season tour. The club played in only three matches. First, a defeat against Barcelona was recorded. This was followed by a draw against Mexico Americas and a very confident game against Juventus. Real dominated the match for an hour while the main line-up was in action. The Madrid veterans showed that they are in fighting form at the start of the season. Compared to last season, Real now have many more options for the rotation. Chouammeni has been added to Kamawinga in midfield. In defence, star newcomer Rüdiger has yet to make the starting line-up. In attack, Ancelotti will be hoping to see Eden Hazard transform. The Belgian starts his fourth season at Madrid as Karim Benzema's replacement. Real Madrid have a deep, albeit old, squad. That said, the chemistry between the players remains at a level unattainable by the vast majority of European giants. The first official match is always difficult. The trophy game is special for Eintracht. The team has a cup character, which was already well demonstrated last season, knocking Barcelona out of the tournament in a two-match format. Now there is just one match. The Germans should opt for a defensive model. It is tempting to assume that the intrigue in this match will still live into the second half. It will take some time for Real to get into a more serious rhythm. Plus the support of the stands will be on the side of the German club.