Prömel scores again
Barça winner Eintracht Frankfurt had to accept a serious mood dampener after the gala at Camp Nou. The Europa League semi-finalist lost 2-0 (0-2) to Union Berlin on Sunday with a heavily changed team and can hardly achieve an international starting place for the coming season via the Bundesliga. In complete contrast to the “Iron”, who also got in the mood for the DFB Cup semi-finals at the second German Europa League semi-finalist RB Leipzig next Wednesday.
Thanks to goals from Taiwo Awoniyi (17th) and Grischa Prömel (21st), they celebrated their third win in a row and impressively underpinned their new goal of the European Cup in front of 22,012 spectators in the sold-out stadium at the Alte Försterei. In the table, Union Berlin moved up to sixth place with 47 points, while Frankfurt slipped to tenth place with 39 points. Before kick-off, Union’s stadium announcer complimented the Eintracht fans who had traveled with them for their performance in Barcelona. After the kick-off, the Frankfurt pros quickly suffered football setbacks on the field.
Due to injury, Eintracht regular keeper Kevin Trapp had to pass. The 31-year-old suffered a sprained ligament in his wrist in Barcelona, as has now become known. Jens Grahl moved into the goal for Trapp – and he made his comeback in the Bundesliga after almost six years. Once at 1899 Hoffenheim, he made his last appearance for TSG in the top flight on May 14, 2016 – and lost 4-1. And this time it didn’t end well either. Because Union got off to a great start, further strengthened after only two defeats in the previous 30 home games and the 4-1 most recently in the derby at Hertha BSC.
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Genki Haraguchi missed the lead in the 12th minute when his skillful extension of the header hit the post. Even then Grahl would have had no chance. As with Awoniyi’s low shot, after the Union striker had prevailed against two Frankfurters as quickly and robustly as possible. It was his 13th goal of the season – a club record. The Eintracht fans were also unable to build up their team in the Alte Försterei temple of atmosphere. A dream goal from Prömel in the corner destroyed all hopes of the Hessians early on. Grahl was again unable to do anything, but he saved Frankfurt from going even further behind when he later cleared against Rani Khedira.
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With a view to the two upcoming guest appearances in the cup and in the league against RB Leipzig, the Unioners no longer maintained the pressure and urge of the first half hour even after the change of sides. Nevertheless, they controlled what was now a relatively uneventful game, in which Awoniyi (63′) had the best chance of scoring the third Union goal. However, the guests were far away in the Köpenick forester’s lodge, far removed from a football festival like the Camp Nou in Barcelona.
Ending.
–––––
90. | #FCUSGE 2:0 | #SGE pic.twitter.com/eHTtcfwkwR— Eintracht Frankfurt (@Eintracht) April 17, 2022
TSG Hoffenheim dropped points – Fürth’s relegation almost sealed
The SpVgg Greuther Fürth can hardly be saved in the Bundesliga. After the goalless draw at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday, four games before the end of the season, eleven points separate the promoted team from Franconia from VfB Stuttgart, who are currently in relegation rank 16. A jump to the saving 15th place is already almost impossible. The 16,100 spectators saw a weak game with few highlights and many mistakes.
Hoffenheim has now gone five league games without a win and once again failed to master a mandatory task at home and score points in the fight for international places. This weekend, 1. FC Köln and 1. FC Union Berlin overtook the Kraichgauers, the gap to fifth-placed SC Freiburg has grown to six points and can hardly be caught. The rest of the program is also tough: with Europa League semi-finalists Frankfurt, plus against Freiburg, Leverkusen and Mönchengladbach.
In glorious spring weather, very little happened in the first half. TSG striker Munas Dabbur (4th) shot over from a short distance after a corner. Vice world champion Andrej Kramaric shone with a Zinedine Zidane role, but then finished much too laxly (11th). At Hoffenheim, a lot went through ex-Fuerther David Raum, who had returned after a yellow card suspension and, like the 6-3 win in the first leg, made a lot of progress. Fürth limited itself to defending, offensive actions were scarce in the first half. At half time there were whistles for 45 minutes of football lean food. After the change, things continued with a brief moment of shock. The two Hoffenheim players Stefan Posch and Diadie Samassékou rattled their heads after a throw-in. Posch, who apparently suffered a laceration, got it harder, the Austrian was bleeding and had to be replaced.
Ihlas Bebou (57th) then clearly missed the next TSG finish. But Fürth didn’t just hide: when Julian Green (62′) took a powerful shot, Hoffenheim’s goalkeeper Oliver Baumann had to really stretch for the first time and turned the ball around the post. While Hoffenheim’s fight for Europe goes on despite the current misery, for the “clover leaves” it should mainly be about damage limitation in the remaining games. Getting the first away win or surpassing the 21 points from the relegation season: These could be possible goals for head coach Stefan Leitl’s team.
Four victories would be needed to overtake 16th Stuttgart and 17th Bielefeld. And VfB would have to lose all of their clear games because of the significantly better goal difference, and Bielefeld should hardly score anymore. As early as next Saturday (3.30 p.m.) against Bayer Leverkusen, the second Bundesliga relegation threatens to be mathematically perfect.
We take a point from Hoffenheim!#shamrock #TSGSGF pic.twitter.com/yHcimPoukX
— SPVGG GREUTHER FUERTH (@kleeblattfuerth) April 17, 2022
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