Eintracht Frankfurt progressed to the Europa League round of 16 despite losing 2-0 to AS Roma. Goals from Angelino and Eldor Shomurodov secured the win for Roma. Frankfurt finished the league phase with 16 points, while TSG Hoffenheim’s 4-3 victory over RSC Anderlecht was insufficient for playoff qualification, leaving them just one point short. Hoffenheim now prepares for a crucial Bundesliga match against Bayer Leverkusen amid injury challenges.
Eintracht Frankfurt Advances Despite Loss
Eintracht Frankfurt has successfully secured a spot in the round of 16 of the Europa League, despite a challenging match against AS Roma. The Italian side, featuring Mats Hummels, clinched a convincing victory. Meanwhile, TSG Hoffenheim also achieved a win, but it ultimately proved to be inconsequential.
The clash between AS Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt ended in a 2-0 victory for the hosts (1-0 at halftime). Despite the defeat, Frankfurt advanced to the knockout stage as one of the top eight teams in the league phase. Hummels and his team managed to earn three crucial points, ensuring their place in the playoffs.
In the iconic Olympic Stadium in Rome, goals from Angelino (44th minute) and Eldor Shomurodov (69th minute) sealed the win for AS Roma. Frankfurt finished the league phase with 16 points and will face teams like FCSB Bucharest, Ajax Amsterdam, Union Saint-Gilloise, or PAOK Saloniki in March. Hummels and his teammates will enter the playoffs against FC Porto or Ferencvaros Budapest in mid-February, with matchups set to be drawn soon. Following the match, Frankfurt defender Robin Koch reflected on their performance, stating, “Except for today’s game, we can be very, very satisfied with the round we played.”
Hoffenheim Falls Short Despite a Thrilling Win
In another match, TSG Hoffenheim fell short of qualifying for the Europa League playoffs despite a thrilling 4-3 victory over RSC Anderlecht. Coach Christian Ilzer’s squad, which faced numerous injuries, celebrated their second win of the league phase. However, they needed favorable results from other matches, which did not materialize, leaving them just one point shy of qualification.
Goals from Robin Hranac (41st minute), Tom Bischof (54th minute), David Mokwa (59th minute), and Adam Hlozek (65th minute) lifted Hoffenheim to victory. Now, the team can refocus on their Bundesliga relegation battle, gearing up for a crucial match against champions Bayer Leverkusen this Sunday at 5:30 PM.
Ilzer acknowledged the challenges his team faced, stating, “This is a hospital, like I have never experienced in my coaching career.” Despite missing key players like Andrej Kramaric and Anton Stach, Hoffenheim managed to make a comeback after an early setback from Luis Vazquez’s stunning curling shot. The equalizer just before halftime by Hranac gave the team momentum, which they built upon in the second half.