Eintracht Frankfurt got the result they needed in their final UEFA Europa League Group D meeting with Fenerbahce to advance to the competition’s last 16.

Fenerbahce 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 0-1 Sow 29’ (assist: Kostic), 1-1 Berisha (42’)

Already guaranteed a top-two finish, Frankfurt required just a point in Istanbul to avoid the possibility of competing in the Europa League last 16 play-offs. The Eagles set their stall out to win, and had already registered efforts on goal through Rafael Santos Borre and Daichi Kamada when they took a deserved lead. Filip Kostic supplied the cross from the left, with Djibril Sow beating two men before applying the finish. Already eliminated Fener had offered little, but Makoto Hasebe’s failed attempt at a clearance enabled Mergim Berisha to level from close range late in the half.

Frankfurt didn’t play with quite the same level of urgency in the second period, but still created the better scoring chances. Kostic shot wide of the far post with an effort not too dissimilar to his match-winning goal against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga earlier this season. Substitutes Goncalo Paciencia and Sam Lammers combined for a far more presentable opening with 15 minutes remaining, but the latter - scorer of the equaliser in the reverse fixture - was unable to hit the target from 13 yards out. Eintracht controlled the closing stages to secure direct passage to the knockout rounds at the expense of second-placed Olympiacos.

Match stats

• Kostic is Frankfurt’s most creative outlet this season with three goals and nine assists in all competitions, including two of the latter in the Europa League.
• Rafael Borre has four goals while Jens Petter Hauge, Kamada and Goncalo Paciencia all have three, including at least one each in the Europa League.
• Frankfurt have won nine of their 12 away Europa League group stage fixtures to date, including two of three this season.
• Fenerbahce have never beaten German opposition in Istanbul (D3, L4).
• Fener's Mesut Özil made his Bundesliga debut for Schalke in a 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht on 12 August 2006.
• Max Meyer (Schalke and Cologne), Sosa (Bayern), Luiz Gustavo (Hoffenheim, Bayern and Wolfsburg) and Marcel Tisserand (Ingolstadt and Wolfsburg) have also played in the Bundesliga.

Line-ups

Fenerbahce: Özer - Aziz (c), Kim, Szalai - Sangala, Zajc (Meyer 77'), Sosa (Luiz Gustavo 72'), Novak (Osayi-Samuel 72') - Kahveci (Rossi 77'), Berisha, Pelkas (Gumuskaya 82')
Unused subs: Cetin, Özil, Kadioglu, Güler, Tisserand, Sanliturk, Kurtulan
Out: Bayindir (shoulder), Crespo (unavailable), Dursun (unavailable), Valencia (ankle)
Coach: Vitor Pereira

Frankfurt: Trapp - Hasebe (c), Tuta, N'Dicka - Chandler (Da Costa 69'), Sow (Hrustic 78'), Jakic (Rode 69'), Kostic - Kamada, Hauge (Lammers 69') - Borre (Paciencia 60')
Unused subs: Ramaj, Ilsanker, Hinteregger, Toure, Lenz, Barkok, Durm
Out: Lindstrom  (thigh)
Coach: Oliver Glasner

As it happened!

Want more Bundesliga Action?

GET THE UPDATES!