Alaves in the last season miraculously stayed in the Primera. For 38 rounds the team chalked up nine victories and 11 peaceful outcomes, which brought 38 points and 16th final place in the standings. In the last four matches, the “bean killers” drew with Levante (2:2), beat Elche (2:0) and Granada (4:2), which saved the Basques from relegation. The team’s weakest link was the attack line, which scored fewer goals per match. In April the team was led by a new mentor, 43-year-old Javier Kaleha. Over the summer Facundo Pellistri from Manchester United, Manu Garcia from Gijon and Mamadu Loume from Porto, who will play on loan, have joined the team. Ndiaye, who has a thigh injury, will not play today.
Eintracht Frankfurt were great last season, but they blurred the ending. After the 2:1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the 27th round, the Eagles had seven points of separation from the Bumblebees. A ticket to the Champions League was almost in their hands, but the final segment failed and, as a result, the club from Frankfurt-on-Maine came in fifth. Eintracht Frankfurt will start the new season with a new head coach, Oliver Glasner. The Eagles will be forced to do without the top scorer of last season. Andre Silva, who scored 28 goals in the last Bundesliga draw, moved to Leipzig. His replacement should be Colombian Rafael Borre. The striker showed himself well in the Argentinean River Plate and got a second chance to appear in Europe, previously he failed to gain a foothold in the Villarreal squad. Glasner failed miserably in the first match at the helm of Eintracht Frankfurt. The Eagles managed to lose 0:2 to Mannheim and left the German Cup after the first round.
