Kalmost two thirds are completed – and Eintracht is promising. For coach Oliver Glasner and his team, this is good news after 21 rounds, because the course and direction are right. The safe 2-0 win over Bremen in front of another full house was the right signal at the right time. Eintracht feels prepared for the cracker against Naples on Tuesday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on Prime Video).
Round of 16 in the Champions League – the club has never experienced anything like this. However, the club has never had a striker like Randal Kolo Muani in its top-flight ranks in its long history. Ten goals and 13 assists: At this point in time, these are all-time records in Bundesliga business. The boisterous Frenchman is one of the reasons for Eintracht’s form. With almost playful ease, the sixth in the table managed to make Cologne forget the 0:3.
At no point in the game was there any doubt that Werder could pose a threat to Eintracht. The balance was right. Glasner’s decision to rely on the powerful Kristijan Jakic in defense proved to be the right one. It wasn’t a lucky hand on the part of the coach, it was another of many clever, well-considered personnel measures in his broad squad.
Clear goal of unity
What is possible with this team? What does the team dare to do? Mario Götze, who is not known as a loudspeaker, chose well-considered words after the sovereign success against Werder, spoke of “super beautiful” and “sensational” and meant the different European dream destinations.
Back to Europe: That must be the clear goal of Eintracht. She has a lot of trump cards in her hand. The lead played out and worked out over the seventh in the table is currently eight points. It’s a nice cushion and being only two points down on fourth offers options and opportunities.
Eintracht knows what they can do – and Glasner also knows what needs to be done at what moment. Of course, the upcoming round of 16 first leg against the designated Italian football champions played a role in the back of their minds. The 2-0 scored shortly after the break played into Glasner’s cards in such a way that he was able to give goal scorer Kolo Muani a creative break earlier than ever this Bundesliga season.
End of duty for the outstanding attacker after just 68 minutes – this is also an expression of a grown, stable team that has another expert in their ranks in Rafael Borré as a substitute, who continues to patiently wait for his chance.
Not only Borré, Eintracht as a whole is in wait. The forthcoming showdown against the men from Vesuvius will provide further important clues as to how Glasner’s team can continue in the final third of the season.
