Champions League place sealed | OneFootball

Eintracht came from a goal down to win 3-1 at SC Freiburg on the final day of the Bundesliga season and clinch third place.

Head coach Dino Toppmöller, fresh from extending his contract this week, made two changes to his starting line-up from the 2-2 draw against FC St. Pauli last Sunday. Tuta and Jean-Mattéo Bahoya were both ruled out by knocks, so Nnamdi Collins and Farès Chaibi were brought in from the start.

Knauff in stoppage time

With a Champions League place at stake for both teams, the match got off to a cagey start, the hosts having the majority of the possession but not troubling Kevin Trapp in the Frankfurt goal. That was until the 27th minute, when the first shot on target produced the opening goal. Philipp Lienhart’s long throw was flicked on by Matthias Ginter, and Ritsu Doan managed to pull away from his marker and volley past Trapp.

That sparked Eintracht into life and they came close to equalising six minutes later. Nathaniel Brown set up Hugo Ekitiké after a weaving solo run but the Frenchman’s finish was well saved by Noah Atubolu, and then Chaibi skied the rebound over. Soon after, Ekitiké worked some space to shoot on the left side of the penalty area but his effort was tipped over by Atubolu at the near post. The Eagles eventually levelled at the end of four minutes of added time. Knauff flicked the ball past Lienhart and when the Freiburg defender kicked the air in his attempt to clear, the Eintracht winger was able to slot past Atubolu to level the score on the stroke of half-time.

Quickfire double seals it

The second period started with more drama when referee Benjamin Brand was alerted to a possible handball in the Freiburg box, but after a lengthy VAR check, offside was the decision. However, the turnaround was complete in the 61stminute following another incisive counter-attack by the visitors. The ball ran through to Rasmus Kristensen close to the edge of the box, and the Dane netted for the third time in three games with a precise low shot into the bottom right corner.

The Eagles gave themselves a two-goal cushion just two minutes later, with Kristensen again at the heart of it. The right-back’s cross-shot fell at the feet of Ellyes Skhiri, whose effort hit the post and went in off Johan Manzambi. Kristensen went close to getting his second goal around 10 minutes later, but on his weaker left foot he fired wide.

Freiburg didn’t give up and threw everything forward in the closing stages, but Eintracht kept them at bay and could even have made it 4-1 when Ekitiké raced clear on the counter, but again he was denied by Atubolu. Despite another 10 minutes being added on, there was no taking away third place from the Eagles as they qualified for the Champions League via the Bundesliga for the first time.