In a duel between two weak top teams, Dortmund secures the runner-up spot, while Frankfurt will probably have to plan without Europe.
Eintracht Frankfurt seems to be wasting its presence on the European football stage in the final meters of the Bundesliga season. There were also no points at Borussia Dortmund in the 2:3 (1:2) defeat on Friday, it was the fourth game without a win in a row.
Can Uzun’s early lead (2nd minute) wasn’t enough for Eintracht, Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy (42nd) and Nico Schlotterbeck (45th+1) turned the game around before the break. 18-year-old Samuele Inacio (72′) secured the preliminary decision with his first Bundesliga goal, while substitute Jonathan Burkardt’s goal (87′) only brought excitement for a short time.
Frankfurt needs help from HSV
Eintracht would have to push SC Freiburg out of seventh place in order to at least be able to start in the Conference League. However, if they are one point behind, all chances could be over on Sunday if Freiburg wins at Hamburger SV.
BVB, which had also recently lost its footing, secured the runner-up spot with a win on the penultimate matchday.
Bad mood under Albert Riera?
Eintracht started the season as a Champions League participant with great ambitions, but is having a very difficult time in the Bundesliga. Even under coach Albert Riera, Dino Toppmöller’s successor since February, there were mixed results and the mood is said to have worsened, Riera is considered counted.
Frankfurt’s coach Albert Riera gestures on the sidelines
However, sports director Markus Krösche assured in the Sportschau interview that the Spaniard would still be Eintracht’s coach at the end of the season despite the renewed defeat.
Riera himself said about his bumpy start in Frankfurt that he may have needed time. “I am sure that I now know the league, the language, my team, the possibilities of my players and my club better. With more time I will certainly be able to help my players better.”
Mahmoud Dahoud prepares to take the lead
In order to turn things around in Dortmund, Riera had put four new players in the starting line-up, including Mahmoud Dahoud. The ex-Dortmunder repaid the trust by taking the lead early on.
In the second minute of the game he was surrounded by several opponents in the Dortmund penalty area, but with luck and skill he retained the ball and laid it off for Uzun. The playmaker hit the right corner precisely. “We didn’t defend well, but the team’s reaction was very good,” said BVB coach Niko Kovac.
Julian Brandt with a strong last home game
Dortmund only seemed impressed for a short time and got into the game after a quarter of an hour. Then Julian Brandt, who was called up as captain for BVB in his last home game, provided momentum. His precise cross gave Samuele Inacio a huge chance, but he headed too centrally and Michael Zetterer made a great save.
In the 25th minute, Zetterer had to parry two shots, one from Brandt and one from Jobe Bellingham.
Guirassy and Schlotterbeck with a double blow
It was Brandt who initiated the equalizer. He stole the ball in midfield from Arthur Theate, who was sleepy in this situation, played it to Marcel Sabitzer, who went to Julian Ryerson – and Guirassy completed his cross in a sophisticated way into the left corner.
Schlotterbeck followed up in stoppage time in the first half. He initiated the attack himself, got the ball back to Maximilian Beier via Jobe Bellingham and scored into the right corner. It won’t matter to him that his shot was anything but technically clean.
Applause for Brandt, effort for Süle
In the second half, BVB controlled the action, Frankfurt couldn’t find any resources. Ryerson had the third goal on his feet, but was denied by Zetterer from a tight angle. At 3-1, Bellingham and Beier were once again the pioneers, Inacio completed the artistic feat.
In the 74th minute of the game, most of the spectators in the stadium stood up to say goodbye to Brandt. The 30-year-old will leave Borussia in the summer after more than 300 competitive games for BVB; he was replaced after a strong performance. “I was extremely happy to close the chapter here at home with a sense of achievement,” said Brandt in the Sportschau interview. “It was fun today.”
In the 88th minute, BVB coach Kovac also gave Niklas Süle some emotional minutes; the former national player will end his career after the season.
Knauff serves Burkardt
But Eintracht didn’t just want to be a nice party guest. The jokers Ansgar Knauff as the preparer and Burkardt as the finisher once again provided excitement. However, Eintracht did not have another chance to score.
Dortmund in Bremen, Frankfurt against Stuttgart
Dortmund can now end the season easily on the last matchday at Werder Bremen, with all games taking place at the same time on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Eintracht welcomes VfB Stuttgart – and can be happy if this game is still about the Conference League.
