Dino Toppmöller took a deep breath, then the <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/eintrachts-jakic-smolcic-would-be-a-good-fit-for-frankfurt-bundesliga/" title="Eintrachts Jakic: "Smolcic would be a good fit for Frankfurt" – Bundesliga“>Eintracht Frankfurt coach shouted his joy through the Stuttgart Arena. Thanks to their mercilessly efficient offensive wizards, the surprise team from Frankfurt has consolidated their place in the top group of the Bundesliga. Omar Marmoush and Co. had to tremble a lot in the dramatic 3:2 (1:0) in the duel with VfB Stuttgart.
“That was very emotional,” said goalkeeper Kevin Trapp after a crazy final phase on DAZN. VfB almost equalized after a three-goal deficit, but an offside position detected by the video referee (VAR) when Chris Führich supposedly hit (90+7) saved Frankfurt’s victory. “If you were 3-0 up and you didn’t win it in the end, that would have been very annoying,” said Trapp, who saved a penalty from Ermedin Demirovic (22nd): “We have to address the fact that this can even happen. It’s not possible for us to just stop playing football.” Ultimately, in addition to Trapp’s penalty save, the goals from Hugo Ekitiké (45th), Nathaniel Brown (55th) and the once again outstanding Marmoush (62nd) were enough for Eintracht to win . Josha Vagnoman (86th) and Nick Woltemade (90th) brought Stuttgart closer again in a crazy final phase.
“We threw everything into it,” said Stuttgart international Maximilian Mittelstädt: “We deserved the equalizer. That’s extremely bitter.” While the Frankfurt team caught up with Bayern’s first pursuer RB Leipzig in third place, VfB still has to make do with midfield. For the first time in over a year, the Swabians lost a league home game. Also because they were miles behind the guests in terms of efficiency.
For Sebastian Hoeneß, Eintracht striker Marmoush is “the hottest stock in the Bundesliga”
VfB had to do without probably their best player: national striker Deniz Undav was missing after straining his thigh in the 2-0 defeat in the Champions League against Atalanta Bergamo. Demirovic moved into the starting line-up, as did Jeff Chabot and Fabian Rieder. Frankfurt also rotated after the 1-0 win against Slavia Prague in the Europa League. Among other things, Ekitike started alongside his outstanding strike partner Marmoush. It was no coincidence that VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß previously described Marmoush as the “hottest stock in the Bundesliga, possibly even in Europe”. After just three minutes, the Bundesliga’s top scorer appeared free in front of Alexander Nübel, his hard finish whizzed a few centimeters past the far post.
On the other hand, national player Führich (10th), who was in the starting eleven in the Bundesliga for the first time since the end of August, had the first good opportunity. In general, VfB was initially much more active – and thus created more opportunities. Demirovic alone had the lead twice with a header on the crossbar (18th) and his penalty, but missed the latter miserably. That was to take revenge: After a corner from Marmoush, Ekitiké rose highest in the VfB penalty area shortly before half-time and headed in powerfully.
VfB went into the locker room feeling shattered, and Frankfurt knew how to take advantage of that. Brown used the first chance of the second half to make it 2-0, and Marmoush followed up. Stuttgart tried almost desperately to score the next goal – and came back with a lot of morale. Until the VAR correctly stopped the spectacular comeback: the national player Führich was offside.
