New midfield and new attack
Eintracht couldn’t find a way to counteract this – certainly also a result of the line-up: Coach Oliver Glasner made eight changes compared to the 1-0 triumph against West Ham United last Thursday. Only goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and the two defenders Evan N’Dicka and Tuta remained in the starting eleven, in midfield and attack the complete B-cast was allowed to play.
This was reflected in the appearance of the team: summer football without Sturm und Drang was the result, apparently the players from the second row didn’t really believe they could recommend themselves for the big highlight of the season on May 18th in Seville.
Trapp and Plea as rescuers
Glasner brought top player Filip Kostic into the second half, but Gladbach increased the pace. Breel Embolo should have increased his lead in the 48th minute, but after Plea’s pass he failed because of Trapp’s foot defense.
In return, Eintracht came dangerously in front of the guest goal after a standard, in which substitute keeper Tobias Sippel was allowed to prove himself. He would have been powerless against Stefan Ilsanker’s shot, but Plea saved on the goal line.
Paciência punishes Plea’s carelessness
As concentrated as the French defended in this scene, he then acted in front just as casually and without physical tension. Plea threw away three counter chances in a row with passes that were played far too laxly, twice Lainer and once Embolo he robbed clear scoring chances.
The punishment followed promptly. When Gonçalo Paciência was unable to find a pass for one of the few Frankfurt attacks, the attacker simply slammed the ball into the net himself from 25 meters to make it 1-1 (66′).
Embolo and mesh fail
After that, the Gladbachers gave more gas again. However, Embolo missed a double chance from close range (72′) when he first swept past the ball and then shot Makuto Hasebe on the line. Shortly thereafter, Luca Netz failed after going it alone on Trapp. Frankfurt even had a chance of three points shortly before the end, but Lainer blocked Timothy Chandler’s shot just before the goal line. Seconds before the end, Frankfurt cheered – but Daichi Kamada was offside by a few centimeters when he scored.
On the last day of the game (May 14, 2022, 3:30 p.m.), Gladbach will still have TSG Hoffenheim as guests, while Frankfurt somehow still has to get the derby at 1. FSV Mainz 05 over with before the big showdown against Rangers.