Eintracht Frankfurt: A Season of Challenges and Optimism

The international break approaches for Eintracht Frankfurt, following a lackluster goalless draw against Mainz. In the 80th minute, Ritsu Doan seized the ball, maneuvering past two defenders before scoring a decisive goal with his left foot. This moment ignited a wave of joy and relief among supporters in the Nordwestkurve, the stadium’s most vocal section.

The match against Mainz epitomized an “Arbeitssieg”—a victory achieved through sheer effort. The first half yielded little in terms of creativity from either side, prompting Eintracht’s sporting CEO Markus Krösche to comment that it had “little to do with football.”

To counteract a troubling trend of defensive vulnerabilities, Eintracht has prioritized maintaining stability in their recent competitive fixtures. After becoming one of the Bundesliga’s most porous defenses, conceding three goals to Bayer Leverkusen and four to both Union Berlin and Borussia Mönchengladbach, the issues persisted in the UEFA Champions League with five goals conceded against Atlético Madrid and Liverpool.

Such high goal concessions make it difficult to secure victories, which led to a strategic shift reminiscent of the German catenaccio approach, as noted by opposing coach Antonio Conte.

Eintracht Frankfurt remains a prominent yet underappreciated club in world football. On matchdays, the atmosphere in the Frankfurter Stadtwald (city forest) is palpable, with thousands enjoying traditional bratwurst and anticipating the game. The club’s museum offers a glimpse into its rich history, and the lively discussions in the Waldtribüne create a vibrant fan experience.

Last season marked significant achievements for the team, finishing third in the Bundesliga under coach Dino Toppmöller, especially after the winter transfer of Omar Marmoush to Manchester City.

With Hugo Ekitike’s departure to Liverpool this summer, it was expected that expectations would be moderated. However, the extent of the performance decline has been surprising, given the retention of a strong squad core and the notable signing of local talent Jonathan Burkardt for €22 million.

Burkardt has not disappointed, earning the Bundesliga Player of the Month award for October after scoring braces against SC Freiburg and St. Pauli. It’s important to recognize that strikers come in various styles; while Marmoush and Ekitike excelled as quick counterattacking forwards, Burkardt offers a more traditional center-forward presence combined with defensive responsibilities.

Transitioning to a new attacking reference point can take time for any team, and some players have struggled for form this season. Kauã Santos, once seen as the future goalkeeper, lost his position shortly after returning from an extended injury. Meanwhile, captain Robin Koch’s recent performances led to omission from the national squad, although he has shown improvement in his last two outings.

Several players, including Nnamdi Collins, Arthur Theate, Hugo Larsson, Ellyes Skhiri, and Ansgar Knauff, have also exhibited noticeable drops in performance.

Doan, who started his Eintracht career with an impressive two-brace performance in his first three competitive matches, has seen a resurgence after a quieter period, capped with a crucial match-winning goal last week.

The forward depth remains a concern, as neither Elye Wahi nor Michy Batshuayi has yet made a significant impact, with Wahi still searching for his first Bundesliga goal after 17 matches.

Despite several underwhelming performances, there are standout success stories. Can Uzun has distinguished himself with five goals and three assists, although he is currently sidelined with an injury. Farès Chaïbi has developed into a well-rounded midfielder, contributing five assists, while Denmark international Rasmus Kristensen has maintained a high level of consistency on the right flank.

Looking ahead, Frankfurt’s next challenge is an intriguing match against FC Cologne, just an hour away, under Saturday night lights. This marks the beginning of a demanding schedule leading up to Christmas, which includes key fixtures in both the Bundesliga and Champions League against teams such as RB Leipzig, Leverkusen, Atalanta, and Barcelona.

The question remains whether Toppmöller’s squad can blend the high-tempo, aesthetically pleasing football of last season with the defensive rigor displayed in recent matches against Napoli and Mainz. Despite the autumn challenges, optimism remains for Eintracht, and it would not be surprising to see them secure a top-four finish in Germany by May.