An extremely intense and entertaining Bundesliga game between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Bochum did not produce a winner.
On Saturday (February 10, 2024), the SGE and VfL drew 1-1 (1-1) after 90 fast-paced minutes. Omar Marmoush gave Eintracht Frankfurt the lead (14th), but Bochum’s Moritz Broschinski equalized just a few minutes later (17th).
For Eintracht, the draw means the next setback in the race for the European Cup places after the disappointing 0:2 in the previous week at 1. FC Köln. The SGE is in sixth place with 32 points. Bochum is now in 14th place with 22 points.
Goal and a short scare: Marmoush rushes to the post
The home team initially took the initiative and tried to develop an early move towards the goal. It went back and forth at a fast pace – initially with the better start for Eintracht.
Because the first shot on goal was right away: Mario Götze played a wonderful pass into the path of Fares Chaibi, who crossed to Marmoush. The Frankfurt attacker passed the ball past the rushing VfL goalkeeper Manuel Riemann and pushed in, but it hit the post and had to be treated briefly, but in the end he continued. He only left the pitch after a good hour (65th).
Bochum residents find a quick answer
In any case, Marmoush’s Frankfurt lead didn’t last long. Just three minutes later, Broschinski’s shot was deflected by Willian Pacho past SGE goalkeeper Jens Grahl – the lightning-quick equalizer.
And this was deserved. Because in the first half, VfL really pestered the home team, had more shots on goal (7:1), won more duels, and had an enormous presence. Bernardo in particular was difficult to overcome for the Frankfurt individual artists on the offensive. The Bochum left-back had the upper hand in almost 75 percent of his duels.
Exchange of blows at eye level between VfL and SGE
In the second half, the “Eagles” flipped the switch. There was now more offensive for the now more energetic SGE. Marmoush missed a great chance early on (48th), Pacho (58th) and Ansgar Knauff (69th) also narrowly missed taking the lead again.
But Bochum had also more than recovered in the meantime. The nimble offensive man Takuma Asano mixed up Frankfurt’s defensive line well in transition situations, but he too failed first because of his weak finish (59th) and later again because of SGE goalkeeper Grahl (66th).
The running-intensive game became completely open in the final phase and could have tipped in either direction with an almost equal goal-scoring ratio in the second half. The teams acted with an open mind, quickly looking for a way forward, the ball hardly ever stayed in midfield for long periods of time. But no more goals were scored.
SGE internationally challenged, VfL welcomes Bayern
Before Eintracht Frankfurt continues in the Bundesliga, the Hessians are first challenged in the Conference League. On Thursday (6.45 p.m.) the SGE will be visiting Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium for the first leg of the playoffs. The following Sunday (3:30 p.m.) we will play away against SC Freiburg.
And VfL Bochum faces a real challenge: against record champions Bayern Munich (Sunday, 5:30 p.m.), the Bochum team are clear outsiders.