Eintracht Frankfurt also loses against Tottenham Hotspur and ends the Champions League season with another disappointment. Randal Kolo Muani is first insulted, then he scores.
For a change, this text begins with some good news: Eintracht Frankfurt didn’t concede three goals for the first time this year. In their last appearance in this year’s Champions League season, the Hessians defended themselves as best they could against Tottenham Hotspur, but they still ended up losing. The guests from London, for whom former Frankfurt player Randal Kolo Muani (47th) and Dominic Solanke (77th) scored, deservedly won 2-0 (0-0).
Tottenham will now move on to the round of 16, with Eintracht saying goodbye to the premier class as fourth-to-last.
Schmitt closes the rear
How this game was supposed to go was already clear on Wednesday evening when the lineup was announced. Current coach Dennis Schmitt made six changes compared to the 3-1 defeat against Hoffenheim. The out-of-form Ritsu Doan got a break, as did the physically battered Rasmus Kristensen, but the decisive factor was the tactical orientation: The Hessians played with a five-man chain plus three central midfielders and only two attack-oriented players. Clear order: limit the damage and not concede three goals again.
And that’s exactly what the fans, who had called for community spirit until the end before the game, got to see. Eintracht isolated themselves in their own half and let Tottenham do their thing. The Spurs gratefully accepted and at least tried to play some football. However, there was nothing worth counting until the break.
VAR and posts help Eintracht
The most important thing to remember quickly: The supposed early opening goal by former Leipzig player Xavi Simons (2nd) was conceded after an offside position in the making, a shot from Wilson Odobert landed on the post (29th), a catastrophic bad pass from Kaua Santos into the feet of Xavi had no consequences (30th).
And the unity? The “offensive”, which consisted of the pitiful Ansgar Knauff and Mario Götze, practically didn’t take place at all. Just before the break, Hugo Larsson appeared in the penalty area and hit the crossbar out of nowhere (45′).
Kolo Muani takes the lead
Shortly after the break, the defensive plan was suddenly destroyed. After a free kick, the ball landed at the feet of ex-Frankfurt player Kolo Muani, who stayed cool and responded to the Frankfurt fans’ wild insults and whistles with the opening goal and celebratory poses. Clear case of: of all things. In the current phase, it almost goes without saying that this goal would also have had to be defended.
At least: In contrast to many other games in the recent past, Eintracht did not collapse following this setback. The equalizer was never in the air, but at least against the ball the Hessians gave their all. Kolo Muani (61′), Pape Sarr (63′) and Xavi (65′) initially missed good opportunities before substitute Solanke made everything clear. After the numerous debacles in the past few weeks, this 0:2 was quite bearable.
However, it is also clear that there needs to be a significant improvement in performance on Saturday against Bayer Leverkusen. Whether then already designated new coach Albert Riera will sit on the bench is still open.
