Bundesliga fans were in for a real treat right at the start of the year. An intense duel develops between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund – with a crazy final phase. But that doesn’t really help either team.
Borussia Dortmund saved a point in the last minute in a spectacular game, but is in danger of losing further points in the long-distance duel with FC Bayern. Coach Niko Kovac’s BVB couldn’t get past a turbulent 3:3 (1:1) at Eintracht Frankfurt at the start of the new Bundesliga year and could fall eleven points behind the record champions from Munich as early as Sunday. But second place will remain. “It was a decent game for us, but we just have to defend it better,” said Dortmund defensive player Waldemar Anton.
The goals in the duel between the two Champions League clubs were initially scored by Maximilian Beier (10th minute) and Felix Nmecha (68th), as well as young star Can Uzun (22nd/penalty kick) and new signing Younes Ebnoutalib (71st) on the host side. Ex-Dortmund player Mahmoud Dahoud (90+2) and Carney Chukwuemeka (90+6) scored in stoppage time. Frankfurt’s goalscorer Uzun said after the game that BVB’s equalizer was “undeserved and really bitter.”
In a fast-paced game, the 59,500 spectators saw many goal area scenes and two attacking teams. For the hosts of coach Dino Toppmöller, the well-deserved division of points at the start of the remaining 19 match days is a partial success. Frankfurt is currently in seventh place, but at least missed out on a temporary jump to a Europa League place. Eintracht has only won one of its last seven competitive games.
Roll backwards – Kauã Santos back in goal at Eintracht Frankfurt
The fact that it rained for hours in Frankfurt turned out to be a blessing on a weekend of turbulent weather. A few hours before the start of the league’s start to the new year, the games Werder Bremen against TSG Hoffenheim and FC St. Pauli against RB Leipzig were canceled. The reason is the adverse conditions with snow and stormy winds.
In the 2024 European Championship stadium, however, the ball rolled as planned – and the two regular goalkeepers were there. After a few mistakes in the fall, Frankfurt’s Kauã Santos replaced former Bremen player Michael Zetterer just in time for the start of the year. Gregor Kobel was able to play for BVB even though he left the training camp in Marbella with a slight cold and back problems.
But when Kobel had to intervene for the first time, the BVB attack had already delivered. On an assist from the strong winger Julian Ryerson, national player Beier finished in the middle to take an early 1-0 lead – both the assist provider and the goalscorer were left alone by the Eintracht defense and took advantage of this mercilessly.
But Eintracht did not allow themselves to be unsettled in the sold-out stadium, which, according to an announcement on Friday, will also be called Deutsche Bank Park until 2035. Instead, the Toppmöller team attacked, often fueled by midfield engine Uzun. Kobel defused the youngster’s low shot shortly after conceding without any major problems (17th).
BVB striker Guirassy makes a mistake in his own penalty area
To equalize, the hosts then needed a major mistake from BVB: Striker Serhou Guirassy hit Frankfurt’s Robin Koch after a throw-in and thus caused a penalty. “Of course he has to look around. He hits it, clear penalty,” admitted BVB assistant Robert Kovac at halftime on Sky. Uzun loaded Kobel and easily scored to equalize.
New signing Ebnoutalib, who came from Elversberg and played in the regional league a year ago, made a committed impression. The 22-year-old Frankfurt native had early chances, but initially failed with a harmless volley past Kobel and later headed past the far corner. Ansgar Knauff also couldn’t overcome the strong Kobel.
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Things got really turbulent after about an hour. First, midfield engine Nmecha put BVB in the lead. His shot just outside the edge of the penalty area was unfortunately deflected by Hugo Larsson and then bounced off the inside post and into the goal.
But Eintracht didn’t give up like they did after the Beier goal and were rewarded for their effort. After a precise pass from new signing Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ebnoutalib ice-coldly finished to equalize again. Kobel, left alone by his colleagues, had no chance – and then substitute Dahoud from Dortmund struck, but even that wasn’t enough because another twist arose. “After a game like that, the point is okay. But it’s not what we wanted,” said BVB defense chief Nico Schlotterbeck.
BVB remains undefeated for nine Bundesliga games. Since the international break in March 2025, Dortmund have only lost one of the 24 games – and scored in each of the 16 league games this season.
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