Eintracht Frankfurt has won a Champions League game for the first time in the club’s history. The victory at Olympique Marseille was clouded by violent pyro attacks from both fan camps.
It was a historic evening for Eintracht Frankfurt, but the Hessians and their supporters couldn’t really enjoy it. The SGE won their first game in the premier class on Tuesday evening at Olympique Marseille with a goal by Jesper Lindström (43rd). Around the 1-0 in southern France, however, so many rockets and firecrackers flew into the respective fan blocks that one really couldn’t speak of a football festival.
Lindström meets rather accidentally
While there was a bang in the stands before the game, what was happening on the pitch was initially rather reserved. The two teams watched each other in a largely uneventful first half. At the back, the new Frankfurt five-man chain around Makoto Hasebe had to blow through, especially when Alexis Sanchez had two chances (12./24.)
Offensively, the Frankfurters were just as harmless as against Wolfsburg. But at least the Hessians made an effort and followed up, but in terms of football it was thin. It’s fitting that Lindström’s 1-0 lead (43′) was more a goal of will than class. After a long shot, the Frankfurters secured the ball with a lot of struggle, via detours and an OM leg the leather landed with the Dane, who completed the surprising lead.
More chances after the break
It was a somewhat happy 1-0 that Eintracht went into the break with. But after the change of sides, the Hessians later earned the lead. Suddenly the space for the Frankfurt combination game was there, suddenly the ball was won quickly in midfield and suddenly there were opportunities. But both a slamming of the bar by Lindström (54th) and a failed cross pass by Ansgar Knauff (56th) didn’t bring the hoped-for second goal.
Olympique reacted with a three-man substitution, including Luis Suarez and ex-Schalke player Amine Harit – and the game became an open exchange of blows. The best opportunity for the French was defused by Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp against the free-standing Valentin Rongier (66th). On the other side, Frankfurt could have made it 2-0 several times, yes they had to. But both Randal Kolo Muani (75th) and Daichi Kamada (81st) failed from top positions. The only time the ball landed in the OM box was the Japanese just barely offside (79′). In the end it was still enough for a 1-0 win.
Olympique Marseille – Eintracht Frankfurt 0: 1 (0: 1)
Marseilles: Pau Lopez – Bailly (65th Guendouzi), Balerdi, Kolasinac – Clauss, Rongier (82nd Kabore), Veretout, Nuno Tavarez – Payet (59th), Gerson (59th Harit) – Sanchez (59th Suarez)
Frankfurt: Trapp – Tuta, Hasebe, Ndicka – Knauff, Jakic (79.Chandler), Sow, Lindstrom (79.Borre) – Kamada (88.Alario), Götze (71.Rode) – Muani (88.Alario)
Gates: 0: 1 Lindstrom (43′)
yellow cards: Ünder / Hasebe
referee: Sanchez Martinez (ESP)
