Luka Jovic on target as Eintracht Frankfurt are held by Chelsea in UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg
Eintracht Frankfurt's UEFA Europa League semi-final with Chelsea remains finely poised after Luka Jovic's superb opener was cancelled out by Pedro in a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Commerzbank-Arena on Thursday.
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea
Goals: 1-0 Jovic (23'), 1-1 Pedro (45')
There was no tentative sparring period in a lively first half; both teams got forward at pace at every opportunity. Filip Kostic miscued a volley at the back post with the game's first sight of goal and David Abraham then headed over from a free-kick before Jovic eventually broke the deadlock, stooping to steer a brilliant header past Kepa to finish off a counter-attack. However, Chelsea grew into the game and after Pedro and Ruben Loftus-Cheek both went close, the former equalised on the stroke of half-time with a left-footed shot after Frankfurt struggled to deal with a corner.
The visitors took that momentum into the second half too, with Loftus-Cheek firing over after a neat one-two with Pedro, before David Luiz struck the crossbar with a free-kick from 30 yards out. The Eagles defended valiantly, though, and fought their way back into the game as the match wore on. Makoto Hasebe nearly added to the scoreline after a high press forced Jorginho into a mistake when playing out from the back, but the Japanese veteran's shot was saved by Kepa. Abraham had the last chance to give Adi Hütter's side the advantage, but headed over from a corner late on to leave the tie finely poised ahead of the return leg in London next week.
Match stats
- Jovic has scored 26 goals in all competitions in 2018/19, and is now only one behind 10-goal Chelsea counterpart Giroud in the Europa League scoring charts.
- Together with Jovic, Sebastien Haller (five), Kostic (four) and Rebic (one) account for 65 per cent of Frankfurt's Europa League goals so far this season.
- Paciencia has scored four goals in 15 appearances since returning from a knee injury in February, including one away to Benfica in the quarter-finals.
- Frankfurt were one of seven teams, along with Chelsea, to go through the group stages unbeaten.
- Like Rüdiger, Chelsea's Andreas Christensen also played in the Bundesliga. The Dane made 62 top-flight appearances for Gladbach between 2015 and 2017.
- Chelsea's Hazard has scored 16 Premier League goals in 2018/19, but is without a goal in six Europa League appearances.
Line-ups
Frankfurt: Trapp – Hinteregger, Abraham (c), Falette – Hasebe - da Costa, Fernandes (Paciencia 73'), Rode, Kostic – Gacinovic (Willems 90+2') - Jovic
Unused subs: Rönnow, Ndicka, de Guzman, Torró, Chandler
Out: Rebic (suspended), Tawatha (ankle), Haller (abdominal)
Coach: Adi Hütter
Chelsea: Kepa - Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Luiz, Emerson - Kante, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek (Kovacic 83') - Pedro, Giroud, Willian (Hazard 62')
Unused subs: Caballero, Zappacosta, Alonso, Barkley, Higuain
Out: Hudson-Odoi (Achilles), Rüdiger (knee)
Coach: Maurizio Sarri
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As it happened
ALL TO PLAY FOR!
This one is still in the balance despite Chelsea's away goal and Frankfurt will be confident going into the second leg, such is the belief in this side that should also be able to welcome Haller and Rebic back to the fold next week. Thanks for joining us tonight and we will see you again in a week's time!
90+5' FULL-TIME!
There is to be no late drama at the Commerzbank Arena and Eintracht Frankfurt will now head to Chelsea next week with the tie level at 1-1. They started so well and Jovic's ninth Europa League goal of the season gave them a first-half lead before Pedro levelled on the stroke of half-time. Chelsea have a vital away goal but Frankfurt are very much in this tie.
90+1' FIVE MINUTES TO GO
The fourth official raises the board and shows that we'll have five minutes of stoppage time. Will we see some late drama?
85' BIG CHANCE!
Oh, my. Frankfurt captain Abraham has a glorious chance to make it 2-1 from a Frankfurt corner but he heads over just yards out. It's a free header but he can't get over the ball and send it on target. From the goal-kick, Frankfurt are nearly in again but for a fine Luiz recovery. This is the Frankfurt we know and love.
81' SO, SO CLOSE!
Much better from Frankfurt and some fancy footwork from da Costa has him in beyond Emerson on the right flank. His cross is superb but just narrowly misses Paciencia who's sliding in but cannot quite reach it and tap home. Frankfurt are going for a strong finish here, can they grab a winner?
78' PENALTY APPEAL!
Frankfurt are in the Chelsea penalty area and their ball into the box hits Olivier Giroud, resulting in penalty appeals from the hosts for handball. The official waves play on and there's nothing doing.
76' A FINE SAVE
Trapp again denies Chelsea, this time catching Luiz's header to keep the scores level. Not long to go now and you feel Frankfurt will be glad to take a 1-1 draw to Stamford Bridge next week.
73' ROLLING THE DICE
Such is the Hütter way at Frankfurt, the hosts aren't holding back here. Paciencia comes on in place of Fernandes to give Frankfurt a focal point and Jovic some support up front.
65' FIRST FRANKFURT FORAY
All of a sudden Frankfurt come to life and Jovic finds space and the pitch open in front of him. A lung bursting run from Fernandes is waiting to be picked out through the middle but the Serbian striker doesn't see it and overhits his pass to Kostic on the left. The first opening that Frankfurt have created and it instantly lifts the crowd. Much better.
61' INCOMING HAZARD
Chelsea play their trump card with the introduction of Hazard for Willian. This remaining half hour is a big test for Hütter's men.
60' OFF THE BAR!
What a save, Kevin Trapp. The Frankfurt 'keeper flies to his right and fingertips Luiz's free-kick on to the bar and over for a corner to keep it 1-1. Frankfurt haven't been able to get Kostic, da Costa, Gacinovic or Jovic on the ball in this half. It means they're ret to threaten Kepa's goal since the break.
54' LOFTUS LET-OFF
Frankfurt nearly concede a second as Loftus-Cheek - easily Chelsea's best player tonight - breaks through the Frankfurt midfield before playing a one-two that sees him with just Trapp to beat from 12 yards, but the England international fires over. That might be a wake-up call for the hosts.
50' NASTY CLASH OF HEADS
Rode and Jorginho knock heads as they compete for a header and both are now being looked at for signs of concussion so we rightly have a small break in play. Thankfully, they are back on their feet, checking on each other and are okay to continue.
48' A SLOW START
Chelsea have started as they ended the first-half and are on top in the early stages. Frankfurt yet to warm to proceedings after the break, unlike their fans who continue to sing their hearts out. There are going to be some hoarse voices in the financial capital tomorrow morning.
46' SECOND-HALF KICK-OFF!
We're back underway in Frankfurt. A big 45 minutes ahead of us in this tie. No changes for either side just yet.
THE JOVIC EFFECT
Just looking back at that Jovic goal, it really was a superb header. It's behind him, only about two foot off the ground and he's managed to twist his body and head the ball right into the far corner. It was a special finish from a special player. Will we see more Jovic specials in the second-half?
45+1' HALF-TIME!
Just a minute later and the referee blows his whistle for half-time. Frankfurt had been the better side but they couldn't resist late pressure from Chelsea. Plenty of time left in this tie, although Chelsea's away goal will be something Frankfurt would have hoped to avoid conceding.
45' GOAL! PEDRO!
A bitter blow on the stroke of half-time as Chelsea level. Loftus-Cheek perseveres and finds Pedro who fires into the bottom corner. Chelsea had been threatening but that will be hard to take for Frankfurt who have been the better side in this half.
42' THE DEFIANT ONES
Frankfurt's forwards rightly take a huge amount of the praise showered on the cub but their midfield needs some too. Hasebe and Rode, in particular, have been everywhere so far and, alongside Fernandes, are giving Kante, Kovacic and Loftus-Cheek a nightmare in the centre of the park.
38' END TO END
This game is opening up before the break and both teams are going from defending corners to taking their own in a matter of seconds. The pace is picking up even more.
33' NEED TO RESETTLE
The visitors are starting to threaten a bit more now but Frankfurt still have them at arm's length. They do need to get back on the ball though and just wrestle back some of that momentum. Not long until half-time.
27' CHELSEA'S FIRST REAL EFFORT
It's taken nearly half and hour but Chelsea have threatened for the first time. Pedro fires narrowly wide of Trapp's near post but the Frankfurt stopper had it covered. This has been a fine first-half from the Eagles so far.
23' GOAL! LUKA JOVIC!
Frankfurt make their dominance pay and, of course, it's that man Jovic with his ninth goal in the Europa League this season. He feeds Kostic on the left and then races into the box to stoop low and head Kostic's cross into the far corner. A superb finish and a clinical Frankfurt break. Fully deserved.
20' CRUNCHING CHRISTENSEN
Christensen with a late tackle on Rode there, the Chelsea man getting none of the ball and all of the player. That was a bad tackle and he's rightly in the book as a result. Frankfurt threaten again from the resulting free-kick and it's all the hosts at the minute.
17' A WHISKER AWAY
Frankfurt really have started well here and it's da Costa and Kostic at the heart of their probes forward. This time a lovely piece of football finds da Costa free on the right and his cross across goal is about a foot away from finding Jovic. Kepa intervenes before the Serb can tap home.
12' THE HOSTS PUSH FORWARD
Frankfurt are opening up the engine now. Da Costa this time returns the favour and finds Kostic at the back post but the left winger can't connect with his volley. The hosts are finding space and getting in behind Chelsea now. A great start from Hütter's side.
8' FIRST FRANKFURT ATTACK
A lovely bit of play from Frankfurt has them putting Chelsea on the back foot for the first time. Kostic and Jovic are at the heart of it but the former's cross in from the left is slightly over da Costa at the back post on the other flank. Lively stuff.
6' FRANKFURT SETTLING
Chelsea had made the better start but the hosts have settled down now and are starting to get on the ball. The atmosphere is something else. Don't expect the Frankfurt fans to stop singing all night.
1' KICK-OFF!
Here we go then. The stage is set for a fantastic night in Frankfurt as Chelsea get us underway in this semi-final first leg.
FÜRS FINALE ALLES GEBEN
"Give everything for the final" is the messaging from a banner running across the Commerzbank Arena. The stadium looks absolutely incredible, with black and white flags providing the colour and Frankfurt's fans the wall of noise. They've also just unfurled a mammoth tifo. It's a work of art. Stunning.
TEN MINUTE WARNING
Not long to go until kick-off now. The Frankfurt players are going through their warm-ups and will be soon getting their final instructions from Hütter. A memorable night hopefully awaits for Eintracht's Eagles.
HAZARD AVOIDED
While Frankfurt are missing two of their best attacking schemers tonight through forced absences, their opponents have chosen to voluntarily leave out one of their most potent threats going forward. Eden Hazard - brother to Gladbach's Thorgan - will start on the bench tonight.
OVER TO YOU, LUKA...
That man Jovic has been sensational this season and has eight goals in 12 Europa League appearances. Only Chelsea's Olivier Giroud (10) has more than Jovic in the competition this year, but tonight is a test for the Serb without Sebastien Haller (injured) and Ante Rebic (suspended) in support. Can Jovic go it alone tonight? You wouldn't put it past him.
THE CLASS OF '18/19?
It's been 39 years since Frankfurt lifted their sole European trophy, the 1979/80 UEFA Cup. They beat fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach in the final that year, emerging winners on away goals in what was a two-legged final back then. Fred Schaub scored the winner for Frankfurt. Could it be Luka Jovic doing the same this year come the May 29 final? For now, Chelsea stand in the way.
"A PHENOMENAL SUCCESS"
It's already been a memorable season for Frankfurt, as highlighted by Mijat Gacinovic this week.
"We've reached the Europa League semi-finals and we are in fourth in the Bundesliga, which is a phenomenal success," he said. "Our coach has managed to create a team that complements each other, he's strengthened in the best way imaginable and he's squeezed every last drop of potential out of most of us."
THE 12TH FRANKFURTER
It's little wonder Frankfurt's record at home is so good as their fans are always immense, creating a cracker of an atmosphere on home soil. Hütter has been quick to recognise that this week, too.
"The fans have always been our 12th man so far. Lots of teams who have come here have been impressed by it. It's important to get those sparks flying again. We need to give everything and stay tight."
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS...
And the visitors...
Chelsea: Kepa - Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Luiz, Emerson - Kante, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek - Pedro, Giroud, Willian
Subs: Caballero, Zappacosta, Alonso, Barkley, Kovacic, Hazard, Higuain
FRANKFURT TEAM NEWS...
First up, here's how the hosts will look tonight...
Frankfurt: Trapp – Hinteregger, Abraham (c), Falette – Hasebe - da Costa, Fernandes, Rode, Kostic – Gacinovic - Jovic
Subs: Rönnow, Ndicka, de Guzman, Willems, Torró, Chandler, Paciencia
FRANKFURT FORTRESS
The Eagles are currently on an 12 match unbeaten run at home (W9, D3) in Europe and you have to go back to October 19, 2006 for the last time they lost at the Commerzbank-Arena in European competition. That was in a 2-1 defeat by Italian side Palermo
"THE EXCITEMENT IS HUGE"
It's safe to say Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter is looking forward to this one tonight.
"It's been a long, hard journey to get to the semi-final. The fans have helped us enormously on the way. We know how important this game is for the club and the people, so the excitement is huge," he told press yesterday.
"It's important that we also enjoy this game. We're playing a European semi-final against a big club. That's something special."
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS
As mentioned in our welcome post, these two sides love a goal in the Europa League this season. Frankfurt have 28 to their name, while Chelsea have 30.
WELCOME TO FRANKFURT vs. CHELSEA!
Hello and welcome to our live blog for tonight's UEFA Europa League semi-final first-leg between the Bundesliga's fourth-placed side Eintracht Frankfurt and their Premier League equivalents Chelsea. These are two sides that have plundered goals en route to the last-four of the competition and this has the makings of a classic.
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