Hoffenheim vs Eintracht Frankfurt preview - Schwegler keen to face Frankfurt

Posted Thursday, December 11, 2014 by PA

Pirmin Schwegler is looking forward to facing his former club Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday night, but not so much seeing Alexander Meier lining up on the opposite side.

Schwegler spent five years with the Eagles, playing 128 times for them before moving to Hoffenheim in the summer.

"I just felt I needed a fresh challenge," Schwegler said at a press conference. "I had five great years and picked up lots of experiences.

"To be followed by 12,000 fans to Bordeaux for an away game was obviously something that I'll never forget."

There will be just over double that at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena on Friday night with plenty of Frankfurt followers expected, all hoping to see their team build on a win over Werder Bremen last weekend which took the Eagles to seventh.

Their rise to the brink of a return to Europe next season has been inspired by Meier, the league's top scorer on 10 goals.

"When he gets the ball, you may as well just turn round and head back to the centre circle," said Schwegler.

The Swiss midfielder may be so convinced that Meier scores whenever in possession, but at the same time he says his team "will not man-mark him".

Frankfurt's strength is also at the other end of the field, according to Hoffenheim coach Markus Gisdol.

"Frankfurt are on a great run, but they are going to be missing somebody, and that's their goalkeeper," he said.

Felix Wiedwald has been ruled out with glandular fever, meaning Timo Hildebrand will make his return to Bundesliga action against his former club, in the continued absence of first-choice Kevin Trapp.

Hildebrand only signed on for Frankfurt on Wednesday.

"You only get stories like these in football," admitted Gisdol. "Timo's very experienced and a really nice guy."