Eintracht Frankfurt against VfB Stuttgart with a draw in the Bundesliga

FSoccer is not mathematics, and even the 100th game against a favorite opponent can end in a draw. That’s what happened on Saturday when Eintracht prepared to win their fifth home game in a row. But Stuttgart, which has been involved in the fight for staying in the top class for two years, proved to be a stubborn, unruly opponent ten laps before the end of the season.

The 1: 1 in front of 50,000 spectators in the Frankfurt Arena, shot out by Sebastian Rode (55th minute) and Silas (75th), was not a Bundesliga game that ripped the visitors from their seats, because it has shortcomings, especially in the Show of unity, revealed. “We just lack self-confidence,” said Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner after the draw against the Swabians. “The fluid game is not easy for us at the moment.” Goalscorer Rode said: “We lacked the punch forward.”

It quickly became clear from the start: Eintracht had a hard nut to crack with VfB. Hardly anything came together in coach Glasner’s team. Attractive and dangerous scenes in the goal area? in short supply. They simply didn’t exist. Randal Kolo Muani and Rafael Borré, who replaced Jesper Lindström with an ankle injury, did their best. But the storm duo didn’t want to succeed in anything substantial in the first half of the game on this cold Saturday afternoon.

Because Ansgar Knauff complained of slight hip problems, Glasner was forced to change personnel on the right flank. Aurelio Buta, who was not always present in the past week of training due to knee problems, was able to prove himself against VfB on the flank from the start. Djibril Sow, who was absent due to a yellow card suspension, was also back. What was missing, however, was the mix of vigor, power and penetrating power. From Frankfurt’s point of view, the most impressive scene in the first half was a solo by Kolo Muani, which was nice to look at. But because the Frenchman dribbled through in midfield, he was unable to pose a threat with the action. Juan José Perea could have done better on the Stuttgart side, because the Colombian had a free shot in the penalty area in the 42nd minute. But the attacker missed his target by meters – Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp did not have to intervene.

After the change of sides, Trapp’s Stuttgart colleague Fabian Bredlow was asked in the first serious scene. But the goalie was powerless when he was lobbed and outwitted by Rode. The Eintracht captain gave his team a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute. His lob from the inside right in the penalty area was great and brought collective relief to the ranks of Frankfurt, who then hugged each other. At least now it became clear: Eintracht was the master of the house at least at this point in time. She was in control of the game and it was only a matter of time before the second goal would come.