Eintracht Frankfurt suffered a 3-2 defeat to Olympique Lyon, ending their unbeaten streak in the Europa League at 18 matches. After taking an early lead through Ansgar Knauff, they struggled defensively as Lyon scored three goals. Despite a late effort from Omar Marmoush, the team could not equalize. Coach Dino Toppmöller received a red card post-match, and Frankfurt’s recent performance has raised concerns as they sit fifth in the league.
Eintracht Frankfurt Faces Defeat in Lyon
Eintracht Frankfurt encountered a narrow yet justified defeat against Olympique Lyon, marking the end of their impressive unbeaten streak in the Europa League. The Hesse team struggled to match the French side for most of the match, ultimately missing the chance to set a solo record.
Unbeaten Streak Comes to an End
Having remained unbeaten in 18 consecutive Europa League matches, with their last loss dating back over four years to Basel, Eintracht Frankfurt was on the verge of becoming the sole record holder. However, on Thursday night, they fell short, losing 2:3 (1:1) to Lyon, forcing them to share the record with Chelsea.
In the 19th minute, Ansgar Knauff gave Frankfurt an early lead, but the team quickly lost momentum. Lyon responded with goals from Rayan Cherki (27th), Malick Fofana (50th), and Ernest Nuamah (54th), while Omar Marmoush managed to reduce the deficit in the 85th minute. Post-match, coach Dino Toppmöller received a red card for his complaints. Despite the loss, Frankfurt remains in the top eight of the league, currently sitting fifth, although direct qualification for the round of 16 is still uncertain.
Concerns about Player Performance
In a surprising move, Toppmöller chose not to start top scorer Marmoush to prevent physical burnout. Instead, he opted for Farès Chaibi, whose lackluster performances made this decision questionable. Chaibi, playing as a second striker, was ineffective and substituted in the 63rd minute.
On the other hand, Niels Nkounkou’s selection proved detrimental. The left-back struggled throughout the match, receiving an early yellow card and failing to defend effectively. His substitution at halftime came too late to impact the team’s performance.
First Half Highlights
Despite the criticism, Frankfurt opened the match strongly, applying pressure and capitalizing on passing errors. Knauff’s goal came from a well-placed chip by Mario Götze, but Lyon quickly took control, with numerous chances from Corentin Tolisso and Alexandre Lacazette before equalizing through Cherki’s goal in the 27th minute.
Second Half Struggles
The second half continued in favor of Lyon, with Frankfurt making critical mistakes. Arthur Theate lost possession before Fofana scored Lyon’s second goal, and shortly after, Nuamah extended their lead. It was only after these setbacks that Frankfurt regained some possession and, with the introduction of Marmoush and Can Uzun, showed signs of life. They managed to score in the 85th minute, but the equalizer eluded them in a frantic finish.
With this defeat, Eintracht Frankfurt remains winless in their last three competitive matches, lacking the fluidity that had previously characterized their play. This match serves as a reminder of the challenges they face in the Europa League moving forward.