Eintracht Frankfurt faced a disappointing 1:2 defeat against Union Berlin, marking their third consecutive Bundesliga loss and jeopardizing their Champions League qualification hopes. Despite an initial lead from debutant Michy Batshuayi, Frankfurt faltered in the second half, allowing Union to turn the game around. A missed penalty by Hugo Ekitiké in stoppage time added to their woes. Meanwhile, Union secured a crucial victory, maintaining their distance from the relegation playoff zone.
Will anyone make it to the Champions League? Eintracht Frankfurt seems to have stumbled over an obstacle named Union Berlin. Despite being pushed down, the Iron Ones are fighting back, leaving Frankfurt to endure a heartbreaking penalty shootout during stoppage time.
Following an exhilarating European Cup evening in Amsterdam, Eintracht Frankfurt suffered a significant setback in the Bundesliga. Facing relegation-threatened Union Berlin, coach Dino Toppmöller’s squad fell 1:2 (1:0) after a lackluster second half, marking their third consecutive league loss. This defeat cost them their third-place position on the table to the surprising FSV Mainz 05, further complicating their pursuit of Champions League qualification. The race for the fourth spot is increasingly sluggish.
Despite the boost from their Europa League round of 16 first leg victory against Ajax Amsterdam (2:1), SGE fielded a considerably altered lineup. They initially took the lead thanks to debutant Michy Batshuayi (13th minute). However, as Frankfurt became overly passive, the 14th-placed Union Berlin rallied, with Leopold Querfeld (62nd) and substitute Wooyeong Jeong (78th) turning the tide. Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitiké missed a crucial penalty in stoppage time (90+5), leaving little confidence ahead of their rematch with Ajax on Thursday (6:45 PM/RTL and in the live ticker).
Union managed to avoid their fourth straight defeat, securing a vital win. With other teams in the relegation battle gaining points this weekend, Steffen Baumgart’s side was under pressure to maintain their footing. Fortunately, they kept their six-point cushion above the relegation playoff zone.
Strategic Changes at SGE
Toppmöller had stressed his desire for the team to ‘regain their footing in the league with determination’ while preparing for the Ajax matchup. He anticipated ‘a challenging task’ against Berlin, stating, ‘We are well-prepared and physically fit.’ However, he opted for significant rotations, introducing Batshuayi to the attack in place of Hugo Ekitiké. Unfortunately, Arthur Theate suffered an injury during warm-ups, prompting Farès Chaibi to step into the starting lineup.
On the other side, Steffen Baumgart urged Union to ‘band together and persevere’ during their tough situation. Initially, Frankfurt dominated the match, taking advantage of a sunny spring afternoon. Batshuayi’s debut goal for Frankfurt was somewhat fortuitous; after a well-executed play, Rasmus Kristensen’s harmless shot deflected off Querfeld, landing perfectly for the Belgian to capitalize.
Rönnow’s Heroics for Union
Union Berlin fought back fiercely, applying high pressure and creating their first opportunity with a shot from Andrej Ilic (19th). However, this was more of an exception than the norm, as the hosts nearly doubled their lead through a header from Chaibi (25th). Frankfurt’s earlier dominance faded, allowing Berlin moments of possession. A dangerous moment arose when Querfeld tested former Frankfurt keeper Frederik Rönnow with a deflected shot (39th).
With the lead, Frankfurt attempted to control the match but lacked offensive sharpness. The guests took advantage of this complacency; after a corner kick, Querfeld equalized with a header. Frankfurt responded, with Kristensen hitting the post (67th), but the Eintracht defense began to falter. Josip Juranovic’s shot narrowly missed (70th) before Jeong scored unchallenged just minutes after coming on.
An apparent Berlin 3:1 from Benedict Hollerbach (87th) was ruled out due to a handball. The Frankfurt supporters rallied their team for one last push. In stoppage time, Union’s Diogo Leite committed a foul, leading to a penalty, but Ekitiké’s attempt was thwarted by Frederik Rönnow.