Defeat at the Alten Försterei | OneFootball

Eintracht Frankfurt suffered a 2-0 defeat at Union Berlin on Matchday 30.

Head coach Oliver Glasner named a much-changed line-up following Thursday’s sensational 3-2 win at Barcelona in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals. One of these was enforced as first-choice goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was ruled out by a hand injury, so Jens Grahl made his debut for the club. Tuta, Timothy Chandler, Ajdin Hrustic, Jens Petter Hauge and Goncalo Paciencia were rotated in for Almamy Toure, Ansgar Knauff, Sebastian Rode, Daichi Kamada and Rafael Borré.

Quickfire double stuns Eintracht

After a fairly quiet opening period, the game warmed up on 12 minutes when Genki Haraguchi hit the post for the home side with a flicked header. Five minutes later, Union were in front when Taiwo Awoniyi shrugged off Martin Hinteregger – fairly so according to the video assistant – before firing past Grahl. It was 2-0 just four minutes later, with Grischa Prömel keeping the ball in play, receiving it back on the edge of the area and curling it into the corner. It could have got even worse for Eintracht during this period, with both Prömel and Rani Khedira missing good opportunities before the first 30 minutes were up.

It did settle down after that and the Eagles fashioned their only notable chance of the first half in the 41st minute, but Hauge’s powerful shot from a difficult angle was parried at the near post by ex-Eintracht keeper Frederik Rönnow.

Berlin wall

Eintracht did improve after the break and had the majority of the possession, but struggled to penetrate the solid Union backline. Glasner made attacking substitutions with Ragnar Ache brought on at half-time and Daichi Kamada and Ansgar Knauff introduced just before the hour mark, but Urs Fischer’s men dealt with everything that came their way and protected their 2-0 lead until the end.

Summary: European hangover

After the highs of Barcelona, Eintracht understandably looked a little flat in the capital. The damage was done by a poor first 30 minutes, and they simply couldn’t find a way back against their well-organised opponents after the break. The result dents the Eagles’ hopes of a top-six finish with just four matchdays left.

SGE line-up

Grahl – Tuta, Hinteregger, Ndicka – Chandler (Knauff 59’), Jakic (Hasebe 76’), Hrustic (Kamada 58’), Kostic (Lenz 67’) – Lindström (Ache 46’), Hauge – Paciencia

Goals

1-0 Awoniyi (17’) 2-0 Prömel (21’)