Returning Luka Jovic at the double for Eintracht Frankfurt against Schalke
Luka Jovic marked his return to Eintracht Frankfurt with two goals from the bench in a 3-1 win over Schalke, for whom American teen Matthew Hoppe scored for the fourth time in two games.
Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 Schalke
Goals: 1-0 Silva (28'), 1-1 Hoppe (29'), 2-1 Jovic (72'), 3-1 Jovic (90'+1)
Frankfurt were the dominant side for long periods in the first 45. Just seven minutes in, Aymen Barkok flashed an effort wide of Ralf Fährmann's goal frame, which was rattling midway through the half when Martin Hinteregger flicked Amin Younes' near-post corner against the woodwork. Eintracht's next effort told, though, as Andre Silva controlled a shot from Erik Durm that was going wide, before firing into the corner on the turn. Shaken but not stirred, Schalke served up an instant response through 19-year-old Hoppe, who collected from Benjamin Stambouli, showed Evan N'Dicka and Hinteregger a clean pair of heels, and poked through the legs of Kevin Trapp for 1-1. Silva threatened to restore parity with a shot from a tight angle, but Fährmann beat it clear to send the sides in level at the break.
The second half was a far closer-run affair, with Schalke frustrating Frankfurt for long periods. The hosts weren't helped by an injury to Hinteregger, the Austrian defender succumbing to a knee problem sustained earlier in the contest. The Royal Blues grew in confidence as Amine Harit shot wide following a half clearance from N'Dicka. Mark Uth set up a promising opening with 20 minutes to go, but his final ball let him down after a fine feint on the edge of the Frankfurt area. It proved a costly miscalculation as the Eagles restored their lead with their next attack. Filip Kostic hung up a cross, which substitute Jovic - back at Frankfurt on a six-month loan from Real Madrid - thrashed into the roof of the net for his first Bundesliga goal since 6 April 2019. The same duo combined again in added time to seal a win that sends Frankfurt to within three points of the top four, and leaves Schalke bottom.
Match stats
- Frankfurt's victory was their fourth on the bounce - their best run in the league since early 2019, when they won six consecutive games.
- Jovic was back in the Frankfurt squad, some 610 days after his first spell at the club ended in a 5-1 defeat to Bayern. His last Bundesliga goal also against Schalke - in a 2-1 victory.
- The Serbian, who has scored seven of his 27 Bundesliga goals as a substitute, netted twice from as many shots on goal.
- Only Bayern's Robert Lewandowski (21) has managed more goals in the Bundesliga this season than Silva (12).
- Hoppe has scored four times in six Bundesliga appearances.
- Frankfurt captain David Abraham made his 185th and final Bundesliga appearance.
Watch: David Abraham's emotional farewell
Line-ups
Frankfurt: Trapp - Abraham (c), Hinteregger (Hrustic 52'), N'Dicka - Durm (Jovic 62'), Sow, Hasebe, Kostic - Barkok (Kamada 79'), Younes (Toure 80') - Silva
Unused subs: Schubert, Ilsanker, Zuber, Chandler, Tuta
Out: Ache (hamstring), Willems (match fitness)
Coach: Adi Hütter
Schalke: Fährmann - Becker, Kabak, Nastasic, Kolasinac (c) - Raman (Bozdogan 61'), Stambouli, Serdar, Harit (Oczipka 79') - Hoppe (Kutucu 87'), Uth
Unused subs: Rönnow, Langer, Mendyl, Mascarell, Thiaw, Mercan
Out: Bentaleb (not included), Boujellab (ill), Ludewig (foot), Paciencia (knee), Sane (knee), Schöpf (thigh), Skrzybski (knee)
Coach: Christian Gross
Watch: Matthew Hoppe "still hopeful" of Schalke survival
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