bundesliga

Eintracht Frankfurt overcome Nadiem Amiri wonder-goal to down Bayer Leverkusen

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Nadiem Amiri scored one of the goals of the season, but it was all in vain as Eintracht Frankurt fought back to inflict a second successive defeat on title contenders Bayer Leverkusen.

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Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Amiri (10'), 1-1 Younes (22'), 2-1 Tapsoba (og. 54')

It felt as if the feelers were still out when Leverkusen forged ahead in the 11th minute. Florian Wirtz was the architect with an outrageous chipped pass for Amiri, who proceeded to roll his marker and calmly back-heel through the legs of the advancing Kevin Trapp for one of the sassiest goals you're likely to see. Frankfurt responded in kind as Andre Silva showed tremendous skill and strength to hold off a Leverkusen shirt and set up Makoto Hasebe, who stung the palms of Lukas Hradecky from a central area. Amin Younes went one better soon after, the Napoli loanee collecting Djibril Sow's through-ball and dinking over Hradecky for a deserved equaliser. The five-time Germany international arguably should have sent Eintracht in at the break with the lead, but shanked over with the entire goal to aim for following a strong run and inch-perfect pass from Daichi Kamada.

The warning signs were there for Leverkusen, who fell behind within 10 minutes of the restart. Emergency left-back Mitchell Weiser misjudged Younes's diagonal pass for Kamada, who eked out a slither of space in the box before sending a low ball across the six-yard box. Silva was lurking at the back post, but it was Bayer defender Edmond Tapsoba who inadvertently turned it in on the stretch. Eintracht had the opportunity to give themselves daylight with 17 minutes of normal time remaining when Filip Kostic crossed for the Kamada. He had all the time in the world to pick his spot, but side-footed well wide on the volley. Luckily for him, Patrik Schick, substitute Lucas Alario and Tapsoba spurned late chances to rescue a point that would have preserved Leverkusen's unbeaten away record in this season's Bundesliga. Frankfurt climb to seventh.

Match stats

  • After failing to win in nine, Frankfurt have recorded successive wins for the first time since beating Hertha Berlin and Hoffenheim on Matchdays 2 and 3 respectively.
  • Leverkusen were the only remaining team in the Bundesliga unbeaten on their travels in 2020/21 prior to the game.
  • There has been at least once goal in all 71 Bundesliga meetings between Frankfurt and Leverkusen.
  • Leverkusen have scored a league-high seven goals in the first 15 minutes of matches this season, including in their last five in a row.
  • Amiri's effort was his second Bundesliga goal of the season. He scored one in 30 league appearances in 2019/20.
  • Younes scored the second Bundesliga goal of his career. His first fell for Borussia Mönchengladbach in a game against Borussia Dortmund on 24 February 2013. It is the longest period between goals of all active Bundesliga players.

Watch: Amiri: "My goal was just instinct!"

Line-ups

Frankfurt: Trapp - Abraham (c), Hinteregger, N'Dicka - Durm (Toure 86'), Sow, Hasebe, Kostic - Kamada (Barkok 76'), Younes (Kohr 76') - Silva
Unused subs: Schubert, Ilsanker, Hrustic, Zuber, da Costa, Tuta
Out: Ache (hamstring), Rode (suspended), Willems (fitness)
Coach: Adi Hütter

Leverkusen: Hradecky - Dragovic, Tah, Tapsoba, Weiser (Demirbay 68') - Wirtz (Alario 68'), Baumgartlinger (c), Amiri - Bailey, Schick, Diaby (Bellarabi 68')
Unused subs: Grill, Lomb, Jedvaj, Onur, Gedekli, Türkmen
Out: Aranguiz (Achilles tendon), Arias (ankle), L. Bender (thigh), S. Bender (knee), Palacios (back), Paulinho (knee), Sinkgraven (not included), Wendell (not included)
Coach: Peter Bosz

Watch: Silva on the impact of Bas Dost's departure