Updated on October 21, 2021, 11:04 pm
- Eintracht Frankfurt takes a big step towards the round of 16 in the Europa League and wins against Olympiacos.
- Bayer Leverkusen has also recovered well from the Bayern debacle and scores with the strongest competitor Betis Sevilla.
Eintracht Frankfurt has stopped the crisis mood on the Main for the first time with an exhilarating performance in the European Cup, especially in the first half, and set course for the knockout round. The Bundesliga team prevailed 3-1 (2-1) at home on Thursday evening against the Greek record champions Olympiacos Piraeus and took the lead in Group D of the Europa League.
Leadership by foul penalty
Rafael Borré took the lead in the 26th with a penalty kick. After the equalizer shortly afterwards by Youssef El-Arabi (30th) with a hand penalty, Almamy Touré (45th + 3) brought back the front before the break in front of 35,000 spectators. Daichi Kamada (59th) made the decision.
With the second win in the third game in the Europa League, coach Oliver Glasner’s team also gave an answer to the desperate appearance in the championship last against Hertha BSC. Piraeus had not lost a game in all competitions this season.
The eleven against Piraeus, almost half of them compared to the 1: 2 against the ailing club in the capital, only needed a few minutes. But then the all-black Eintracht outfield players determined the game and increased the pressure on the goal of the guests, who had come as two-time group winners and group leaders. Borré initially failed in a double with his head, but he didn’t let the chance take away from the penalty spot. He had been fouled by Pape Abdou Cissé when he rumbled while falling against the Colombian.
The tour just didn’t last long. Piraeus, which until then had not been able to put keeper Kevin Trapp’s goal in danger, was also given a penalty. After a cross, Kristijan Jakic’s hand went to the ball. Although Trapp stretched into the right corner, he was unable to parry the tightly shot penalty from El-Arabi.
Frankfurters are pushing for leadership
There was nothing left of the rather uneventful opening minutes with a focus on midfield work. Even after the equalizer, the Frankfurters pushed for the new lead, driven by Filip Kostic, as with a nice direct purchase from Touré (38th). The Hessians accepted the risk of leaving the guests room for quick counterattacks and scored the second goal immediately before the break. At first, a header from Martin Hinteregger only hit the crossbar before the Frankfurters combined in the opposing penalty area and unlocked Touré.
It came as no surprise that Piraeus was pressed after the break. However, the Greeks did not achieve the absolutely compelling chances, while Eintracht also earned an asterisk in terms of effectiveness. After a long-range shot from Goncalo Paciencia, the visiting goalkeeper let the ball go off and Kamada was at the practically first chance of the Frankfurters on the spot.
On the edge of the field, Glasner rowed his arms with joy, in the stands they cheered the next international Eintracht gala at home, at which captain Sebastian Rode celebrated his comeback shortly before the end after a long injury break.
Andrich directed Bayer Leverkusen
Robert Andrich celebrated his first European Cup goal and Lukas Hradecky was proud of his team. “We showed the reaction that I wanted. The attitude was right. Now we’re going home with a good feeling,” said Bayer Leverkusen’s goalkeeper. Four days after the bankruptcy against FC Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen has a courageous performance in the 1: 1 (0: 0) in the Europa League against Betis Sevilla with a good chance of making it directly to the last sixteen. “That gives us confidence, and now the Bayern game is forgotten,” said international Jonathan Tah.
The Bundesliga third has successfully defended his lead in Group G with 7 points and can achieve a good starting position with a win in the second leg against the Spaniards with the same number of points. In front of 40,000 spectators at the Estadio Benito Villamarin in Seville, Andrich saved the 1-1 draw in his first European Cup game for Bayer with his goal in the 82nd minute, before Borja Iglesias (75th) had given the hosts the lead with a converted penalty.
Bayer coach Gerardo Seoane had changed his team to six positions for the 40th European Cup game against a Spanish team and the first against Betis. In youngster Florian Wirtz, who recently had problems with his abdominal muscles, and Patrik Schick, the top goalscorers initially stayed on the bench, but both were used in the closing stages.
In the high summer temperatures in the Andalusian capital, the Bayer-Elf found their way into the game and had good chances of scoring especially on the wings with the fast outside players Karim Bellarabi and Moussa Diaby. Lucas Alario only hit the crossbar (11th), Diaby previously forgave after a counterattack.
Point gained by Andrich’s deflected shot
The table eighth of the Spanish league, who had only lost one of the previous eight competitive games, initially struggled with eight new players in the team and had problems with the pace of Leverkusen, who did not use their chances consistently. Betis also did not use two good opportunities through Aitor Ruibal (24th) after a rebound from Bayer goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and Borja Iglesias (42nd).
The hosts corrected the runner’s inferiority personally and brought two new forces on the outside positions, which also livened up the offensive game and put the Leverkusen defense and goalkeeper Hradecky under increasing pressure.
In the turbulent final phase, Bayer’s right-back Jeremie Frimpong underwent an unfortunate handball, and Borja Iglesias converted the penalty due to video evidence. But Bayer stayed on, won the point with Andrich’s deflected shot and almost scored the winning goal in the final minute of stoppage time from Kerem Demirbay. (Morten Ritter / Andreas Schirmer / Jens Mardpa / ash)
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