Champions League: riot clouds Frankfurt’s holiday

A week after the 0:3 at Sporting Lisbon, Frankfurt gave a strong sporting sign of life with the 1:0 win at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. “The players have shown that they are a great team. If we play at our performance limit, we can win against many opponents in many stadiums,” coach Glasner praised the performance.

However, the accompanying circumstances on the stands of the Stade Velodrome spoiled the joy. A Eintracht fan was seriously injured in the riots of both fan camps, who shot at each other with flares and firecrackers. Just less than a week ago, riots also broke out in the Conference League as part of a Franco-German duel between OGC Nice and 1. FC Köln.

Glasner condemned the events in the strongest possible terms. “That simply does not work. A couple of chaotic people abuse the football stage to act out violence and aggression. We all have zero understanding for that,” said the 48-year-old from Upper Austria. “If you start throwing firecrackers back and forth with your neighbor, you might end up in jail eventually. Therefore, nothing is lost here. There are no two opinions.”

Exclusion of viewers threatened

Eintracht board member Philipp Reschke pointed out that the number of perpetrators on the part of the hosts was significantly larger. But the behavior of his own fans, who also brought an enormous amount of pyrotechnics into the stadium and fired into the opposing blocks, could not and did not want to sugarcoat. “Nothing should be excused for what was shot over there,” said Reschke.

He was not yet able to estimate what consequences await the club. After the European Football Union (UEFA) suspended the ban on spectators for a game in an international club competition due to the storming of the Europa League semifinals against West Ham United on probation, the Frankfurters, as repeat offenders, can hardly hope for clemency from UEFA.

Bayern defense holds

Bayern have only managed three draws in the Bundesliga recently, but in the premier class they showed themselves from the better side again thanks to a performance boost after the break. “Internationally, the team shows what it’s made of,” praised Bayern boss Oliver Kahn. Leroy Sane said the defense around goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and the “outstanding” central defender duo Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernandez were the key to success. “We offensive have to say thank you to our defense,” said Sane.

After Hernandez’s header (50′), the German team striker made it 2-0 just a few minutes later (54′). Austria’s team player Marcel Sabitzer was no longer on the pitch, he was replaced during the break. The tour de force also left injuries. Hernandez suffered a torn adductor muscle in his left thigh and will be out for several weeks, Upamecano left the dressing room with a bandaged left knee and third defender Benjamin Pavard was sent off early after a collision.

Munich “Specter”

“We had the necessary bit of luck in the first half. Then the team played with a different power and scored two quick goals,” said Kahn. In front of 75,000 spectators at the Allianz Arena, Barca acted dominantly in the first 45 minutes but failed to convert the chances. Scorer Robert Lewandowski was also unsuccessful on his return to Munich. “It’s annoying, we could have gotten more here. I think we were better than Bayern today,” said coach Xavi.

“Bayern Munich is still the European bogeyman of FC Barcelona. Xavi’s team had Bayern under control in a great first half but kept them alive,” wrote Mundo Deportivo after Bayern’s fifth consecutive win over Barcelona. After two 2-0 wins at Inter Milan and Barcelona, ​​Julian Nagelsmann’s team is top of Group C.

Relief in Liverpool

In Liverpool there was relief after the 2-1 win over Ajax Amsterdam (with Florian Grillitsch from the 81st minute) fixed in the 89th minute. Coach Jürgen Klopp was satisfied with the reaction after the 4-1 draw against Napoli. “If you compare Naples and tonight, you might think it wasn’t the same sport,” said the 55-year-old German. “Everything was better. It was a first step, a very important step.”