Luka Jovic and Marco Reus exchange goals as Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund share points in thriller
Marco Reus and Luka Jovic were both on the scoresheet again as Borussia Dortmund were held to a 1-1 draw away to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, a result that leaves the Bundesliga leaders frustrated that they could not extend their lead in the wake of Bayern Munich's defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Reus (22'), 1-1 Jovic (36')
With four of the league's top five scorers on the pitch at kick-off – Jovic, Paco Alcacer, Reus and Sebastien Haller – this was always going to be an entertaining game and it did not disappoint. Frankfurt were on top in the early exchanges, with Roman Bürki saving brilliantly from Danny da Costa in the second minute, but BVB soon grew into the game and took the lead when a brilliant run from Raphael Guerreiro teed up Reus for an easy tap-in. Reus could have killed the game off within minutes but spurned three glorious chances to extend Dortmund's lead, profligacy that was punished before the break when Jovic tapped in Da Costa's right-wing cross to leave the teams level at half-time.
Dortmund were the dominant team after the interval and their one-touch build-up play was breathtaking at times. Alcacer had a couple of presentable opportunities and Axel Witsel narrowly missed the target from long range, while at the other end Ante Rebic went closest for Frankfurt, but saw his vicious drive saved by Bürki. A huge roar from the away supporters greeted the news that Bayern had fallen behind against Leverkusen, but try as Dortmund might in the closing stages, they could not force a winner that would have taken them nine points clear at the top.
Match stats
- Alcacer was in the Dortmund starting line-up for the first time in 2019. He scored his maiden Bundesliga goal in the reverse fixture on Matchday 3.
- Martin Hinteregger made his debut for Frankfurt here, despite only joining the Eagles from Augsburg on Thursday.
- Reus has now scored in his last three successive Bundesliga outings. Never before in his career has he had 13 goals after 20 rounds of matches.
- Jovic remains the league's top scorer after hitting his 14th of the campaign in this game.
- Eleven of Jovic's Bundesliga goals this season have been scored at home.
- This was the first time Frankfurt took a point off any team in the top five this season.
Line-ups
Frankfurt: Trapp – Hinteregger, Hasebe (c), N'Dicka – da Costa, Fernandes, Rode, Kostic – Rebic – Haller, Jovic (Gacinovic 55')
Unused subs: Rönnow, Falette, de Guzman, Willems, Russ, Paciencia
Out: Chandler (knee), Torro (pelvis), Abraham (calf), Stendera (illness)
Coach: Adi Hütter
Dortmund: Bürki – Piszczek, Weigl, Diallo, Hakimi – Witsel, Delaney – Sancho (Pulisic 65'), Reus (c), Guerreiro (Bruun Larsen 77') – Alcacer (Götze 86')
Unused subs: Hitz, Toprak, Dahoud, Philipp
Out: Akanji (hip), Balerdi (mouth), Zagadou (fitness)
Coach: Lucien Favre
Watch: Sancho philosophical after the draw
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