Eagles march on in Europe | OneFootball

Eintracht Frankfurt are up to third in the UEFA Europa League table after a 2-1 victory at FC Midtjylland, Larsson (7’) and Marmoush (57’) with the goals.

Head coach Dino Toppmöller rotated and fielded a completely new midfield for Matchday 5 of the league phase. Farès Chaibi, Mo Dahoud, Hugo Larsson and Niels Nkounkou returned to the starting line-up, replacing Ellyes Skhiri, Mario Götze and Ansgar Knauff, who dropped to the bench, as well as Nathaniel Brown, who’s not registered for the Europa League.

Deserved lead through Larsson

At the intimate MCH Arena in Herning, the hosts initially took the upper hand and threatened from a couple of set pieces, but Eintracht took the lead from their first real attack. Tuta won possession in the air before some neat link-up play between Larsson, Hugo Ekitiké and Omar Marmoush ended with the Swede squeezing a volley under goalkeeper Elias Olafsson, netting his second goal of the Europa League campaign. Larsson also had the next opportunity, flicking Marmoush’s corner into the arms of Olafsson on the goal line.

The Eagles remained in control and Arthur Theate warmed the gloves of Olafsson with an effort from a tight angle, while Dahoud fired well wide from distance. However, Midtjylland came back into the game towards the end of the first half, striker Adam Buksa drawing a first save from Kevin Trapp and then heading just wide from a corner. The best chance before half-time fell to Eintracht, though, when Ekitiké set his strike partner Marmoush free and the Egyptian lifted the ball over Olafsson but also over the goal, leaving Larsson’s effort as all that separated the teams at the break.

Fortunate equaliser, right response

The second period began in frantic fashion with Nkounkou presented with a good opportunity from Chaibi’s ball across goal, but he couldn’t connect with it properly. That was punished immediately as Midtjylland equalised in rather fortunate fashion. Mikel Krüger-Johnsen’s ball from the left was blocked by Collins and looped over Trapp into the far corner.

Parity only lasted a few minutes, though. After Marmoush’s shot was blocked at close range by the hand of Ousmane Diao, referee Craig Pawson reviewed the incident and pointed to the spot. Eintracht’s top goalscorer confidently stepped up and buried the penalty into the left corner, notching his 15th goal of the season in all competitions. Marmoush was given the rest of the night off soon after that, coming off for Can Uzun. Rasmus Kristensen also entered the fray in place of Nnamdi Collins, making his return from injury and at this hometown club.

Uzun was involved in setting up the next chance on the counter for Ekitiké, but the Frenchman could only lash a shot into the side netting. The two substitutes then combined two minutes later, Uzun unable to direct Kristensen’s pacey cross towards goal. After that, the pressure from Midtjylland increased and they had a big chance to equalise on 81 minutes, but Buksa dragged his shot wide. The Polish international headed wide moments later as the Wolves threw everything forward to extend their unbeaten home run in Europe, but the Eagles were having none of it and extended their own unbeaten run in the Europa League, equalling the best of 18 set by Chelsea.