Eintracht Frankfurt has rolled over seven -strong minutes from Bayer Leverkusen. The Rhinelander won 4: 1 (3: 0) in Hesse. Bayer is thus expanding the lead over Hesse to eleven points.
In the direct duel of the nominal Bayern persecutors No. 1 and 2, the team of Xabi Alonso gave the hosts a lesson on Saturday evening. Nathan Tella (26th), Nordi Mukiele (29th), Patrik Schick (33.) and Aleix Garcia (62nd) met for the guests, Hugo etikité made the honorary goal.
So the Eintracht lost the next duel against a top team a week after the bitter 0: 4 bankruptcy against Bayern Munich. “We saw in both games that we still have a lot of room for improvement“, said SGE sports director Markus Krösche after the final whistle in the sports show interview. “Leverkusen is just two to three years ahead. And they showed that today.”
Tim Brockmeier, Sportschau, 01.03.2025 9:19 p.m.
Granit Xhaka, the “brain”
In fact, Leverkusen showed a great joy of playing from the start and let the ball and opponents run. If it was not Florian Wirtz this time, who played the role of the ideas, Granit Xhaka took over responsibility and initiative again and again. If the Frankfurters were able to prevent an impact in their goal in the first 25 minutes, a dam broke from the 26th minute: First Xhaka Nathan Tella used a wonderful pass into the interface, which was sovereign to take the lead.
Just three minutes later, the same player combination almost achieved success again. But then Nordi Mukiele took over: After a corner by Alex Grimaldo, the hosts did not get the ball from the 16. For this, the ball fell in front of the feet of the defender, who increased quickly (29th). And just four minutes later, it rushed back in the box of Frankfurt Keepers Kevin Trapp. Xhaka initiated again, Grimaldo put from left back to the middle, where Patrik Schick put 3-0.
Nico Herold, Sportschau, 01.03.2025 9:12 p.m.
Mukiele nourishes with a mistake in Frankfurt’s hope
Even before the break, the fans of the home side saw a glimmer of hope on the horizon: Because Muukiele played a back pass on his keeper Lukas Hradecky too weak, Frankfurt’s attacker Hugo Ekikité injected into the back pass and caused a cheering in the Waldstadion.
The goal developed the thrust for Eintracht: again it was Ekitiké who took off from the penalty area, but clearly missed the gate of the guests. Dino Toppmöllers Elf was clear: Even if the connecting goal was not successful at the break, this match was far from lost.
Break: Toppmöller with a double change
During the break, Toppmöller made a double change: Larsson and Knauff stay in the cabin, Namdi Collins and Oscar Höjlund came into the game. The Hessen continued as the first half of the game was ended: Aetikité was looking for the end again – but again the Frenchman did not get through. Either the balls did not flew on the goal of the Leverkusener, or one of the Bayer team and prevented the second Frankfurt goal.
But Alosno reacted to the stronger hosts and brought Amine Adli. The change took the rhythm somewhat – and immediately Leverkusen was back on top. Jeremy Frimpong appeared on the right, his flank was blocked, but Aleix Garcia rushed up from behind. Opponent Ellyes Skhiri did not really go to the ball, but Garcia: With full risk, the Spaniard pulled through and increased to 4: 1 (62.).
In the middle of the urgent phase of the Frankfurter, it falls 4: 1 for Leverkusen
Leverkusen “stable enough to annoy Bavaria”
It was clear at the latest: a point win for Eintracht is becoming increasingly unlikely that evening. And so it happened: Bayer Leverkusen could not be taken away. What didn’t care about the Frankfurt fans: they celebrated their team despite the significant slump throughout the game.
Frankfurt will play on Thursday (March 6th, 9pm) in the round of 16 of the Europa League away from Ajax Amsterdam. For Leverkusen, the Bundesliga-internal top duel against Bayern Munich in the Champions League is pending one day before (March 5, from 9 p.m. live in the audio stream on sportschau.de). Already in the interviews after the game, the Leverkusen focus was clear:
“We are stable enough to annoy Bavaria”the Xhaka announced at Sky: “We are in all competitions. Champions League and Cup – there is a lot in it.” Alonso said that the duel with Bavaria “Brutally difficult” and one “Great challenge. We know it is FC Bayern, the final is in Munich – we will see.”