Same opponent, similar signs.
Like almost exactly four years ago, when Eintracht and Olympique Marseille met for the first time under European auspices, there were considerable restrictions for Frankfurt football fans.
At that time, they were even forbidden to be live on site at the Stade Vélodrome.
Because of previous misconduct by French supporters, the Europa League game took place with the exclusion of spectators.
Ralph Weitbrecht
sports editor.
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This time the situation is a little different.
When Ligue 1 championship runners-up Marseille and Bundesliga eleventh Frankfurt compete again this Tuesday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on DAZN) in the premium competition of the European Football Union, the stadium will be packed.
Among the 66,000 spectators there will be 3,300 Eintracht fans who, like coach Oliver Glasner, are hoping for a turnaround.
After the unsuccessful start to the first Champions League campaign, Eintracht needs a quick course correction.
Otherwise, after the 3-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon and another unsatisfactory performance on the French Mediterranean coast, the early end of all dreams of the top class threatens.
“We have to learn from this”
The Eintracht coach has a clear idea of how things should go this Tuesday in terms of sport and atmosphere.
"We all want a peaceful football festival with two great traditional clubs in Europe.
The performances shown so far make me positive for a very intense game," said Glasner and reminded on Monday at the press conference in the Stade Vélodrom that "we have a better record away than at home".
The coach, who was recently beaten in the Bundesliga, sees the key to a desired victory in “a high level of mental readiness.
We didn't reach our performance limit against Wolfsburg.
We have to learn from that.”
No scarves, no jerseys, no chants, nothing - the requirements of the authorities for the day before the game were rigid.
Outside the stadium, Eintracht supporters had to do everything they could to avoid identifying themselves as Eintracht supporters until 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
Stays in the first, second, sixth and seventh districts of the city of Marseille were subject to the strictest restrictions.
Those responsible for Eintracht had taken legal action against the entry ban imposed four years ago.
Three years and three months later, that lawsuit was upheld.
The return to Marseille four years later becomes a bit of a déjà vu.
Sportingly, the Glasner-Elf would be helped if they could build on the performance of the first showdown with Olympique.
Back then, a 2-1 win in the ghost game.
Goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, who has just returned to Eintracht Frankfurt from Paris, praised the "character of the team" after the coup.
Everyone cleaned everything up.
I can only say chapeau.”
In September 2022, the same cannot be said of the team, which has meanwhile been completely renewed.
Above all, the 0-1 draw against Wolfsburg caused Eintracht to stumble.
Glasner's general settlement caused a stir.
Never before in his previous creative phase in Frankfurt has the football teacher become so loud and clear.
"We were slow and sluggish in our build-up.
We rarely had depth in the game.
We were dead on the outside. We were a disaster with set pieces.
We had no assertiveness.”
Glasner's criticism was surgically sharp.
He has promised a variety of changes for the desired course correction.
In terms of personnel, the coach only wants to field players who are able to "play this power football that we want to play for 90 minutes".
Glasner got his last impressions of the condition of his team on Monday.
As is usually the case before European missions, Eintracht preferred not to complete the final training session at the venue but at the practice area in the Frankfurt Arena.
Left-back Luca Pellegrini was absent;
but captain Sebastian Rode was there again - and immediately ran ahead with Makoto Hasebe.
After his arrival in Marseille, Glasner let it be known that there was much to be said for a return to the back three – with Hasebe.
I want to talk to Rode, “who is back on board as captain, on the day of the game, how much playing time he dares to play”.
In the history of both clubs, there have only been two international competitive matches between Frankfurt and Marseille.
Both won the concord.
The 2:1 in Marseille was followed by an unchallenged 4:0 in the second leg.
Eintracht was in a frenzy, their path in the Europa League only ended in the semi-finals at London's Stamford Bridge, where the team of then coach Adi Hütter was unlucky to retire at Chelsea.
Unlike Eintracht, Olympique 2022 is in good Champions League condition.
At the weekend, Lille was beaten 2-1 in league operations.
The incentive to follow the 0-2 in the first premier class group game at Tottenham Hotspur with the first win is great.
The longing of the people of Frankfurt is no less great.
But for that “we have to improve”.
After the disappointing performance against Wolfsburg, sports director Markus Krösche also found clear words for Eintracht's further course of action.
"The pace of the game was too slow, we were too static."
When things really get going this Tuesday at the Stade Vélodrome, Eintracht's game has to be dynamic and powerful.
"There is still a lack of effectiveness in front of goal," said attacker Randal Kolo Muani in Marseille.
When the 2-1 victory at Olympique was successful four years ago, Axel Hellmann, today spokesman for Eintracht, enthused: "We can do Europe, we showed that." The question now is: Can Eintracht also Champions League?