Pulsating draw in Freiburg | OneFootball

Eintracht led three times through Omar Marmoush (27’) and Ansgar Knauff (35’, 72’) but were unable to overcome Christian Streich’s side on Sunday afternoon.

After a quiet opening to the contest, Marmoush gave Eintracht the lead before Ritsu Doan equalised from close range. Knauff – on for the injured Sasa Kalajdzic – promptly restored the Eagles’ advantage, only for Vincenzo Grifo to level again from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time. Knauff’s second-half effort appeared to have earned Dino Toppmöller’s charges all three points but Freiburg had the last laugh, Michael Gregoritsch nodding home Noah Weißhaupt’s corner late on.

Milestone for Hasebe

Makoto Hasebe replaced the suspended Robin Koch in one of two changes to the Eagles team that started Thursday’s UEFA Europa Conference League draw at Union Saint-Gilloise. The Japanese veteran was making his 300th competitive appearance for the club – and his first since the Europa Conference League clash with Aberdeen on 14 December. Philipp Max was also preferred to Niels Nkounkou, who was named on the Eintracht bench.

Eventful end to first half

The Eagles were dealt a blow inside the first ten minutes at the Europa-Park Stadion when Kalajdzic – scorer of Eintracht’s second goal in Belgium in midweek, was forced off with an apparent knee injury and replaced by Knauff. Clear-cut goalscoring opportunities were at a premium until the 26th minute, when Marmoush sent a crisp, left-footed finish into the bottom corner for his 14th goal of the campaign in all competitions.

Eintracht’s lead lasted only three minutes, Doan firing home on the rebound after Kevin Trapp had parried Roland Sallai’s shot into the Japan international’s path. Toppmöller’s charges responded well, however, and got their noses back in front when Knauff converted Marmoush’s pass at the end of a blistering counter-attack, only for Freiburg to be awarded a penalty for Hasebe’s trip on Lucas Höler. Trapp managed to get a strong hand to Grifo’s penalty but was unable to keep it out as the sides went into half-time on level terms.

Breathless finale

There was a break in play at the start of the second period after objects were thrown onto the pitch, forcing the two sets of players to head for the changing rooms. When they re-emerged a few minutes later it was Eintracht who settled more quickly, but Knauff’s first-time effort from Farès Chaibi’s delivery flew straight at Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu.

The Eagles’ pressure finally told with 18 minutes of normal time remaining, when Knauff curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner from another fine Marmoush pass. The hosts were not done yet, though, and Gregoritsch’s header made it 3-3 just before the fourth official indicated a minimum of ten minutes of additional time. Hugo Ekitiké almost won it for the Eagles late on, while Gregoritsch had an effort cleared off the line by Tuta moments later – but there was no separating the teams at full time.