Eintracht Frankfurt suffered a serious setback in the Bundesliga in the race for places in the Champions League. Coach Oliver Glasner’s team lost 3-0 (0-0) after a poor performance at 1. FC Köln on Sunday, top scorer Randal Kolo Muani was unlucky this time. The Hessians missed the jump back to fourth place.
“We never managed to get the crucial ball to the man in the last third. Then we’re chasing a deficit, that’s extremely difficult in Cologne,” said Eintracht professional Sebastian Rode DAZN.
Central defender Timo Hübers (49′) and director Ellyes Skhiri (71′, 86′) gave FC the deserved victory, which also meant the end of the Frankfurt series. The Champions League round of 16 had gone nine games in a row before and fell to sixth place. Cologne, on the other hand, remain unbeaten in the new year and have moved up to eleventh place.
Shortly before the club’s 75th birthday on Monday, the Cologne fans covered their curves with a huge choreography. Captain Jonas Hector and Co. worked relentlessly on the pitch in anniversary jerseys. However, the guests seized control of the game and played their dreaded short passing game, but initially did not get into dangerous positions.
After a quarter of an hour, the focus was again on the video evidence. Eric Martel had cleared a corner with his left arm, which was in place but actively moving towards the ball, before Kolo Muani was ready to score. According to the TV images, referee Daniel Siebert did not award a penalty.
A little later, Frankfurt striker Kolo Muani broke through, but just before the goal, Cologne’s Benno Schmitz shoved the ball off his foot – the Cologne supporters celebrated their defender boisterously. But the Rhinelanders also appeared dangerously in front of national goalkeeper Kevin Trapp in front of 50,000 spectators in the Müngersdorfer Stadion.
The hosts got off to a flying start in the second half. After a short corner, Florian Kainz sent a sharp cross into the six-yard box, where defender Hübers headed in. Shortly thereafter, Evan Ndicka had to save Frankfurt from FC striker Steffen Tigges in dire need.
Eintracht now had their problems finding their way back into the game. Cologne defended passionately. Glasner brought another attacker after an hour with Rafael Borre. But instead of getting stuck in front, the guests ran into counterattacks. The courted Skhiri, who allegedly also attracted the interest of the Frankfurters, used one of the first. After that, four days before Altweiber, the FC fans were in a carnival mood, and Skhiri went one better.
1. FC Cologne – Eintracht Frankfurt: The votes for the game
Steffen Baumgart (Coach 1. FC Cologne): “We’ve gone through the situations that we’ve worked out. Then it’s nice when the reward comes. The lads implement what we tell them. That makes me really happy, that distinguishes us. That fits very well.”
Oliver Glasner (Eintracht Frankfurt coach): “Köln were better in both penalty areas, especially set pieces. It was a clear penalty for us in the first half. I’m really angry with us, even though we were better between the penalty areas. You don’t win a game like that.”
1. FC Cologne – Eintracht Frankfurt: The data for the game
