Having come into their game sat proudly atop the league phase table of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, Eintracht Frankfurt were handed a heavy 5-1 loss away to Atlético Madrid on Matchday 2.
Atlético Madrid 5-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Raspadori 4‘, 2-0 Le Normand 33‘, 3-0 Griezmann 45‘+1, 3-1 Burkardt 57‘, 4-1 Simeone 70‘, 5-1 Álvarez 82‘
Despite Frankfurt’s come-from-behind 5-1 thrashing of Galatasaray being the biggest victory of Matchday 1 and putting them on preliminary pole after the first match of the eight-game league phase, it wasn’t to be as smooth sailing away in Spain.
After a tentative opening couple of minutes, Atlético struck first, taking the lead through Giacomo Raspadori in the fourth minute. The Italian pounced on a scuffed effort from Julián Álvarez following a cross from Giuliano Simeone on the right, smashing it home from seven yards.
Frankfurt looked to generate an immediate response, with Farès Chaïbi’s curling effort from the edge of the box minutes later being deflected just wide for a corner. However, that would be the best chance Frankfurt would have in the first half as the hosts never really took their feet off the gas.
Giacomo Raspadori gave his side the lead inside just five minutes. - Angel Martinez
Álvarez had two similar chances in quick succession where he got in behind Frankfurt’s backline. The first of his efforts from the edge of the box flew just over the bar, and his second was decisively more accurate, stinging the palms of Kauã Santos on the half-volley.
Continuing to dominate, the hosts doubled their advantage after just over half an hour, when, from Álvarez’s corner, Antoine Griezmann forced an unbelievable reaction stop from Santos, who could only parry it into the path of Robin Le Normand, allowing the centre-back to smash home the second from close range.
Griezmann delivered a sucker punch on the stroke of half-time, as he latched onto the end of a cutback from Álvarez to fire in a third just before the break.
A fantastic goal-saving interception from Arthur Theate prevented the hosts from starting the second half as they ended the first, and Frankfurt themselves looked rejuvenated after the break, despite not making any changes. Jonathan Burkardt pulled one back before the hour-mark after a real show of tenacity from Ansgar Knauff.
Jonathan Burkardt provided a ray of second half hope with his second Champions League goal of the season. - IMAGO/HMB Media/Claus
But the optimism was to be short-lived. A disallowed Griezmann second highlighted cracks in the Frankfurt defence, and Atlético continued to exploit them. First, Simeone got on the end of an Álvarez corner to head home at the front post, before Álvarez himself finally got the goal he had been threatening all night.
Following a VAR check, substitute Aurèle Amenda was adjudged to have handled the ball inside his own penalty area and Álvarez stepped up to convert the penalty, sending Santos diving the wrong way with a cool Panenka and sealing the three points for Atlético.
Match stats
- This is Dino Toppmöller's first season in the Champions League. His overall record from 103 games in charge of Frankfurt reads: W47, D27, L29.
- Burkardt occupies third place in the 2025/26 Champions League goalscoring charts with three goals, behind only Kylian Mbappé (five) and Harry Kane (four).
- This was the teams' third competitive meeting. The first two games were in the 1975/76 season, when Frankfurt won 2-1 away and 1-0 at home in the last 16 of the Cup Winners' Cup.
- Atléti's Alexander Sørloth scored five goals in 29 Bundesliga appearances for RB Leipzig in 2020/21.
- Atlético's record against German clubs reads P54: W25, D9, L20.
Teams
Atlético: Oblak (c) – Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Ruggeri – Simeone (Molina 75‘), Gallagher, Barrios (González 75‘), Griezmann (Martín 89‘) – Álvarez (Baena 89‘), Raspadori (Koke 55‘)
Unused subs: Musso, Esquivel, Hancko, Pubill, Galán, Zanzi
Out: Almada (muscular), Cardoso (ankle), Giménez (hamstring)
Coach: Diego Simeone
Frankfurt: Santos – Collins (Amenda 58‘), Koch (c), Theate, Brown (Bahoya 71‘) – Chaïbi, Skhiri (Höjlund 58‘) – Dōan (Götze 75‘), Uzun (Larsson 58‘), Knauff – Burkardt
Unused subs: Zetterer, Baum, Wahi, Dahoud, Chandler, Buta, Batshuayi
Out: Kristensen (muscular), Ngankam (ineligible)
Coach: Dino Toppmöller
As it happened!
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Full-time: Atlético Madrid 5-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
It's all over here and after beating Galatasaray by this scoreline on Matchday 1, Frankfurt suffer a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Atlético. It was an improved second half from the Eagles, and things looked promising after Burkardt's consolation, but two further goals from Simeone and Álvarez ensured what was a convincing win for the Spaniards.
© OSCAR DEL POZO
Full-time
Stoppage time
Three additional minutes are indicated.
Madrid in control
The hosts are knocking it about very confidently here. Frankfurt can barely get near the ball.
Álvarez dispatches it!
The Argentine steps up to the spot and coolly sits Santos down with a Panenka penalty. The goalkeeper tries to recover from being chipped, but can't get a powerful enough hand on the ball to claw it off the line.
Penalty given!
After going to the monitor, the referee judges Amenda's hand to have touched the ball inside the box, and he points to the spot.
Dancing feet
Álvarez is played in behind down the left. He turns Koch inside out, before his low shot is saved by Santos. It drops to Griezmann, who is dispossessed by Amenda, but the Frenchman screams for a penalty for handball. A VAR check is underway here...
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Optimism snuffed out
After a really bright start to the second half and a goal from Burkardt, the wind seems to have been taken out of Frankfurt's sails after conceding a fourth.
© Angel Martinez
Ch- ch- changes
Both managers make two substitutions in quick succesion. For Eintracht: Bahoya and Götze enter for Brown and Dōan, whilst for Atlético, goalscorer Simeone leaves the field alongside Barrios.
Simeone makes it four this time!
Álvarez's corner from the right is met by Simeone at the near post, who makes a great run to shake his marker before heading into the net from close range.
Griezmann thought he had a second!
A fantastic free-flowing move from Atlético sees Barrios play a one-two with Koke, before feeding the ball into the feet of Álvarez, who - with one touch - backheels it and finds the run of Griezmann. The French forward simply scoops it over Santos to seemingly make it 4-1. However, following a VAR review, the goal is disallowed for offside.
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Looking confident
Barring the chance which was snuffed out by a fantastic clearance from Theate, it's been all Frankfurt this second half, who have been growing ever more confident since the restart.
© IMAGO/HMB Media/Claus
Triple change
Toppmöller goes to the bench immediately after Burkardt's goal, bringing on Amenda, Larsson, and Höjlund. Are we in for a special comeback here?
Burkardt claws one back!
Knauff refuses to give up on a long ball up from the bank and his tenacity is rewarded. The No.7 manages to get on to the end of it and cuts it back for Burkardt, who drills home from the penalty spot.
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The goalscorer departs
Raspadori, who provided the opener, is the first player to leave the pitch, replaced by veteran captain Koke.
© IMAGO/Acero
Just wide
Following a good spell of possession in an advanced area for Frankfurt, Knauff picks Llorente's pocket before moving play on to Uzun. The youngster drives at the hosts' backline before letting fly, but he drags his powerful, low effort just wide of the left post.
On the turn
Dōan feeds the ball into Burkardt's feet, who turns Llorente before letting fly with his weaker left foot. It's a clever turn, but his effort lacks power.
Last-ditch
Simeone plays a fantastic low cross in from the right but Theate - at full-stretch - just manages to get a toe on it to poke the ball behind for a corner, upon which Atlético don't manage to capitalise.
Back underway!
It's the hosts who get the ball rolling for the second half here. Neither manager has opted to make any changes.
Kick-off!
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Half-time: Atlético 3-0 Frankfurt
So, it's Atlético who head in at the break with the advantage here. After taking an early lead, it was Frankfurt who enjoyed a spell of relative control, seeing a lot of the ball, but without managing to threaten Oblak. Atlético reassumed control, however, going close through Álvarez a couple of times before Le Normand doubled the lead. Griezmann's late third will be a real sucker punch for Toppmöller's men, who will need to show real grit if they're to turn things around here.
© IMAGO/Jose Breton
Half-time
Griezmann makes it three!
That'll be a tough one for Frankfurt to take on the stroke of half-time. Álvarez is played in behind on the left flank. He beats Koch, gets to the byline and cuts it back for Griezmann, who smashes home from six yards.
Stoppage time
One additional minute is indicated.
Brown booked
The young left-back is penalised for a handball which prevents a promising attack for the hosts.
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Le Normand celebrates
The centre-back couldn't believe his luck when the ball dropped to him inside Frankfurt's six-yard box.
© OSCAR DEL POZO
In by Álvarez
Gallagher draws a foul off Chaïbi by the right touchline, deep inside Frankfurt's half. Álvarez curls it in, but a Frankfurt head is first to the ball to clear the danger.
Le Normand on the follow-up!
From an out-swinging corner from the right courtesy of Álvarez, Griezmann gets a dangerous flick-on at the near post. Santos pulls off an incredible reaction save, but deflects the ball back into danger. Le Normand is waiting at the back post and smashes it in from close range for his first ever Champions League goal and Atlético's second.
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Burkardt isolated
Frankfurt's forward has struggled to make the impact he would've wanted as too often he's finding himself with no support in advanced areas.
© IMAGO/Guillermo Martinez
Unfortunate slip
A long ball up from the back from Santos is missed by Ruggeri and Knauff pounces. It looks as if he'll be through on goal, but just as he's about to get into his stride, he slips, and the chance goes begging.
Mistakes creeping in
Frankfurt are managing to get on the ball high up the pitch by pouncing on a few wayward passes from the hosts. However, despite some good link-up play from Uzun, Dōan and Chaïbi, they are still yet to test Oblak in goal.
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Still the difference
As of yet, Frankfurt have not managed to find a response to Raspadori's opener. They have been growing into the game in the last couple of minutes, though.
© Angel Martinez
Golden opportunity!
Again, the Spanish side work it really well and, following a one-two, Álvarez is in behind again. His effort on the half-volley stings the palms of Santos, who pulls of a great save to beat the danger away. It falls to Simeone, who beats Brown and tries to put another cross in, but this time, Frankfurt get it clear.
Just over
Following a great team move, the hosts work it to Álvarez, who beats Theate with a drop of the shoulder before blasting an effort just over the near post from the edge of the box.
Lenglet booked
The centre-back sees yellow for a late challenge on Farès Chaïbi.
Griezmann through!
The French forward is played in behind Theate. The ball doesn't fall kindly for him though, and he tries to poke it past Santos from the edge of the box, but it's a tame effort.
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Raspadori's opener
The Italian was completely unmarked as he smashed home the first goal inside five minutes.
© OSCAR DEL POZO
Great recovery challenge
It's Raspadori again who launches a counter-attack for the hosts. The winger finds Simeone with a fantastic switch of play. Brown is the only man back and Simeone tries to beat him, but the full-back makes a great tackle, sending the ball behind for a corner.
Bicycle kick
Raspadori is played in behind the Frankfurt backline by a great pass from Ruggeri, which takes Collins out of the game. The Italian crosses from the byline, and the initial clearance doesn't quite get the danger away. Instead, Simeone is teed up for the spectacular, but his effort is comfortably claimed by Santos.
Chaïbi bends one
Frankfurt look to hit back not long after. The ball comes in from the left, finding Chaïbi, who curls an effort towards the far corner. It takes a deflection on its way through and Eintracht are awarded a corner. However, nothing comes of Dōan's delivery.
Raspadori rifles in the opener!
That didn't take long. Initially, Raspadori plays a cross in from the left, which seems massively overhit, but Simeone manages to retrieve it. He beats Brown down the right before crossing in towards Álvarez. The Argentine scuffs his finish, but Raspadori is behind him to smash home from six yards.
And we're off!
It's Frankfurt who get the ball rolling at the Estadio Metropolitano here.
Kick-off!
Odds stacked against them
Atléti have never lost their opening two games of a Champions League season. After tonight's hosts lost to Liverpool last time out, will the Eagles be the ones to break this proud record?
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Atléti team news
By contrast, Simeone names four changes to his side that beat Real 5-2 in the Madrid derby over the weekend. Ruggeri, Gallagher, Griezmann and Raspadori all come in to the starting line-up, replacing Hancko, Koke, González (all benched), and Sørloth (not inlcuded in the squad).
© OSCAR DEL POZO
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More on that Frankfurt side
Interestingly, Dino Toppmöller names an unchanged Eintracht line-up to the one that beat Gladbach 6-4 over the weekend as he looks to provide a similar goal threat against a defensively sound Atlético outfit.
© IMAGO/osnapix / Marcus Hirnschal
Starting line-up: Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt subs
Zetterer, Baum, Amenda, Höjlund, Larsson, Wahi, Dahoud, Bahoya, Chandler, Buta, Götze, Batshuayi
Atlético starting XI
Oblak (c) – Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Ruggeri – Simeone, Gallagher, Barrios, Griezmann – Álvarez, Raspadori
Atlético subs
Musso, Esquivel, Koke, Baena, Martín, Molina, Hancko, Pubill, Galán, González, Zanzi
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Fan power
Atlético's Metropolitano stadium is set to be a cauldron of noise tonight, but Eintracht supporters can be certain to make themselves heard amid the home roars. Some 3,431 travelling fans have tickets for the Champions League showdown in the Spanish capital.
© IMAGO/Oliver Zimmermann
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Jonathan Burkardt on facing Atleti
"I'm really looking forward to my second Champions League match, so that I can continue to gain experience and hopefully we'll achieve a good result. Alvarez and Griezmann are both incredible players but I focus more on my and our game. Nevertheless, they are great players we get to play against."
© IMAGO/Joaquim Ferreira
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Dino Toppmöller on facing Atleti
"It’s under the Champions League spotlight, so Atleti will be more fired up. This competition has a very special atmosphere. Of course, we noticed their result against Real Madrid. Atleti has been one of the top teams in Europe over the last ten years, they have incredible intensity in their game and a passionate crowd.”
© IMAGO/Kirchner-Media/Thomas Haesler
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Once upon a time...
It's a while back now, but Frankfurt beat Atléti in the 1975/76 Cup Winners' Cup second round 2-1 away and 1-0 at home.
© imago sportfotodienst
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Encouraging record
Against Spanish teams, Die Adler's record from 11 competitive ties stands at six wins, three draws and two losses, both coming against the mighty Real Madrid. On the away front, the record looks a lot stronger (W4, D1).
© IMAGO/osnapix / Marcus Hirnschal
Watch: Frankfurt's new goal brokers
Despite losing the services of Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitiké over the past year, the Eagles are soaring high thanks to their plethora of young talents.
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Goal-mad Frankfurt
Frankfurt come into this one off the back of a 6-4 victory over Gladbach in the Bundesliga. Having lost 4-3 to Union Berlin a week earlier, the Eagles have made a habit of scoring plenty but conceding almost as many of late.
© Christof Koepsel
Welcome!
Welcome along to live coverage of Eintracht Frankfurt's second match in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League away at Atlético Madrid in Spain on Tuesday.
