Homecoming in Innsbruck: Raiders Tirol host Frankfurt Galaxy
Week 4 of the European Football Alliance brings one of European football’s most historic matchups back into the spotlight. On Saturday evening, the Raiders Tirol will host Frankfurt Galaxy at Tivoli Stadium in Innsbruck. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 PM CET.
For both teams, the game already carries significant importance. Both the Raiders Tirol and Frankfurt Galaxy enter the weekend with 0-2 records and are looking to avoid falling further behind the league’s leading teams early in the season.
For Tirol, the matchup also marks the long-awaited home opener. After opening the season with road games against the Munich Ravens and Nordic Storm, the Raiders finally return to Tivoli Stadium for the first time in 2026. Unsurprisingly, excitement around the organization is high.
“For me personally, the anticipation for our first home game is huge. My last home game at Tivoli was seven years ago. It is a unique experience to play in this stadium. I’m also happy that it’s against Galaxy. They are a big name, a very successful organization and a great opponent for our home opener,” Raiders Head Coach Shuan Fatah said ahead of the matchup.
The game also promises an intriguing battle on the field. One of the biggest storylines will be the quarterback matchup between Frankfurt’s Ethan Garbers and Tirol’s Steven Krajewski.
Garbers has been one of the most productive passers in the EFA through the opening weeks of the season. In his first two games, he threw for 572 yards and four touchdowns while also creating additional production with his legs. Despite facing constant pressure behind his offensive line, Garbers remains the only starting quarterback in the league who has yet to throw an interception.
On the opposite sideline, Krajewski has enjoyed a strong start of his own. With 561 passing yards and four touchdowns, he sits just behind Garbers in the statistical rankings. Both quarterbacks have quickly established themselves as the focal points of their respective offenses.
Garbers will once again rely heavily on wide receiver Brevin Easton. The American playmaker was recently named EFA Week 3 MVP following his impressive performance against the Munich Ravens and has already emerged as the favorite target of the Frankfurt quarterback. Alongside Easton, Paul Kavadia Lenhardt and Adria Botella Moreno provide additional weapons in the Galaxy passing attack.
Defensively, Frankfurt has also shown flashes of its potential. Most notably, Mason Chambers delivered one of the highlights of the young season with his pick six against the Paris Musketeers. Overall, the Galaxy defense has played with a physical and aggressive style, even if the results have not yet translated into victories.
That is exactly why Shuan Fatah is warning his team against overlooking Frankfurt.
“Frankfurt is always dangerous. They have very good athletes on their roster. Like us, they are not yet a complete team like Munich or Nordic Storm, but they are an excellent football team. We would make a huge mistake if we underestimated them because they are 0-2. That means absolutely nothing in this league.”
For the Raiders, the matchup also represents an opportunity to finally turn the positive signs from the first two weeks into a victory. Against both Munich and Nordic Storm, Tirol showed stretches of highly competitive football but struggled to sustain that level over four quarters.
“We improved tremendously in our second game. But at the end of the day, you have to win. That’s what matters. It’s a process and we need a little time. The team understands that we have to improve week by week,” Fatah explained.
With two historic organizations, two talented quarterbacks and the long-awaited home opener for the Raiders Tirol, the stage is set for an exciting football evening in Innsbruck. For both teams, the outcome could already prove significant for the direction of their 2026 EFA season.