First a slapstick own goal as the crowning glory and then a shrill concert of whistles from their own fans: badly injured, the Eintracht Frankfurt professionals dragged themselves to their own team after the 1:3 against TSG Hoffenheim.
After the next disappointment, they endured the loud expressions of displeasure from those fans who had not yet left the arena early. The mood on the Main reached a low point with the next defeat.
Eintracht Frankfurt loudly booed by fans
Aurele Amenda admitted to Sky that going into the curve was “very difficult” for the players, but despite the unstoppable nosedive and the ongoing flood of goals conceded, the fans should know “that we are giving everything. It’s not easy at the moment. That’s annoying again, but we have to stay together”.
Sports director Markus Krösche showed DAZN Understanding of the fan anger: “We are responsible for it. We have to make advance efforts. I can understand the dissatisfaction of the fans. Because the way we have played in the last few weeks and of course the results and the many goals conceded do not satisfy the fans.”
After the dismissal of Dino Toppmöller, the Hessians have been waiting for a win for five Bundesliga games. Due to the second defeat in the second game under interim coach Dennis Schmitt, Eintracht is in danger of losing touch with the international ranks in the Bundesliga.
Curious own goal from Eintracht Frankfurt
Max Moerstedt (52nd) and Ozan Kabak (60th) scored TSG’s third three-pointer in the third Bundesliga game in 2026 with their headers, plus an own goal from Aurele Amenda (65th). The defender curiously deflected a cross from Vladimir Coufal into his own goal. “Annoying, I want to defend the ball. But that happens. What else can I say?” Amenda said afterwards Sky.
The opening goal by winter newcomer Arnaud Kalimuendo (18th) was not enough for Frankfurt. With their eleventh win of the season, the Kraichgauers consolidated third place in the Champions League and at the same time distanced Eintracht to nine points.
“We concede three goals every game”
“It’s just not good enough. We concede three goals every game. We’re really not playing well,” said the frustrated Can Uzun: “I thought the first half was okay. We fought well. We were 1-0 up again. We’ve always been up in the last few games. I don’t know what to say. That’s just not good enough at the moment and we have to get out of it somehow.”
Defender Robin Koch was visibly perplexed: “It’s hard to explain. We did a lot of things right in the first half. And then you come out here and make the same mistakes as in the last few weeks and give the game away.”
“This phase is self-inflicted because we make far too many simple mistakes and concede too many goals,” clarified Eintracht boss Krösche: “We started well, had a good structure, and then we get the equalizer – and then of course you notice how it starts in your head. Then you become passive, we generally become passive as a team, then we don’t get any more pressure on it, we win the ball less, there is little relief. We have to work on these things work.”
Hoffenheim unimpressed by Frankfurt’s leadership
Frankfurt had conceded three goals in each of the four competitive games so far in the new year. Accordingly, Frankfurt was concerned with defensive stability at the start of the game, while Hoffenheim tried to press hard. In front of 58,500 spectators, it was initially an even game without any notable highlights – until Can Uzun lifted the ball into the path of Kalimuendo, who overcame TSG keeper Oliver Baumann from a half-left position.
The guests were unimpressed by the deficit: Kabak headed the ball onto the post after a corner (21′), Andrej Kramaric curled a free kick just past the goal to the left (29′).
Although Eintracht had improved in defense, goalkeeper Kaua Santos also had to intervene when he first blocked a shot from Fisnik Asllani (39′) and then caught a header from Wouter Burger in the second attempt (45’+1). Overall, the SGE’s break management was flattering.
Santos doesn’t look good when conceding a goal
After the restart, the SGE tried to get more involved in the offensive – then Burger, on the other side, hit a cross to Moerstedt, who headed it in to equalize. Goalkeeper Santos didn’t look good.
Hoffenheim stayed on the trigger – and took the lead: This time Burger crossed from the right, Kabak headed the ball over the line.
And things were to get even worse for Frankfurt: just five minutes after falling behind, Amenda Coufal deflected a cross into her own net.
“It’s a difficult phase, but we have to get through it now! We have to get out of this as a team, as a club, as those responsible,” demanded Krösche afterwards.
With Sports Information Service (SID)
