bundesliga

Early Martin Hinteregger goal enough for Eintracht Frankfurt against Hoffenheim

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

Hoffenheim’s first Bundesliga game since the departure of coach Julian Nagelsmann ended in defeat as Martin Hinteregger scored after 36 seconds to give Eintracht Frankfurt the points at the Commerzbank-Arena on Sunday.

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 Hoffenheim

Goal: 1-0 Hinteregger (1')

Frankfurt broke the deadlock inside the opening minute when a short corner was played to Filip Kostic, who swept an inviting cross onto the boot of the unmarked Hinteregger to volley home. Life after prolific strike duo Sebastien Haller and Luka Jovic was looking very rosy indeed as the Eagles cranked up the pressure, with the impressive Daichi Kamada seeing a close-range effort blocked before firing straight at Oliver Baumann soon after. Kevin Trapp thwarted Hoffenheim new boy Robert Skov, but Alfred Schreuder's men did have the ball in the net in the 41st minute, only for Dennis Geiger’s curling strike to be ruled out for an offside decision against Ihlas Bebou.

After Ante Rebic fired off a warning shot late in the first half, Frankfurt picked up where they left off in at the start of the second period with Kamada jinking goalwards and forcing a smart low save from Baumann. The Hoffenheim stopper was called on once again to keep out Dominik Kohr, who had a header cleared off the line by Stefan Posch five minutes later. Skov made Trapp work with a well-struck free-kick, but Hoffenheim struggled to create much by way of chances from open play until injury time, when substitute Ishak Belfodil was denied an injury-time leveller by the linesman's flag.

Match stats

  • Frankfurt are unbeaten in five games against Hoffenheim, who have won on just one of their last six visits to the Commerzbank-Arena.
  • Hoffenheim were the only team to score in every Bundesliga away game last season, netting a league-high 42 in total.
  • Baumann made his 300th Bundesliga appearance.
  • Hinteregger has opened the scoring with five of his seven Bundesliga goals.
  • Kamada made his fourth Bundesliga appearance, but first since November 2017.
  • Hoffenheim midfielder Diadie Samassekou made his Bundesliga debut.

Line-ups

Frankfurt: Trapp – Abraham (c), Hasebe, Hinteregger – Da Costa, Kohr (Rode 65'), Fernandes, Kostic – Gacinovic (Torro 88'), Kamada (Paciencia 71') – Rebic
Unused subs: Wiedwald, Ndicka, Joveljic, Toure, Chandler, Durm
Out: Sow (hamstring), Tawatha (ankle), Russ (Achilles)
Coach: Adi Hütter

Hoffenheim: Baumann – Posch, Vogt (c), Bicakcic – Kaderabek, Rupp (Samassekou 64'), Rudy, Geiger (Belfodil 71'), Zuber – Skov (Grifo 79'), Bebou
Unused subs: Pentke, Brenet, Stafylidis, Nordtveit, Akpoguma, Szalai
Out: Baumgartner (suspended), Bittencourt (adductor), Kramaric (knee), Ochs (ankle)
Coach: Alfred Schreuder