analysis
Eintracht Frankfurt shows familiar problems and familiar strengths. The club isn’t really smart about itself. But that is likely to change radically soon.
In the 2-2 draw in Freiburg, Eintracht conceded another very early goal. After Derry Scherhant’s goal (2nd), Johnny Burkardt responded with a brace (18th, 38th), but a late free kick goal from Vincenzo Grifo (87th) cost the SGE two points and opened up another discussion.
1. You can rely on the offensive
Even though Jonathan Burkardt’s mood took on a dreary autumnal tone over the course of the afternoon, he was the man of the game for SC Freiburg. Who can still remember that the new acquisition from Mainz had a bit of a hard time getting going in the first few meters of the still young season? After three goalless appearances at the start of the season, the 25-year-old has scored seven goals in his last six games for his new club.
The SGE could really use a center forward in a goal-scoring mood in the coming weeks. Admittedly, this applies to all teams at all times. However, it should be good for self-confidence that not everything at the front is focused on one target player. In the first games it was still Ritsu Doan and above all Can Uzunwho shared the scoring duties, with Burkardt finally taking over. Someone always scores. The job sharing between regular employees works so well that one could almost overlook the fact that challengers like Michy Batshuayi or Elye Wahi are currently unable to fill these intended roles.
2. There is too little reliance on the defense
It was the fourth minute of the game in Madrid, FC Bayern needed 15 seconds and after less than two minutes Freiburg took the lead. The Eintracht defense went into the game with the clear instruction not to concede an early goal. The fact that Robin Koch took so much risk so early with his pass into the center almost seemed like a self-fulfilling prophecy. The fact that the captain made another mistake must be worrying. The fact that he worked his way back into the game can be seen as a positive thing.
In addition to conceding early goals, the defense also basically knows how to defend. Toppmöller even found the newly formed defensive group in Freiburg to be “brutally stable”. For the first time this season he chose a three-man or five-man chain. Aurèle Amenda slotted in largely quietly as a starting eleven debutant. Rasmus Kristensen’s qualities have been well sung. After the 0-1 defeat, Eintracht practically didn’t have any major chances left. Kaua Santos has to answer questions about Vincenzo Grifo’s free kick goal to make it 2-2.
Nevertheless, the number of goals conceded is still far too high. Before the game, Toppmöller expressed the hope that not every team would punish defensive mistakes as mercilessly as Atlético or FC Bayern. However, it was enough for SC Freiburg to once again show serious lapses in concentration that, with such regularity, endanger all goals. A defense that can usually be relied upon provides little security. In terms of numbers, it is currently the weakest in the league.
3. The Goalkeeper discussion is opened
If it were managed externally, he could not prevent that, said Toppmöller. In any case, there are none internally Discussion about Kaua Santos. After the late 2-2, we will not only have to talk about Vincenzo Grifo’s free-kick skills, but also about why the Frankfurt keeper only put two players in the wall, directed them in a very unorthodox way and Grifo opened the goalkeeper’s corner.
Grifo put it in a friendly way. “It clicked” and he just tried it, said the late Freiburg goalscorer. Toppmöller, on the other hand, didn’t try to avoid the fact that the Frankfurt goalkeeper made it far too easy for him. “Of course he has to do better. Either put one more player in the wall or defend the short corner. That’s annoying,” said Toppmöller. Basically, Kaua Santos played a “very solid game” – just not over the full distance. That was certainly critical, but it made what Toppmöller said credible: The goalkeeper discussion will probably take place in the next few days, but his coach will not be involved.
4. Toppmöller sharpens his speech
Before the game, Toppmöller gave the impression that a trip to the neighboring amusement park was on the cards. Instead of worrying about the problems that the previous games had exposed, his players should above all enjoy, have fun and not worry about the difficult tasks ahead. After there was a lot of lightness, fun and joy before the game, but there was no release, the coach changed his vocabulary.
“We should take the feeling of anger with us,” suggested Toppmöller. “We really wanted to win, we were well on our way to it, and then we conceded a very unfortunate goal shortly before the end. We should convert our anger into energy and then play a great game against Liverpool.”
5. The SBU is being put to the test
Anyone who values their credibility should refrain from making predictions. This applies to football in general and to Eintracht in particular in recent weeks. Who would have before that? 5-1 spectacle against Galatasaray expected a game like this? Who remembered before the events in Mönchengladbach still think of a 6:4 away win? Eintracht is performing more erratically this season than it has for a long time.
At the very beginning of the season, some believed that they were perhaps the only real ones in Hesse Bayern pursuer to recognize. After seven match days, the Bundesliga table has of course still not sorted itself out. What can already be said only speaks very partially for Eintracht: seventh place with a goal difference of 19:18, eleven points behind Bayern, only three points in 14th place.
Now there are three probably very informative home games on the program within nine days: FC Liverpool (Champions League), St. Pauli (Bundesliga) and Borussia Dortmund (DFB Cup) are getting in touch and will check the SGE thoroughly. After that everyone should see a little more clearly.
