Eintracht Frankfurt are navigating a turbulent period on and off the pitch, but signs of stabilisation are emerging. The club sits 15th in the Bundesliga with eight points from seven games, yet recent results suggest a team finding its footing after a difficult start. A 3:1 DFB-Pokal victory over Hamburger SV provided a timely confidence boost, following a narrow 0:1 Bundesliga defeat at Borussia Dortmund, where a late Maximilian Beier goal settled the contest. Trainer Adi Hütter has made clear that standards are non-negotiable. His public criticism of Can Uzun, whom he benched for the Köln win before calling out the attacker's consistency in training, signals that Hütter is willing to challenge even his most talented players. The message is straightforward: squad places are earned, not assumed.

Off the pitch, the club's search for a new sporting director following Markus Krösche's departure has hit a setback. Top candidate Christoph Spycher rejected the role, and Marcel Schäfer of RB Leipzig is no longer in the picture. Joti Chatzialexiou from 1. FC Nürnberg has emerged as the leading candidate, with talks already under way. Resolving this appointment quickly is a priority ahead of the January transfer window.

Frankfurt host Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga on Sunday, a rematch of their recent Pokal meeting. With European football absent this season for the first time in six years, every league point carries added weight.