Points shared in Mönchengladbach | OneFootball

Eintracht secured European football next season with a 1-1 draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe netted the equaliser shortly before the break.

Head coach Dino Toppmöller made just one change to the team that started in the 5-1 defeat to Bayer 04 Leverkusen last time out, with Ansgar Knauff preferred to Niels Nkounkou on the left wing.

Even first half

In glorious sunshine at Borussia-Park, the hosts took the lead with the first real opportunity of the game. From a goal kick, Joe Scally was allowed to advance down the left flank and cut the ball back for Robin Hack to slot in his eighth goal in nine league matches. Eintracht kept their heads up, though, and had a spell of pressure shortly before the 20-minute mark with three chances and a number of corners. However, Robin Koch and Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe both missed the target with their headers, while Hugo Ekitiké could only find the side-netting when he tried to lift the ball over Jonas Omlin from a tight angle.

The action then quietened down for a period, until Hack fired straight at Kevin Trapp on 33 minutes. But just two minutes later, Frankfurt were level when Dina Ebimbe won the ball outside the box, played a neat one-two with compatriot Ekitiké and then swept it into the bottom corner.

Eagles more threatening

The visitors made a lively start to the second period and had a good chance to take the lead in the 49th minute, but Farès Chaïbi’s volley from close range was deflected over by Ko Itakura. Omar Marmoush’s attempt six minutes later also resulted in yet another corner. Gladbach then made a double change, bringing on Luca Netz and Tomas Cvancara, which gave them some fresh impetus going forward. Almost immediately after coming on, Cvancara curled a shot inches wide of Trapp’s far post.

Both teams clearly wanted the win that would secure their season’s aims but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Eintracht looked the more likely to snatch the three points, with a total of 17 attempts on goal – the most they’ve registered away from home this season – but in the end they had to settle for one.

The result means the Eagles are guaranteed at least seventh place and participation in the UEFA Europa Conference League next season. The target of sixth position, which would currently qualify for the Europa League, is all but mathematically confirmed, with only Hoffenheim, who are six points behind ahead of their match on Sunday, still having a chance of overtaking Eintracht.