Mario Götze and Hugo Ekitiké star as Eintracht Frankfurt brush Ajax aside
Eintracht Frankfurt have booked their place in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals after thrashing Dutch giants Ajax 4-1 at home in their round of 16 second leg.
Coming into this match with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, Frankfurt gave no indication of complacency creeping in. Immediately asserting their dominance in the match, Eintracht took the lead inside just seven minutes, when Jean-Mattéo Bahoya played two one-twos in quick succession, receiving the ball after the second thanks to some superb individual brilliance from Hugo Ekitiké, which saw him spin under pressure and slide an inch-perfect pass for the young winger to stroke home at the near post. Not satisfied with just the one, Mario Götze added another, as his clever run was picked out by a long ball from Robin Koch. The veteran midfielder took one touch to bring it down, before lifting it over Matheus Magalhães in the Ajax goal. Rasmus Kristensen then almost made it three after half an hour with a venomous shot from the edge of the box, but Matheus managed to parry. A deflected Davy Klaassen shot and a series of powerful efforts from Steven Berghuis towards the end of the half forced Kauã Santos into action, but Kevin Trapp’s replacement dealt with them well.
There was an expectation that the Dutch side would come flying out of the gates, but Frankfurt managed to weather initial pressure at the start of the half, whilst limiting Ajax to efforts from range. Despite sitting deeper, Eintracht remained a threat on the counter, with Ekitiké very nearly finishing off a rapid break led by Ansgar Knauff after 50 minutes. Fifteen minutes later, Ekitiké found the reward for his outstanding first-half performance as the Bahoya- Ekitiké connection came up trumps again. The Frenchman made it look easy as he dropped his shoulder to beat two defenders before slotting it past Matheus with aplomb. Ajax substitute Kenneth Taylor responded soon after, firing an accurate right-footed shot into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box. The goal lifted the visitors, with Mika Godts and Oliver Edvardsen both going close shortly after, but Götze squashed any late hope as he capitalised on Matheus coming well off his line with a spectacular chipped effort from around 40 yards. Knauff nearly made it five towards the end, losing out in a one-on-one, but ultimately Götze’s finish proved to be Frankfurt’s final goal of the tie as they cruised towards a quarter-final showdown with Tottenham Hotspur.
Match stats
Eintracht are undefeated in 12 Europa League fixtures at home, dating back to a March 2020 loss to Basel.
Götze has nine direct goal-involvements against Ajax (having also previously faced them with Borussia Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven).
With Omar Marmoush now at Manchester City, Ekitiké is Frankfurt's 13-goal top scorer in the Bundesliga, and now joint-top scorer in Europe with Larsson on three goals.
Ajax forward Brobbey made nine Bundesliga appearances for Leipzig in 2021/22 but failed to score.
The returning Skhiri scored his first Europa League goal in the reverse fixture.
Frankfurt have a positive record against Dutch opposition, winning seven and losing three.
Ajax: Matheus - Lucas Rosa (Gaaei 69‘), Kaplan, Rugani, Janse (Hato 78‘) - Klaassen (c), Mokio (Taylor 63‘), van den Boomen – Berghuis (Godts 63‘), Konadu (Traoré 63‘), Edvardsen Unused subs: Garter, Setford, Brobbey, Rijkhoff, Fitz-Jim, Šutalo, Jetten Out: Henderson (suspended), Pasveer (groin), Rasmussen (hamstring), Regeer (ankle), Van Axel Dongen (ankle), Weghorst (broken toe) Coach: Francesco Farioli
As it happened!
4 - 1
(0 - 0)
Frankfurt
FINAL
Ajax
Europa League Round of 16, second leg Round of 16, second leg Deutsche Bank Park
Full-time: Frankfurt 4-1 Ajax
A masterclass from the home side, who blasted away any possible pre-match doubts with a purring team performance that had Ajax chasing shadows for 90 minutes. Four sensational goals – two either side of half-time – ensured a crushing 6-2 aggregate win. Few teams will fancy playing Frankfurt in the next round.
The referee indicates a final 180 seconds to play.
88'
Knauff close!
Frankfurt break forward down the left and almost score when a cross behind the defence finds Knauff on the right-hand side of the box. He fixes to shoot but Matheus rushes out to block.
It's another cracker from the home side, who have had a lot of fun tonight. A long ball over the Ajax defence sees Matheus charge out of his box to clear. But he makes a real hash of it, and Frankfurt steal. It's fed to Götze, near the halfway line, and the forward chips a long-range effort over the back-peddling 'keeper and into an empty net. Comical.
Ajax attack down the left flank, before feeding it back to Taylor, on the edge of the box. He simply smacks a daisy cutter inside the near post from range. It's a simple goal from the visitors, who could have done with a few more of these tonight.
The Frenchman makes the game look far too easy sometimes. He receives the ball left of the Ajax area, skips inside his marker and lashes a fierce shot beyond the goalkeeper into the far side of the net. Simple.
The home side clear a corner and race up field in a two-against-three situation. Knauff, galloping down the right with options either side, takes an age to pick a pass and, when he does, it's a poor one. It reaches Ekitiké on the left-hand side of the box but it's so slow a defender recovers to block his effort
49'
Frankfurt cry penalty
The home side want a spot kick after an Ajax defender blocked a cross with his arm. But the referee isn't having any of it. Play on.
46'
Miracle on the cards?
The second half gets underway and Ajax have it all to do. The Dutchmen need at least three goals to take this to extra-time.
Kick-off!
Half-time: Frankfurt 2-0 Ajax
Frankfurt make a lightning start to this second-leg clash, racing to a 2-0 (4-1) lead over their Dutch opponents. Two stunning team goals end with Bahoya and then Götze on the scoresheet. It’s a long way back for Ajax, who need a near-miracle now.
Berghuis takes the ball in the inside-right channel, cuts inside his marker and smacks a low effort towards the near post. Santos gets low to paw behind for a corner. That is taken short to Berghuis, who whips in a cross-shot that Berghuis has to punch over the bar.
41'
Better from the visitors
The away side get in behind the Frankfurt defence and, from the right wing, cut a ball back to the edge of the box, where captain Klaassen is waiting. His first-time effort is deflected but Santos manages to catch.
39'
Must do better
Frankfurt have their own free-kick from the left flank. Götze sends in an inswinger but it's nodded away.
37'
Ajax caught cold
Berghuis thumps a long free-kick into the Frankfurt area from the left flank and Santos punches behind for a corner. The goalkeeper then catches the latter and launches a counter attack which, thankfully for the away side, leads to nothing.
Ice cold!
Bahoya celebrates the game's opening goal following a sensational one-two with Ekitiké.
Mokio lets fly from the edge of the Frankfurt box, in a central area, but it's not got enough venom behind it and Santos holds.
30'
Kaplan takes aim!
Some fine team play on the left flank leads to a cross through the Ajax area. It's nodded away to the right flank, but only as far as Kaplan, just inside the area. The defender smashes a low effort towards the near post but it's parried to safety by Matheus.
26'
Frankfurt out of sight?
The home side go 4-1 up on aggregate and it's another absolute stunner. Koch, under no pressure just inside the Ajax half, lofts an inch-perfect ball over the defence and straight to an unmarked Götze, who takes a touch a few metres out from goal and rifles beyond the goalkeeper. Simple, yet stunning.
Rugani leaves the field with a head injury after a clash. He's being checked over by medical staff – 11 vs 10 for a minute here.
21'
Ajax hit one
The away side have their first dig at goal and it's a decent effort. Berghuis collects the ball wide left of Frankfurt's area and fires from distance. It whistle's over the far top corner of Santos' goal.
19'
Ajax on top
The away side enjoy a spell in possession for the first time in this match.
15'
Ekitiké second best
Ekitiké and Skhiri exchange a smart one-two on the left side of the Ajax area and the return pass is slipped across the six-yard box back to the French forward. But he is just beaten to it by the defender before he can tap home.
12'
Ajax in trouble
The away side now need two goals just to drag this to extra-time but they've hardly been unable to get a touch inside the opening 12 minutes.
7'
Bahoya opens the scores!
The home side go 3-1 up in aggregate and it's a stunning team goal. Bahoya collects the ball to the left of the Ajax area and exchanges two quick one-twos with his team-mates as he works his way into the box. The second sees Ekitiké spin under pressure and slide an inch-perfect pass between the defenders and goalkeeper for Bahoya to run on to. He can't miss, and simply slots into the bottom left corner.
Santos pumps a long ball downfield and Ekitiké wins it before finding space to shoot inside the Ajax area. Lucas Rosa gets goal-side of him just in time and clears.
1'
Peeeep!
The game gets underway in Frankfurt.
Kick-off!
Hold on to your hats
Kick-off between Frankfurt and Ajax is just minutes away.
Trapp's injured, so Santos starts in the Frankfurt goal. Collins is suspended, though, with Koch recalled after missing the Union loss at the weekend. Toppmöller also reinstates Skhiri, Knauff, Götze, Bahoya and Ekitiké, who were also given a breather from the start on Sunday. As for Ajax, former Bremen midfielder Klasseen is among the players to come in after the first leg. Henderson is suspended.
The 19-year-old attacker appeared as a late substitute in the first leg.
Koch in Germany squad
Frankfurt defender Robin Koch was called up to Julian Nagelsmann's Germany squad for upcoming Nations League quarter-final ties against Italy on the morning of the matchday.
Ajax will be without their captain, Jordan Henderson, with the England international suspended for picking up three yellow cards in the Europa League. Davy Klaasen is expected to step in after returning himself from suspension and also take the captain's armband.
Brobbey the former Bull
The young striker is the only Ajax player from their first-leg squad to have played in the Bundesliga. He joined RB Leipzig in 2021, making 14 appearances in all competitions before re-joining Ajax a year later. He did not make an appearance against Frankfurt during his time in Germany, however.
Brobbey a doubt
Brian Brobbey, who scored Ajax's only goal of the first-leg, is a doubt for tomorrow's clash according to manager Francesco Farioli: “He’s not fully fit and still recovering. The last few matches have been tough, and he’s taken a lot of knocks. We’ll make a decision tomorrow, and we’re monitoring the situation closely. Brian’s own feeling is also an important factor. We’re already missing some strikers, so we need to be smart.”
Klaassen on facing Frankfurt
“It’ll be a close game, just like in Amsterdam. They’re a team with a lot of power, and small mistakes can be costly because they will capitalize quickly. The little details will make the difference. We’re starting from behind, so it’s all or nothing.”
"We're going into it with a slight advantage, but we also know it's a knockout game and nothing is decided yet. It's going to be very special again. I've experienced a lot of special games already here and I'm massively looking forward to it. Us players are fired up and want to go through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League."
"I expect us to build on the performance from the first leg and show just the same focus and concentration as in Amsterdam. It's looking very good with Robin Koch, he's been given the green light. With Arthur Theate, we have to wait for the final test tomorrow."
So far, from Frankfurt's eight games in the tournament until now, they are yet to lose at home. Their three games at the Deutsche Bank Park have seen them win twice (1-0, 1-0), and draw once (3-3).
New generation of Eagles
Only four players from that Europa League final squad remain: Ansgar Knauff, Tuta, Kevin Trapp and Jens Grahl.
This is Frankfurt's first season back in the Europa League since winning it in the 2021/22 season under Oliver Glasner. That victory saw them compete in the Champions League the following season, before they entered the Conference League in the 2023/24 season.
A long time coming
Skhiri doesn't score many goals from his deep-lying midfield role, and his winner in the first-leg was his first goal since November 2023, when he scored in a 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.
2:20
Home strengths
As mentioned below, Eintracht haven't lost in European competition at home since 2020, and to add to the Eagles' impressive record at their Deutsche Bank Park fortress, Dino Toppmöller's side have also failed to concede a goal in their last three European home games.
"Finish the job"
Eintracht's Germany U21 international defender Nnamdi Collins urged his Eintracht teammates to complete their task against Ajax on Thursday and reach the tournament's quarter-final stage. “The match in Amsterdam felt good, but we’re not through yet," the Düsseldorf native warned. "We have to finish the job and progress to the next round.”
Frankfurt have won six matches against Dutch opposition, losing three. They will look to that record as inspiration as they attempt to reach the quarter-finals.
Team news
Frankfurt will be without a few players for this clash, including Oscar Højlund (not in the squad) and Nnamdi Collins. Arthur Theate, who suffered an injury in the warm-up against Union, is a doubt. Ajax, meanwhile, will have to make do with Remko Pasveer after he was first off in the first leg, and former Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim forward Wout Weghorst has a broken toe.
In the Europa League, Frankfurt are a tough nut to crack at home. They are unbeaten in their past 11 such games, a run which dates back to 2020.
Struggling for form
Frankfurt have won just two of their past eight Bundesliga matches, dropping down to fourth. They are still in the UEFA Champions League qualification places, but this competition gives them another opportunity to regain a place at Europe's top table.
2:03
Watch: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 Union Berlin - highlights
The hosts prepared for this clash with a defeat at home against Union at the weekend.
Eintracht have the edge
The Eagles produced a fantastic display in Amsterdam to prevail 2-1, coming from behind in the process. Midfielders Hugo Larsson and Ellyes Skhiri were on the scoresheet after former RB Leipzig striker Brian Brobbey broke the deadlock.
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of the second leg of Eintracht Frankfurt's round of 16 tie against Ajax in the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League, being played at Deutsche Bank Park on Thursday.
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First-leg report
Eintracht Frankfurt responded superbly to falling behind at Ajax, with Hugo Larsson and Ellyes Skhiri finding the net on a fantastic night in the last 16 first leg in Amsterdam.
Frankfurt hoped to continue the strong Europa League form that had taken them to fifth out of 36 in the league stage, but the hosts had other ideas, with former RB Leipzig striker Brian Brobbey smashing the post in the second minute. The Netherlands international then headed Jordan Henderson’s cross in for an early lead. The Bundesliga outfit looked to level immediately, with Ansgar Knauff and Jean-Matteo Bahoya both going close in an entertaining opening phase. As Frankfurt continued to press, a leveller looked increasingly more likely, despite Ajax remaining a threat on the counter. It ultimately came after 28 minutes, with a Mario Götze free-kick being taken short to Larsson, whose thumping effort from outside the box took a deflection off the head of Brobbey before nestling in the bottom left corner. Smelling blood, the visitors continued to commit men forward, going close through Rasmus Kristensen and Knauff, but the hosts held firm, heading in at the break one apiece.
Kevin Trapp had a busy opening spell in the second half, as Ajax emerged from the dressing room with renewed attacking impetus, but a fantastic one-on-one save against goalscorer Brobbey managed to keep the scores level. In contrast to their hell-for-leather approach in the opening 45, the Eagles were more measured going forward. Hugo Ekitiké came closest initially with a low shot just wide of the left post, before Knauff spun his marker at the touchline, drove into the box, and teed up Skhiri, who stroked it home from close range to give his side the lead. Looking to hold what they had, Frankfurt dropped deeper, inviting pressure from the Dutch league leaders. But despite being bombarded by set pieces and crosses, the Eintracht defence held firm, ensuring the lead would be taken back with them for the second leg on the Main.
