Eintracht Frankfurt expect thousands of German fans to travel again in the hope of inspiring another away victory, like the shock win at Barcelona, for today’s Europa League semi-final first leg at West Ham. Around 30,000 Eintracht fans managed to get tickets for the second leg of their quarter-final at Camp Nou, roaring the German club to a stunning 3-2 win at Barcelona to seal a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Visiting Frankfurt fans have been allocated 5,000 tickets for the game at West Ham’s London Stadium, which has a capacity of 60,000, but the German club expects tens of thousands of fans to make the journey. “I am absolutely sure there will be more than 5,000 in the city,” Eintracht CEO Axel Hellmann said. “Our fans like to travel and support their team abroad - that’s why we brought 15,000 to Inter Milan” for the last-16 tie in 2019. Frankfurt reached the semi-finals that year before losing to Chelsea on penalties. “30,000 at Barcelona was absolutely the peak of our club history’s going abroad. It’s part of our DNA.”
Frankfurt’s Colombia forward Rafael Borre explained why the upset win on a magic night in Barcelona has captured the imagination of Frankfurt fans. “Many people thought it was impossible. So when you achieve it, it’s normal for people to feel euphoric,” said Borre, who scored away to Barcelona in the quarter-final.
West Ham have warned their supporters against selling tickets to Frankfurt fans. Under Austrian coach Oliver Glasner, Frankfurt have struggled at times in the Bundesliga this season, saving their best performances for Europe. Their fans are desperate to reach the final in Seville on May 18 for the chance of silverware.
Before their shock win over Bayern Munich in the 2018 German Cup final, Eintracht’s previous title was in 1979-80 when they won the UEFA Cup – the precursor to the Europa League – by beating Borussia Moenchengladbach over two legs in an all-German final.
Frankfurt’s run to the semi-finals has reportedly so far earned around 27 million euros ($29 million).
 
Moyes wants West Ham to capitalise on ‘really special’ Europa run
David Moyes has called on West Ham to cap their “really special” Europa League run by beating Eintracht Frankfurt to reach the club’s first major European final for 46 years.
Moyes’ side host Frankfurt in the semi-final first leg in a repeat of the Hammers’ last appearance in the last four of a European competition.
Back in 1976, Trevor Brooking, Billy Bonds and company defeated Frankfurt 4-3 on aggregate to seal a place in the Cup Winners’ Cup final, where they were beaten by Anderlecht. Moyes’ men are on the verge of emulating that famous run, with opponents from Croatia, Belgium, Austria, Spain and France vanquished on route to the last four.
Since returning for a second spell as West Ham manager in 2019, Moyes has transformed the team from relegation strugglers into a group who have genuine hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League by winning the Europa League.
It is an unexpected opportunity the Scot wants his players to seize when Frankfurt visit the sold-out London Stadium. “I honestly thought if I could get it going, I’d have a team challenging. Is it by luck, by plan or design? Sometimes you need a bit of all of them,” Moyes said.
“To bring West Ham from where they’ve been to where we are today is huge. To get to the semi-final of a European competition and give ourselves a real chance of getting to a final is something really special.”