With concentrated offensive power, Eintracht Frankfurt has impressively underlined the current top form and awakened hopes for the title among the fans. In the last Bundesliga home game of the successful year, the Europa League winners celebrated a brilliant 4:2 (3:1) victory against TSG Hoffenheim and moved up in the table to a place in the Champions League.
"In the last few weeks, the team has played well, the boys get along. That makes us so dangerous at the moment," said Eintracht manager Markus Krösche on Sky: "We played very convincing football, but we still have potential for development. We are on a good way."
"Only the SBU will be German champion!"
Driven by the extremely strong ex-world champion Mario Götze, Frankfurt got off to a dream start and, thanks to a double strike from Djibril Sow (6th) and Randal Kolo Muani (8th), led 2-0 early on. After Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe (29th) made it 3-0, the fans in the 49,000-strong Deutsche Bank Park chanted: "Only SGE will be German champion!" With the seventh win from the last eight competitive games, club icon Karl-Heinz "Charly" Körbel also raved at half-time on Sky: "Apart from Bayern Munich, we are the best team at the moment."
The Hoffenheim team, who were completely overwhelmed at first, came back with two goals from Christoph Baumgartner (37th) and Ozan Kabak (46th), but Jesper Lindström (56th) made the 4-2 victory perfect for the Hessians.
Before kick-off, Eintracht's former defender Martin Hinteregger was officially dismissed. "I went back to my home country, but this is my home. I'm super grateful," said the Austrian, who surprisingly ended his professional career in May, addressing the cheering fans as a farewell.
Hoffenheim had nothing to counter the offensive power
As announced, coach Oliver Glasner gave his ailing captain Sebastian Rode a break, while Daichi Kamada, who was recently ill, played in Eintracht's midfield. The Croatian Vice World Champion Andrej Kramaric returned to the starting XI for the guests - but TSG did not initially take part in the offensive.
The guests found almost no means against extremely aggressive and strong-running Frankfurters and also helped a lot with the first two goals conceded. Before the 0:1, Eduardo Quaresma carelessly frittered away the ball, the 0:2 made possible by goalkeeper Oliver Baumann with a failed fist defence.
Even after that, Eintracht remained enthusiastic. Götze and Kamada in particular repeatedly initiated dangerous attacks, and Lindstrom was also a constant source of trouble. And striker Kolo Muani proved his excellent understanding of the game in many scenes.
Hoffenheim could hardly counter this offensive power, and coach André Breitenreiter's team also disappointed in terms of fighting. Baumgartner's goal came practically out of nowhere, but gave the visitors a tailwind. The rapid 2:3 by Kabak immediately after the change of sides nourished hopes of a turnaround.
Breitenreiter had made three changes at halftime, and the attitude was now much better. But Frankfurt quickly found its rhythm again.
