Arminia Bielefeld produce first-half heroics to leave hosts Eintracht Frankfurt stunned
Patrick Wimmer produced a goal and a spectacular assist for Alessandro Schöpf as Arminia Bielefeld's impressive climb away from the danger zone continued at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Arminia Bielefeld
Goals: 0-1 Wimmer 5', 0-2 Schöpf 27' (assist: Wimmer)
Keen to keep in touch with the European places, Eintracht's cause was boosted by the return of Kevin Trapp, Filip Kostic and Martin Hinteregger to the starting XI. That lowly Bielefeld hit the front after just five minutes at Deutsche Bank Park was thus all the more surprising, Timothy Chandler inadvertently diverting into the path of Wimmer to finish low past Trapp. The Eagles looked to respond, with Evan N'Dicka, Daichi Kamada and Jesper Lindstrom all menacing. Yet home coach Oliver Glasner was left perplexed as the visitors pulled further ahead midway through the half. Full of confidence after his early opener, Wimmer produced an audacious rabona assist with his right foot which Schöpf diverted in to the delight of his teammates.
Bielefeld boss Frank Kramer had been praised by his opposite number in the build-up to this Matchday 20 encounter, Arminia's "hard work," and "clear structure," highlighted. The visitors called on those resources, and more, after the break as they looked to repel an Eintracht fightback. Lindstrom was frustrated once again with a blocked shot before Kostic and Chandler tried, and failed, to find a breakthrough for the increasingly frustrated hosts. Before this encounter, Bielefeld had won just once in 14 visits to Frankfurt. Rafael Borre did his best to put a second victory in doubt, however, when the Colombian's shot was brilliantly saved by Stefan Ortega, the visitors were home free.
Match stats
- Bielefeld are unbeaten away from home in three consecutive games for the first time in their Bundesliga history.
- Wimmer's fifth-minute opener was Arminia's earliest in a Bundesliga game since they were promoted back up in 2020.
- Wimmer is Bielefeld's top assist provider, the 20-year-old setting up five goals so far this season.
- Schöpf ended a run of 70 Bundesliga games without a goal going back to when he scored for Schalke in a 1-0 draw against Mainz in September 2018.
- Prior to finding the net against Eintracht, he'd managed a league-high 25 shots on goal without finding the target this season.
- Since gaining promotion back to the Bundesliga in 2020, Arminia have never lost a game in which they have taken the lead (14 wins, four draws).
Watch: Ortega on Wimmer's rabona: "Not allowed to do it again"
Line-ups
Frankfurt: Trapp – Tuta, Hinteregger (Hasebe 46'), N'Dicka – Chandler (Ache 74'), Rode (c) (Paciencia 51'), Sow, Kostic – Lindstrom, Kamada (Hrustic 87') – Borre
Unused subs: Ramaj, Ilsanker, Jakic, Lammers, Toure
Out: Barkok (Africa Cup of Nations), Hauge (thigh), Lenz (calf)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
Bielefeld: Ortega (c) – Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, Andrade – Schöpf, Vasiliadis (Kunze 61') – Wimmer (Castro 73'), Okugawa (Hack 83'), Krüger (Laursen 83') – Serra (Klos 61')
Unused subs: Kapino, Ramos, Lasme, Fernandes
Out: De Medina (illness)
Coach: Frank Kramer
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