Fulham 1-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Marco Silva’s Fulham are all set for the new Premier League campaign and, on Saturday evening at a sunny Craven Cottage they beat Dino Toppmoller’s Eintracht Frankfurt in a useful workout for both teams.
Club Friendly: Fulham vs Eintracht Frankfurt was never likely to be a blood and guts affair, a preparation game between two teams who play football which is easy on the eye, and a first half goal from Fulham’s veteran striker Raul Jimenez was enough to separate the two teams.
After a goalless first half hour a sublime free kick from the Mexican sailed into the net and the hosts could easily have been 2-0 up at the break as midfielder Josh King looked in fine form. Attacking midfielder Harry Wilson, often a super-sub last season, had a great chance with a one on one but, after a productive pre-season he fluffed his lines.
The one note of caution for Fulham was that wingback Ryan Sessegnon went off with what looked like a knock, but it didn’t look too bad as he walked unaided around the ground; but Toppmoller will be looking for more from his players when they kick off their new campaign.
Three takeaways
Cottagers look ship shape
Silva can be pretty content with his pre-season, certainly in terms of results as his team beat Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest 3-1 in Portugal with a brace from Harry Wilson before winning 4-2 against Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad as Wilson was on the mark again while Karim Benzema scored twice for the Saudis. Finishing off with a comfortable win over one of the Bundesliga’s best teams is a nice way to go into the new season.
Silva may be in for a winger?
As my SBOTOP colleague Jordan writes, Fulham have been quiet in the transfer window
and, while they looked in pretty good shape against the Germans, without the injured Antonee Robinson and with the departure of experienced wide man Willian, there may be a case for adding more width to the squad. In recent Premier League 2025 news, near neighbours Chelsea, in their never ending player dealing, are offloading some big earners to make room for the next batch, and former Liverpool and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling is on the market. Fulham, along with Crystal Palace and West Ham United are reported to be tracking the player who, at 30 years of age still has plenty to offer and, after a loan spell at Arsenal last year Sterling seems happy to stay in London.
Can Burkhardt step up for the Eagles?
The departure of Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool this summer followed on from the transfer of Omar Marmoush to Manchester City during the previous window and they each scored 15 goals in the German top flight last term. The signing of Jonathan Burkhardt from FSV Mainz will go some way towards filling those big boots after the 24 year old moved to Frankfurt on a five year deal. He’s scored 41 goals in 136 appearances for Mainz earning a place in the national team and Burkhardt is certainly ready to step up, though he drew a blank at the Cottage.
The Bundesliga 2025 betting odds currently rate the Eagles as fifth favourites to win the league title and so it looks like another top four place will be a challenge, and Toppmioller is relying on his new man to get the goals which can keep them in the hunt, while being competitive in the 2025/26 Champions League.
Key statistics
This is the first time these two teams have met but, much like the Cottagers, the Eagles have enjoyed a successful pre-season, beating FSV Frankfurt in their opener before heading to USA where they saw off Louisville City 5-2 and drew with Aston Villa and Philadelphia.
Fulham had a problem last season at home as the season came to an end, losing three consecutive home games to round of the 2024/25 campaign and that’s a habit they will be keen to get rid of and this win was a good omen.
What’s next?
Next week the Cottagers open up their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a tasty fixture away to Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Arena. The Seagulls finished in eighth place in the league table last term, three places and seven points above Fulham, and narrowly missing out on European qualification. After that opener Silva’s team will host Manchester United before the first big derby of the season away to Chelsea.
Meanwhile the Eagles have another week to prepare before they kick off their Bundesliga challenge with a home game against Werder Bremen. They follow that with a trip to TSG Hoffenheim and then in September they have a humdinger of a clash away to Bayer Leverkusen.
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