Eintracht Frankfurt celebrated a magnificent start to the Champions League with the 5: 1 (3: 1) against Galatasary Istanbul.
The Frankfurt goals scored twice Jonathan Burkardt (45.+4 minute, 66.), Can Uzun (45.+2), Ansgar Knauff (75th) and Galatasarays Davinson Sanchez (37.) by own goal. Istanbul took the lead in the 8th minute through Yunus Akgün.
Frankfurt’s Burkkardt: “That was amazing”
“It was a nervous start. But how we increased after 0-1 deficit and then win with the backdrop, that was insane. Perfect just tonight”Burkardt’s double scorer, who was honored as a player of the game.
Eintracht sports director Knut Krösche said: “In the beginning there was a certain nervousness. But it was really strong that we came back after the deficit. The team believes in itself, that can be seen.”
Galatasarays Gündogan: “Very simple mistakes made”
Galatasarays Ilkay Gündogan struggled on the DAZN microphone: “We made very simple mistakes. Overall, it wasn’t good enough.”
However, Gündogan also said: “I think we even had a chance to score the second goal until the 1-1 team. Then we got it 1-1, and you have already noticed on the pitch that the heads were hanging down.” The clear result is then “Extremely a shame”.
Fixed mood in the Frankfurter Arena
For weeks they were looking forward to it at Eintracht – for the first appearance in the Champions League, in which one is considered an absolute outsider. And of course: the stadium was crammed against the premiere opponent Galatasaray to the roof. A tingling mood in the black and white club colors of Eintracht.
An atmosphere that almost exploded after only two minutes of the game. Nathaniel Brown had chased the ball deep in the gala half of Leroy Sané on the left and staged Ansgar Knauff. Its end of 17 meters was able to direct Istanbul’s keeper Ugurcan Cakir to the corner.
Reinforced galatasaray takes the lead early
The Turkish opponent from Istanbul had signed some stars in transfer summer. Among other things, Sané and the former national team captain Gündogan went to the Bosphorus. It is also sporty with the team of coach Okan Buruk, because Galatasaray won all the games in the current Süperlig season and is therefore at the top of the table without loss of point.
After eight minutes, the “Löwen from the Bosphorus” of Eintracht missed a very bitter damper: after a ball win in midfield, center forward Yunus Akgün was sent on the trip. The attacker let the Namdi Collins, which are rushing too impetuously, and shot through the legs of Robin Koch from eleven meters into the far corner – it was 0: 1.
Mobile harmony acts far too imprecise
Eintracht was nervous, hectic. You wanted a lot, but it worked little. Most of the actions were far too restless and inaccurate. Even in the defense where experienced people like Koch and Arthur Theate really seemed. So gala came to the next top -class carpenter in the 24th minute. After the loss of the ball, Fares Chaibi jumped the ball after a defense attempt to the elbows – the Turks, however, gave the due free kick 17 meters in front of the goal with a failed free kick trick.
Istanbul looked safer, clearer. The first real chance of Eintracht therefore sprang up – less surprising – a resting ball. Chaibi brought a free kick up in front of the goal, Koch skipped his opponent and headed to Burkhardt, but the Senste three meters in front of the goal past the ball.
Galatasaray – superior at the beginning.
Doan achieves the equalization – Uzun turns the match
The equalization fell out of nowhere. Ritsu Doan won a failed back pass from Davinson Sanchez and shot from 15 meters after a short dribbling. The unfortunate Sanchez jumped into the ball and the defender’s leg slipped over the line – an almost designated hit for Eintracht at this point: somehow wanded into the goal. No matter – it was 1: 1 (37th).
But that’s not all: Galatasaray also happened too many inaccuracies in the middle of the field. Burkardt brought one to business in the added time of the first half. From the right, the ex-Mainz flanked flat into the penalty area, where Can Uzun stood with his back to the goal. A quick rotation and with left the youngster chased the ball wonderfully on the left in the angle – 2: 1 (45.+2).
Eintracht uses Gala’s weakness mercilessly
The guests from Turkey were struck. And that was mercilessly used by the now handy unity. The Hesse came to the next free kick over the left. Chaibi chipped the ball towards the penalty point, where Burkhardt extended with his head to 3: 1 (45.+4). Eintracht had turned the game upside down within just a few minutes.
With the now calming lead in the back, the game of the Toppmöller team looked considerably better in the second section. The actions were prepared much less hectically. Uzun tried in the 57th minute with a long-range shot that stroked the box, two minutes later Knauff had a good header after Chaibi’s preparatory work that he could not use.
Sanchez with the second own goal to 4: 1
Not much came from Galatasaray. And the game was over when the unfortunate Sanchez actually undertook the second own goal. After Brown’s flank and Burkard’s header, the Colombian steered the ball in front of his catcher keeper in front of his grade into his own network to 4: 1 for Eintracht (66.). However, because he only faded the ball, the hit was credited to Burkardt.
Istanbul was beaten – and the entry turned a few rounds of honor under the frenetic cheers of the enthusiastic audience. Another goal was achieved. The Agile Knauff benefited from a next Istanbul ball loss in the game structure and pushed the ball into the empty goal after he had previously dribbled goalkeeper Cakir (75th).
In the next round to Madrid
The Frankfurt festival weeks in Madrid continue in the second round of the league. On September 30, 2025, Atletico will be about the next Champions League points. Galatasaray then receives the Liverpool FC.