Analyzing Albert Riera’s Debut with Eintracht Frankfurt

In this feature for Get German Football News, we delve into Albert Riera’s inaugural match as head coach of Eintracht Frankfurt. The decision to appoint Riera marks the club’s first mid-season coaching change in a decade, generating considerable interest across Germany. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see if Riera can achieve similar success to his notable Spanish predecessors, Pep Guardiola and Xabi Alonso.

As of now, it is too early to draw definitive conclusions; Riera has coached only one match thus far, and the quality of the football exhibited during Friday night’s 1-1 draw with 1. FC Union Berlin barely met expectations for a competitive fixture. Nevertheless, that will not deter our exploration of the debut of this intriguing Spanish coach.

Riera implemented only two changes to the lineup that faced Bayer 04 Leverkusen the previous Saturday. Oscar Højlund replaced the suspended Ellyes Skhiri, while defender Aurelé Amenda was substituted for attacker Fares Chaïbi. This adjustment transitioned the team from a back-three formation to a back-four, with Rasmus Kristensen and Nathaniel Brown shifting from wing-back to full-back positions.

The anticipated 4-1-4-1 formation was evident upon the release of the team sheet.

It was not surprising to see Hugo Larsson play as a lone defensive midfielder, with Riera ensuring that Højlund provided ample support. The midfield triangle maintained a cohesive ‘tiki-taka’ style of play, although Mario Götze notably deviated from this stereotype by frequently advancing forward. During most attacking phases, Kristensen would drop back after the ball was pushed forward, while Brown moved up as a pseudo winger.

Possession was a key theme for Frankfurt throughout the match. Remarkably, the team enjoyed over 80 percent possession during the first half. By the final whistle, Riera’s squad had executed 649 passes compared to Union Berlin’s 229, with an impressive passing accuracy of 87 percent. However, it is essential to note that Frankfurt generated a concerning 0.14 expected goals (xG), indicating a lack of clinical edge in front of goal. It is understandable that Riera’s tactical approach is still in the early stages of development, which may explain the team’s struggles in creating significant scoring opportunities.

After Jean-Matteo Bahoya took over from Chaïbi in the 67th minute, Brown appeared to move into a more central position alongside Larsson. This shift suggested that Riera was experimenting with a 3-2-3-2 formation during possession phases. This tactical adjustment played a crucial role in Brown’s 84th-minute goal, which could be interpreted as Riera’s first calculated success in crafting a goal.

However, defensive lapses remain a prominent issue. Captain Robin Koch committed several glaring errors, and goalkeeper Kaua Santos may need to step aside for Michael Zetterer to regain his position. Meanwhile, Götze and Ritsu Doan have yet to find their form, while Kristensen has shown slight improvement but continues to lack impact.

Inspiration among the ranks of the RheinMainAdler remains limited. Players such as Brown, on-loan striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, and substitute Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab have provided occasional moments of brilliance, but many teammates have regressed in performance since the last Bundesliga match. This dip in form is understandable as players adjust to a new coaching style.

Looking ahead, the imminent return of strikers Jonathan Burkardt and Younes Ebnoutalib due to injury should bolster the team’s performance. It is plausible to predict that Riera will secure his first Bundesliga victory against Borussia Mönchengladbach next weekend. Following matches against Bayern and Freiburg, Riera could potentially lead the team to a three-match winning streak against St. Pauli, Heidenheim, and Mainz before the March international break.

However, it is crucial for supporters to temper expectations regarding the anticipated return to the ‘heavy-metal football’ linked to Riera’s appointment. It is unlikely that his version of SGE will exhibit the same offensive excitement as Toppmöller’s squad for some time. Riera’s focus on fortifying the defense aligns with the club’s true objectives, even if it contrasts with the more flamboyant aspects some may hope for.