analysis
Eintracht Frankfurt creates another development step at Tottenham Hotspur and goes to the quarter-final second leg as a light favorite. Before the highlight game, a lot of work is waiting for the head.
If you want to know how football feels as a high-end event, you should visit a home game from Tottenham Hotspur. The sound and the light show in the one billion pounds of pounds is reminiscent of large concert halls. As soon as the fans whistled the hymn “When the Spurs Go Marching in” Singen, even the biggest nostalgics pull out their smartphones and films. The four oversized canvases in each stadium corner multipline the already distinctive impressions. All in all: a very impressive backdrop.
Eintracht offers Tottenham forehead
Why is that all important? Because the still very young team of Eintracht Frankfurt (almost) fully ignored these accompanying circumstances on Thursday evening and deservedly earned a very good starting point for the quarter-final secondary in the coming week in Frankfurt. The Eintracht, which had taken the lead early through Hugo Ekitiké, wiggled questionable in between and collected the logical compensation by Pedro Porro (26th). That the Hesse survived the angry race of the hosts and themselves The 1: 1 honestly deservedbut is highly off to you.
“We have little experience with such games, I am very proud,” said coach Dino Toppmöller rightly. For professionals like Jean-Matteo Bahoya (19 years), Hugo Larsson (20), Nathaniel Brown (21) or goalkeeper Kaua Santos (21), the duel with the Spurs was definitely the previous career highlight. The fact that even captain and Haudin Koch has never been in an international quarter -finals illustrates the green snailiness of Eintracht. “We grow with our tasks,” said Toppmöller. Eintracht is growing increasingly.
Happiness, skill, kaua santos
Bahoya, who was more difficult to represent the injured Ansgar Knauff on the right, was more likely to be noted. Against the Spurs, too, it became very clear that the Frankfurt offensive without Omar Marmoush two classes is more harmless and much easier to calculate. And in view of two slatted hits (55./57.) And numerous Santos gloss parades, a good portion of dusel cannot be dismissed. “With luck, skill and Kaua Santos we survived that well”Toppmöller summarized honestly.
One thing is clear: the game could certainly have turned out differently, the pressure of the London grew extremely extremely, especially in the second round. In total, however, Eintracht showed a very mature performance five days after the collective dropout at Werder Bremen, Tottenham pointed out in the crucial actions and underlined its final ambitions. “Such games give you self -confidence, so you will reach the next stage,” emphasized Toppmöller. The development of harmony continues.
Hellmann is reminiscent of the core business
One point that board spokesman Axel Hellmann had highlighted in a media round well before the game on Thursday. In contrast to the years 2019 or 2022, in which Eintracht in Europe caused a sensation, but completely neglected everyday business in the league, the team now has the stuff for simultaneous success in several competitions. “We are able to dance to two weddings,” said Hellmann. The Frankfurt wish music continues to run in the Europa League and the Bundesliga at full volume.
In order for it to stay that way, a performance similar to in the “very exciting game against Tottenham” (Arthur Theat) is like a performance like on the White Hart Lane. The task, especially for the head, is already waiting for Eintracht on Sunday (5.30 p.m.) in the home game against 1. FC Heidenheim. The Hesse, who are still third, can no longer afford another slip and are under pressure. It is a clear sign that coach Toppmöller reminded of the Frankfurt contrast program against Heidenheim at the press conference late Thursday evening. The Eintracht managers are serious.
As beautiful as the Europa League and the dream of a new final in Spain are, after the matriculation examination in Tottenham, the matriculation examination against the team from Ostalb is now waiting. Much smaller name, much unattractive opponent, incredibly large fall height. “I know exactly what kind of game it will be, there is no place for naivety,” emphasized Hellmann. “We have the chance of the Champions League, we want to take this opportunity.” So slipping against Heidenheim is strictly prohibited.
It will be celebrated later
And so coach Toppmöller also had no choice after the exciting and sometimes very wild evening at the Spurs on Thursday evening than switching directly back to Bundesliga mode. The intensive analysis of the upcoming Bundesliga opponent started at night, and after returning to Frankfurt on Friday the sporting preparation.
“We are now closing the book here, Heidenheim is pending on Sunday,” Toppmöller concluded his statements. There cannot be a greater discrepancy, there is no time to enjoy anyway. The next big challenge is waiting for the young Eintracht, this time with a little less brimborium.
