Frankfurt / Main (AP) – Frankfurt’s coach Oliver Glasner did not blame his worn-out and disappointed players. Even if, after the 1: 2 (0: 1) against SC Freiburg, the continuation of the European Cup celebrations in the coming season is becoming increasingly unlikely for Eintracht.
“I cannot and do not want to accuse the boys of anything. The result hurts because I also saw a lot that was fine, »said Glasner to the DAZN streaming service after Hesse’s tenth defeat of the season in the Bundesliga.
Three days after the impressive performance in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals against FC Barcelona (1-1), a bit of disillusionment set in on Sunday in front of 47,000 spectators. The 1-0 through Vincenzo Grifo (27th minute) was equalized by Filip Kostic (54th). “Joker” Nils Peteren (69th) scored the winning goal for the guests once again seven minutes after being substituted on. Two goals from the hosts, Jesper Lindström (52′) and Daichi Kamada (86′) didn’t count.
Highlight in Barcelona
“We have to shake it off and gather our strength again, and that’s how we’ll go to Barcelona,” said Glasner, looking ahead to Thursday’s second leg at the four-time Champions League winner at the legendary Camp Nou. In the Bundesliga, however, Frankfurt is ninth, nine points behind fifth-placed Freiburg. “We now have another big highlight in Barcelona. We want to do everything we can to progress there, and then we have to see what’s still possible in the Bundesliga and win our games, »said captain Sebastian Rode.
Meanwhile, Freiburg can plan more and more for Europe. Christian Streich also replaced Volker Finke as the most successful coach with his 105th Bundesliga win for Freiburg. “We had the necessary luck today, I didn’t like a few things either. We have to play the last few games better,” Streich warned, looking at the end of the season. The success also gave his team momentum for the cup semifinals on April 19 at Hamburger SV. Freiburg will also host VfL Bochum next Saturday.
Even the whirlwind and the rejected protest because of Munich’s mistake in the game against FC Bayern last week could not stop Freiburg. But it wasn’t the 22 players that caused the first excitement in the game, but two environmental activists. They ran onto the pitch in the second minute and tied themselves to the two Eintracht posts. The men wore T-shirts with the inscription: “Last generation – stop the fossil madness”. After three minutes, folders were able to remove them from the post – and the game continued.
Joker Petersen scores
In terms of sport, it wasn’t that exciting. The Frankfurters, who had previously remained goalless in five home games, also had a lot of trouble creating chances against the very defensive and clever Freiburgers. The guests used their only chance more consistently in the 27th minute with a successful counterattack when Roland Sallai left three Eintracht professionals on the right and passed to Grifo, who shot in coldly to make it 1-0.
Even after the restart, playful highlights were initially scarce. Only after Kostic scored the equalizer did the game become livelier, faster and more exciting. Hauge served the Serbs with a through ball, which made it 1-1 with his left flat past SC keeper Mark Flekken.
Petersen headed in after a Christian Günter free-kick – it was his 33rd joker goal. Ajdin Hrustic hit the inside post for Frankfurt in the 84th minute, Flekken would have had no chance. “The win is worth its weight in gold, we would have taken a point, but three are better,” said Petersen.
–
