Andrej Kramaric scores again, but Hoffenheim fall victim to Eintracht Frankfurt comeback win
Andrej Kramaric's sixth Bundesliga goal of the season was not enough for Hoffenheim, whose perfect start was brought to an end on Matchday 3 by Eintracht Frankfurt pair Daichi Kamada and Bas Dost.
Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Hoffenheim
Goals: 0-1 Kramaric (18'), 1-1 Kamada (54'), 2-1 Dost (71')
Frankfurt and Hoffenheim were the big winners the previous weekend, beating Hertha Berlin 3-1 and Bayern Munich 4-1 respectively. Eintracht made the brighter start as Steven Zuber - in for injured talisman Filip Kostic - broke clear and crossed for Andre Silva. The Portugal international was chasing his 11th Bundesliga goal since German top-flight football resumed on 16 May, but his first-time strike was blocked by a visiting white shirt. Hoffenheim's resident sharpshooter supreme Kramaric - with four-, three- and two-goal salvos in his last three league outings alone - proceeded to take a tight encounter by the scruff of its neck with a fabulous solo strike. The in-form Croatian turned Makoto Hasebe inside-out in the Frankfurt area, before curling a left-footed effort into the far top corner with the aid of a deflection. Kevin Trapp saved from Kramaric and Robert Skov blazed over as Hoffenheim turned the screw, though Oliver Baumann had to be on guard to keep out a Martin Hinteregger header at the other end.
Frankfurt re-emerged after the restart with a serious spring in their step as Almamy Toure drove inside and leathered over from 18 yards. The Malian was having a stormer in the Danny da Costa role at right-back, but it was Zuber's work on the opposite flank that produced the equaliser. The ex-Hoffenheim midfielder whipped a stunning ball into the feet of Dost, whose toe-poked pass was turned in at the far post by Kamada. Zuber was at it again moments later, but Skov did just enough to deny Toure a sight of Baumann's goal. Dost sent a difficult header wide, before stinging the palms of the Hoffenheim No.1 following another fine run and pass from Zuber. Hoffenheim were given a momentary reprieve as Munas Dabbur's low cross forced a hurried - and almost calamitous - goal-line clearance from Hinteregger, but Frankfurt soon got the goal their second-half dominance deserved. Kamada beat three men on his way to teeing up Silva who, after being denied his third goal of the campaign, steered the loose ball into the path of Dost to slam home and send the Eagles soaring above the Sinsheimers in the standings.
Match stats
- Frankfurt have gone seven Bundesliga matches without defeat, since losing to Mainz on 6 June 2020. Hoffenheim lost for the first time in seven.
- Kramaric is the first Hoffenheim player to reach six goals after three matchdays of a Bundesliga season. He has scored 11 goals in his last five Bundesliga matches.
- Kramaric's goal means he has now scored against all of the 22 Bundesliga clubs he has faced.
- Kamada registered his third Bundesliga goal. All have come in his last 10 league outings.
- Eintracht have won all five meetings with Hoffenheim under Adi Hütter to date.
- Frankfurt's Brazilian defender Lucas Silva Melo, known as Tuta, made his Bundesliga debut.
Watch: Zuber: "Friendships were on hold"
Line-ups
Frankfurt: Trapp – Abraham (c) (Tuta 63'), Hasebe, Hinteregger – Toure, Ilsanker, Rode, Zuber (Barkok 87') – Kamada (Chandler 87') – Silva, Dost (Ache 81')
Unused subs: Schubert, Falette, Sow, da Costa, Kohr
Out: Kostic (knee), N'Dicka (ankle), Willems (knee)
Coach: Adi Hütter
Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) – Posch, Vogt, Akpoguma - Kaderabek, Grillitsch, Geiger (Gacinovic 72'), Skov (Bebour 72') – Baumgartner (Belfodil 77') – Dabbur, Kramaric
Unused subs: Pentke, Brenet, Bruun Larsen, Adams, Bogarde, Klauss
Out: Bicakcic (knee), Hübner (ankle), Nordtveit (foot), Samassekou (not included), Stafylidis (shoulder)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
Related news
Leverkusen back in title race
The defending champions surged back into the race to retain their Bundesliga crown on Matchday 14, narrowing the gap behind Bayern to just four points.
How do Bayern and Leipzig stack up?
Bayern take on recent rivals Leipzig in their final game before the winter break. The record champions vs. the young pretenders - how do they compare?
Felix Nmecha: "We'll keep fighting"
The Germany international spoke to bundesliga.com about his evolving role, Nuri Şahin and Dortmund's aims for the rest of the season...