News | On Saturday evening, Eintracht Frankfurt welcomed FC Bayern to the top game of the 24th Bundesliga matchday. After a hard-fought 94 minutes, FC Bayern got a deserved 1-0 lead.
Both teams have been struggling a little lately. While FC Bayern surprisingly lost 4-2 in Bochum, which could only be followed by a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 and were also 0-1 down against Fürth at the break last weekend, Eintracht only got four points out of six second half games. A week ago they lost 1-0 to Cologne in the top game.
Oliver Glasner made four changes to his starting eleven, including BVB loan Ansgar Knauff making his starting eleven debut. Technically, Frankfurt lined up in a 3-4-2-1, with Ajdin Hrustić replacing the suspended Kristijan Jakić as a six alongside Djibril Sow, Danny Da Costa and Christopher Lenz on the wings, Filip Kostić as a second ten alongside Knauff and Jesper Lindstrøm as the only one Top.
Bayern had to compete without Manuel Neuer (running training after meniscus surgery), Alphonso Davies (slight myocarditis), Corentin Tolisso (thigh muscle fiber tear), Leon Goretzka (patellar tendon problems) and Thomas Müller (COVID-19). This time Julian Nagelsmann opted for the back four in a 4-2-3-1 with Niklas Süle next to Dayot Upamecano. In addition, Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry returned to the wings, Jamal Musiala, who celebrated his 19th birthday today, took over the position from Thomas Müller.
Turbulent initial phase – great opportunities every minute
With the applause of the spectators and a clear and important message, we went inside. There was a minute’s silence, both teams wore black armbands. Robert Lewandowski, captain in the absence of Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller, wore one in the national colors of Ukraine.
Eintracht Frankfurt had their first opportunity after less than two minutes: Lucas Hernández crossed too close to the goal, Kevin Trapp was able to intercept and immediately sent Jesper Lindstrøm on his way. Niklas Süle pushed him aside in the last instance.
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That was the starting signal for an extremely spectacular initial phase. In direct return, a cross from the left slipped through to the second post to Benjamin Pavard, who volleyed the ball and twisted it. In the 5th minute, birthday boy Jamal Musiala shot from a good position and Tuta blocked.
It went on with exactly this timing, 7th minute, this time Eintracht again. After Dayot Upamecano lost the ball, Lindstrøm skilfully put it through for Filip Kostić on the left side of the penalty area. The winning goal scorer from the first leg decided on exactly the right solution, only wanting to tip the ball into the far corner. He passed anyway.
However, the best opportunity in the early stages belonged to FC Bayern. After a cross from the right, Musiala headed the ball in the middle of the penalty area, which he put a good 20 centimeters over the crossbar. All of this in just ten minutes.
After that, the game flattened out and became more competitive. Nevertheless, Frankfurt had another great opportunity in the 15th minute: Kostić pulled in from the left and made a powerful save. Sven Ulreich bounced forward, no one from Frankfurt could dust off.
Otherwise, the record champions were superior to the rest of the field and had the majority of good chances, although the hundred percent became increasingly rare. Frankfurt held up well in the duels and so away from Munich from their own goal. 24 minutes: Kingsley Coman dribbled in from the left and moved to the near post, which Trapp saved.
So it always came back to Nickllich. 32 minutes: Süle put in a solid effort against Lindstrøm, who was then briefly down. That displeased the Frankfurters enormously, Christopher Lenz burst the hat cord. Frankfurt’s left-back brought down Pavard, after which Lucas Hernández sprinted across the field and got into an argument with Lenz. Florian Badstübner gave both yellow cards, for both it was the fifth. Hernández is missing against Leverkusen, ex-Unioner Lenz misses the personal derby at Hertha.
Back to the game: 34 minutes: Joshua Kimmich brought the free kick into the middle, which Lewandowski headed just wide to the right. Five minutes later, Joshua Kimmich hit it from a good 28 meters, Trapp could only let it bounce, Coman came sprinting and hit the SBU keeper in the head. After a short break in treatment, Trapp was able to continue. Ultimately, he helped his team bring the goalless draw safely into the break.
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The second half went without a change. Again it didn’t take long for the first chance, 47 minutes, Kimmich tried again from a distance, Trapp again with difficulties. Again, no one could capitalize on it.
Bayern now became more compelling, tightened the noose more and more and made hardly any defensive offers. In minute 53 Joshua Kimmich brought a free kick from the left half field to the second post, Süle headed in the middle. Ndicka cleared the corner from close range. The following corner was also dangerous. Within a few seconds, Trapp, Tuta and a few skilful blocks from the SGE defense cleared.
After an hour, Serge Gnabry chipped the ball over the back four, where Lewandowski created a space out of nowhere, turned, but failed because of the outstanding Kevin Trapp.
What about the Eintracht offensive? 64 minutes: Kostić brings a free-kick down the middle from the left. At the second post, Evan Ndicka couldn’t hit the ball properly – over it.
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There were two changes in the 67th minute: Rafael Santos Borré came on for Ansgar Knauff and on the other side Leroy Sané for Marcel Sabitzer. Three minutes and 30 seconds later, Musiala captured the ball, Kimmich shared the Frankfurt midfield with a razor-sharp pass like Moses once did the sea, Leroy Sané was free and pushed past Trapp with his right. The now deserved 0:1.
With this victory, the first in Frankfurt since December 22, 2018 (3-0), Bayern pulls away at the top of the table to nine points for the time being, Borussia Dortmund can reduce again in Augsburg. Frankfurt, on the other hand, has to give up the fight for Europe after the fourth home defeat in a row and hope that VfL Bochum will not hold the next home gala against RB Leipzig.
Bayern Munich host Bayer Leverkusen next weekend before the round of 16 second leg against RB Salzburg. Then it goes to Julian Nagelsmann’s former club Hoffenheim. Frankfurt is traveling to Berlin next matchday. This game is the dress rehearsal for the round of 16 first leg in the Europa League against Real Betis. Then there is the home game against VfL Bochum.
The final score from Deutsche Bank Park: Eintracht Frankfurt 0, FC Bayern 1.
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Victor Catalina
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