Frankfurt combines in the majority towards Europe

Conducted by Mario Götze, Eintracht Frankfurt deservedly defeated their table neighbors Hoffenheim – also because of an early red card.

Eintracht Frankfurt has taken a big step towards the European Cup on its 125th anniversary. With the deserved 3-1 (1-1) win against 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday, Eintracht consolidated sixth place in the Bundesliga, which brings them a starting place in the Conference League. The lead over the direct pursuer from Hoffenheim is now seven points.

Due to the red card for TSG defender John Anthony Brooks (22nd, emergency brake), the Frankfurt team played in the majority for a long time, and Ozan Kabak also saw yellow-red (78th). Brooks had given Hoffenheim the lead (6th), but Robin Koch (32nd), junior Dina Ebimbe (50th) and Mario Götze (64th) turned the game around.

“We defended very disciplined, allowed little, and had a lot of shots,” said the completely satisfied Frankfurt coach Dino Topmöller to the Sportschau. His counterpart Pellegrino Matarazzo from TSG, however, expressed disappointment. “I didn’t like the first 20 minutes at all. Our defensive behavior led to us getting the red card.”

Eintracht defender Koch has Brooks beheaded

Eintracht started actively with a great chance in the third minute: Ebimbe forced Oliver Baumann into a strong save after a one-two with Götze – it would not be the last offensive action by the two Frankfurt players.

But the first goal came on the other side: Brooks headed a sharp corner from Anton Stach from five meters into the net at the first post. His opponent Robin Koch didn’t really get into the duel.

Hoffenheim’s Brooks comes late against Marmoush

Brooks and Koch – these were also the protagonists of the next two important scenes. TSG defender Brooks was the last man to arrive a few centimeters too late, brought down Omar Marmoush and was rightly shown red.

Just ten minutes later, Frankfurt took advantage of their advantage. The strong Marmoush passed it to Koch, who hit the ball precisely into the right corner from 16 meters. Afterwards, the Frankfurt team remained the better and more enthusiastic team. Götze missed the biggest, albeit highly offside, chance before the break in stoppage time with a shot against the post from close range.

Ebimbe finds the playful Götze

Even after the change, the hosts hardly needed any warm-up time, played fast-paced, determined and technically demanding, as was the case with the opening goal: the hard-working Götze chipped the ball precisely from the 16 to Ebimbe, whose header hit the top left corner. Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric had previously caused unnecessary trouble for Florian Grillitsch in his own penalty area with a sharp pass in his own 16.

Eintracht then slowed down a bit and allowed a dangerous counterattack, which Tuta defused at the last moment in front of Grillitsch, who was ready to shoot (63′). Just a minute later, Frankfurt played brilliantly to make the preliminary decision: Nkounkou found substitute Ansgar Knauff with a wonderful through ball. Knauff put the ball back in front of the goal from the baseline, where Götze confidently converted.

This meant the game was decided, especially since Hoffenheim had to survive the final phase while being twice outnumbered. Kabak had stopped an attack with a clear foul on Hugo Ekitiké and had to leave the field with a yellow-red card. Götze used the rest of the game to make a few magic passes, but no more goals were scored.

Frankfurt now in Dortmund

Eintracht continues their away game at Borussia Dortmund next Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Hoffenheim will face VfB Stuttgart at home on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.