1-1 in Frankfurt: Borussia pick up a point in final away game of season

Borussia drew away with Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 in their penultimate game of the Bundesliga season. Alassane Plea had given the Foals an early lead.

In front of around 50,000 fans at the Deutsche Bank Part in Frankfurt, the Foals enjoyed a perfect start to the game. Alassane Plea gave Borussia the lead in the third minute after some good link-up play. After conceding the opener, the home side came into the game more and the game developed into a balanced affair with chances a rarity at either end. The game picked up after the break and both teams had chances to score. In the end, however, there was only one more goal in it; Goncalo Paciencia scored what proved to be the equaliser with a stunning long-range effort in the 66th minute.

LINEUP

Head coach Adi Hütter made three changes to the side which beat RB Leipzig 3-1 on Monday evening. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer and suspended pair Nico Elvedi and Manu Koné were replaced by Tobias Sippel, Marvin Friedrich and Alassane Plea in the starting XI. Sippel was between the posts to make his first start since 21st April 2021 after he was rewarded for his good training performances throughout the season. The back-three defence consisted of Jordan Baeyer, Marvin Friedrich and Ramy Bensebaini. At wing back, Stefan Lainer played on the right with Luca Netz on the left. Florian Neuhaus and Jonas Hofmann were in central midfield, with a trio of Lars Stindl Alassane Plea and Breel Embolo in attack.

TEAM NEWS

Borussia had to do without the suspended pair of Nico Elvedi (red card) and Manu Koné (yellow card accumulation). Marcus Thuram (adductor), Christoph Kramer (muscular problems), Tony Jantschke (knee) and László Bénes (rehabilitation training) all missed out through injury.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

3’: First good chance for the Foals: Hofmann cuts in inside the area and shoots, but Trapp makes the save.

4’: Borussia take an early lead! The Foals with some good football through the middle before the ball ends up with Lainer on the right. He plays a great ball into the centre to Plea, who turns it into the back of the net.

15’: The home side look to respond through Paciencia. The ball falls to the striker and he tries an effort from distance, but it’s no problem for Sippel.

31’: Ilsanker heads the ball onto the roof of the net from a corner.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

49’: Plea plays the ball into the area for Embolo, who goes one-on-one with Trapp. The Frankfurt 'keeper makes a good save to prevent his side falling two goals behind.

51’: From a corner, Ilsanker shoots from a crowd of bodies. His shot is cleared off the line by Plea.

66’: Paciencia receives the ball a way out from goal, takes a touch, and fires goalwards. It’s perfectly hit and flies into the back of the net just under the crossbar. 1-1.

71’: Embolo comes close to regaining the lead as his shot beats Trapp, but Hasebe gets there to stop the ball going in.

73’: Netz drives forward and shoots on goal, but Trapp pulls off another strong save.

89’: Kamada turns home a flick on from a corner to give the home side the lead. However, the assistant has his flag up for offside. A VAR check confirms that the goal will not stand.

STATISTICS

Frankfurt: Trapp – Tuta (46' Kostic), Hasebe, Ndicka – da Costa (83' Lenz), Ilsanker (65' Sow), Hrustic, Chandler – Barkok (58' Hauge), Lammers (58' Kamada), Paciencia

Borussia: Sippel – Beyer (86' Scally), Friedrich, Bensebaini – Lainer, Neuhaus, Hofmann, Netz – Stindl, Plea (86' Herrmann) – Embolo // Unused subs: Sommer, Ginter, Noß, Bennetts   

Goals: 0-1 Plea (4'), 1-1 Paciencia (66')

Attendance: 51.500 (Deutsche Bank Park, sold out)

Yellow cards: Ilsanker

Referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin)

Photo (imago images): Breel Embolo had a big chance to double the lead at the start of the second half.