Saturday April 24th 2021
CL qualification in danger
Fear opponent Leverkusen attacks Frankfurt
Despite six high defeats in a row, the team of coach Adi Hütter is traveling confidently to Leverkusen. But unity is being brought back down to earth in the Rhineland. Even a late goal is no longer dangerous for the dominating Werkself.
Eintracht Frankfurt has to tremble more and more about the first qualification for the Champions League. The team of coach Adi Hütter lost a promising Bundesliga game against feared opponents Bayer Leverkusen with 1: 3 (0: 0). Eintracht remains fourth with 56 points, but the form-strong runner-up Borussia Dortmund (55) sits directly in the neck of the Hessians after the victory at third VfL Wolfsburg (57). Leon Bailey (70th), Lucas Alario (80th) and Kerem Demirbay (90th + 1), who had just been substituted, met for Leverkusen. SGE striker Andre Silva (90 + 1) shortened with his 25th goal of the season.
The Champions League goal of the season is unlikely to be achievable for the Werkself with six points behind with three game days to go, coach Hannes Wolf’s team is currently sixth in the Conference League.
Despite six high bankruptcies in a row in Leverkusen, Hütter and his team traveled to the Rhineland with “a good feeling”. “We have to present ourselves differently than the last time,” said the future Gladbach coach before the game. Then he was “confident that we can take a positive result with us.” In addition to the long-term injuries, Hütter had to do without the yellow-banned Sebastian Rode.
Bayer, who had to do without Sven Bender (ankle problems) for a short time, quickly became dangerous. Kevin Trapp, who played his 200th Bundesliga game, only fended off a long-range shot from Patrik Schick forward. When Bailey shot up, the 30-year-old was quickly up again and fought off brilliantly for a corner (4th).
More active after the break, but it’s not enough
Silva also missed a huge chance for Eintracht (6th). The game announced by Bayer’s loan coach Wolf as “very intense” initially continued, especially by his team. After a nice cross pass from Schick, Trapp was on the spot against the free-standing Karim Bellarabi at the short post with a foot defense (9th). Seconds later, outside the BayArena, Leverkusen fans drew attention with loud chants. After a rousing start, the encounter flattened out until the middle of the first half.
Then Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba missed after a corner with a head (28th), young star Florian Wirtz checked again the excellent Trapp (35th). Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky had previously got the upper hand against Erik Durm (33rd). Shortly before the break, Trapp distinguished himself again with a flight insert against Demirbay and became the best Frankfurt against strong Leverkusen.
After the break, Frankfurt became more active and missed the opening goal through Daichi Kamada (47th) and Filip Kostic. The conspicuous Bellarabi negligently left his second big chance for Leverkusen (53rd). Bailey did better.
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