Younes Ebnoutalib strike earns Eintracht Frankfurt first home win of the season
Younes Ebnoutalib's second-half strike gave Eintracht Frankfurt a 1-0 win over Cologne on Matchday 6, ending the Eagles' winless home run this season.
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 Cologne
Goals: 1-0 Ebnoutalib 77’ (assist: Aséko)
Head coach Adi Hütter made three changes following the 6-0 defeat in Leipzig, with Fares Chaïbi, Mario Götze and top scorer Younes Ebnoutalib all starting. Cologne boss René Wagner altered his side too, bringing in Tom Krauß for the injured Ellyes Skhiri and handing Joël Schmied his first start of the season. Noah Atubolu made his 100th Bundesliga appearance in the Frankfurt goal.
Bülter denied twice before the break
Cologne had the clearest opening of the first half when Marius Bülter was sent clean through after just seconds, only for Atubolu to make a fine save. The visitors went close again on the half-hour as Bülter met a free-kick at the front post, forcing another smart stop from the Frankfurter keeper.
Chaïbi and Ebnoutalib tested Marvin Schwäbe at the other end, but the sides went in level at the break.
Ebnoutalib breaks the deadlock
Frankfurt came out sharper after the restart and created a string of chances through Ebnoutalib, Chaïbi and Brassier, all denied by Schwäbe. The breakthrough arrived in the 77th minute: after a high Frankfurt turnover, substitute Noëll Aséko threaded a pass into the path of Ebnoutalib, who finished from a tight angle to make it 1-0.
Cologne pushed for an equaliser through late substitute Reigan Heskey, but could not find a way past Atubolu, and Borna Sosa was shown a late yellow card as the hosts held on for the win.
Man of the Match: Younes Ebnoutalib
Ebnoutalib was Frankfurt's liveliest attacker throughout, testing Schwäbe repeatedly before scoring the only goal of the game in the 77th minute, finishing a move started by substitute Aséko. He was named Man of the Match with 60 per cent of the vote.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Eintracht Frankfurt 1.68 - Cologne 0.49
Fastest player: Saïd El Mala (Cologne), 33.49 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Younes Ebnoutalib (Frankfurt), 11 percent
Pass efficiency: Mario Götze (Frankfurt), +2.94
Fantasy Heroes: Marvin Schwäbe (Cologne, 127 Points), Ritsu Dōan (Eintracht Frankfurt, 121 Points), Tom Krauß (Cologne, 103 Points)
