Eintracht Frankfurt complete classy turnaround to see off Galatasaray in UEFA Champions League

Dino Toppmöller will be delighted with Eintracht Frankfurt's display of resilience in coming back from going an early goal behind to take maximum points from Galatasaray on a night when Jonathan Burkardt opened his scoring account for the Eagles with a well-timed double.

Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 Galatasaray
Goals: 0-1 Akgün 8' (assist: Sané), 1-1 Davinson Sánchez o.g. 37', 2-1 Uzun 45'+2 (assist: Burkardt), 3-1 Burkardt 45'+4 (assist: Chaïbi), 4-1 Burkardt 66' (assist: Brown), 5-1 Knauff 75' (assist: Wahi)

Their morale slightly dented by last weekend's first reverse of the season against Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht endured one more setback at the start of their league phase opener against the Turkish champions when a familiar face in Leroy Sané freed Yunus Akgün, who beat his man before finishing smartly for the game's opening goal. 

The hosts were rattled, and it took them some time to get their game going as a result. When they did, captain Robin Koch's header caused a headache in the visiting defence, forcing a goal-line clearance that instilled home belief.

Indeed, it wasn't long afterwards that Die Adler were on terms. Ritsu Dōan's attempt to lob Uğurcan Çakır saw Davinson Sánchez produce a crucial deflection that took the ball into the back of the net. 

Watch: Frankfurt's new goal brokers

With Galatasaray now on the back foot, the Lions were looking to make it to half-time and reset. Yet the visitors weren't allowed any such comfort, with Frankfurt downing Okan Buruk's men with a double blow before the break.

Can Uzun - who has five goal involvements in three Bundesliga appearances already this term - produced a fine turn and strike that left Çakır flailing. The keeper was picking the ball out of his net once more moments later when Burkadt - the assist provider for Uzun's goal, headed home his first for Frankfurt from a Fares Chaibi free kick. 

It would be a double celebration on his Champions League debut for former Mainz man and Germany international Burkardt when the 25-year-old put the game beyond Galatasaray's reach in the 66th minute with one more header, this time from Nathaniel Brown's centre. 

The icing on the cake for Toppmöller & Co. came in the form of an Ansgar Knauff strike that left the Waldstadion bouncing on its foundations as all of Eintracht rejoiced in a five-start start to their European campaign. 

Ansgar Knauff rounded off the perfect night for Eintracht Frankfurt with his team's fifth goal. - Alex Grimm

Match stats

• Uzun and Burkardt scored their first-ever Champions League goals. 
• At 19 years and 311 days, Uzun is the second-youngest Turkish player to score in the Champions League proper. His best friend Kenan Yıldız is the youngest. 
• Frankfurt are playing Champions League/European Cup football for the third time. They reached the 2022/23 round of 16 and 1959/60 final.
• Götze is the current Frankfurt squad’s most experienced Champions League player. He’s made 69 appearances in the competition, registering 12 goals and 19 assists.
• Frankfurt played Galatasary twice before the teams' latest meeting, losing 1-0 on aggregate in the 1992/93 UEFA Cup second round.
• Galatasaray’s record across 13 Champions League meetings with German clubs now reads: W2, D3, L8.
• Gündogan won the 2022/23 Champions League with Manchester City. Ten years earlier, he scored in Dortmund's 2-1 final loss to Bayern.

Teams

Frankfurt: Zetterer – Collins, Koch (c) (Amenda 79'), Theate, Brown – Larsson (Skhiri 79'), Chaïbi - Dōan (Batshuayi 84'), Uzun (Bahoya 71'), Knauff – Burkardt (Wahi 71')
Unused subs: Grahl, Santos, Baum, Höljund, Dahoud, Chandler, Buta
Out: Götze (thigh), Kristensen (thigh), Ngankam (ineligible)
Coach: Dino Toppmöller

Galatasaray: Çakır - Sallai, Sánchez, Singo, Elmalı (Jakobs 66') - Torreira, Lemina (Icardi 55')- Sané (Kutucu 66'), Gündoğan (Sara 66'), Yılmaz - Akgün (c) (Kaan Ayhan 77')
Unused subs: Batuhan, Günay, Baltaci, Kutlu, Demir, Bardakci, Ünyay
Out: Karataş (ineligible), Osimhen (ankle)
Coach: Okan Buruk

As it happened!

5 - 1

(3 - 1)

Frankfurt

FINAL

Galatasaray

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 1 League phase, Matchday 1 Deutsche Bank Park

Full-time: Frankfurt 5-1 Galatasaray

The whistle goes and a roar erupts around Deutsche Bank Park. Buoyed by their two late goals in the first half, Frankfurt emerged for the second 45 looking like a team in control. Burkardt added his second of the night around 10 minutes after the restart, before Knauff opened his account after rounding the keeper, following some industrious pressing from Wahi. Interestingly, the 5-1 thrashing of the Turkish champions sees Frankfurt climb to the top of the Champions League group on goal difference!

© IMAGO/Vitalii Kliuiev

Full-time

90'

+ 1

Stoppage time

Four additional minutes are indicated.

90'

Cramp

Play halts as Torreira is down for Galatasaray with cramp in his left leg.

88'

Game management

Frankfurt are showing real professionalism in the dying embers here, not overcommitting men forward and not allowing Galatasaray any late chances.

Final change

Dōan departs the field and is replaced by Batshuayi. The winger may feel disappointed to not have his name on the scoresheet, but the own-goal he forced sewed the seeds for Eintracht's dominant victory here.

© Maja Hitij

84'

Substitution

Michy Batshuayi

Ritsu Dōan

Knauff ecstatic

The winger was delighted after scoring his second goal in all competitions this season, on his first start of the campaign.

© IMAGO/Alfio Marino

80'

More changes

Koch and Larsson are given a breather in the late stages here, replaced by Amenda and Skhiri who are brought on to see the game out.

79'

Substitution

Aurèle Amenda

Robin Koch

79'

Substitution

Ellyes Skhiri

Hugo Larsson

77'

Substitution

Kaan Ayhan

Yunus Akgün

75'

Knauff gets in on the act!

The No.7 repays Toppmöller's faith in him by adding his side's fifth of the night. The recently introduced Wahi wins the ball back off Sara, with a great challenge on Galatasaray's last man. Knauff pounces on the loose ball, rounds the goalkeeper and rolls the ball into an empty net.

75'

Ansgar Knauff

GOAL!

5:1

The goalscorers make way

After turning things around with three goals between them, Burkardt and Uzun take their leave, making way for Wahi and Bahoya.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Jan Prihoda

71'

Substitution

Elye Wahi

Jonathan Burkardt

71'

Substitution

Jean-Mattéo Bahoya

Can Uzun

70'

Theate down

Following a collision with his goalkeeper, the Belgian stays down with a head injury. Following a stoppage, in which the defender receives treatment, he gets back to his feet and is set to continue.

68'

Triple change

After conceding a fourth, Buruk looks to his bench again, making a triple alteration as Jakobs, Sara, and Kutucu enter the fray.

67'

Substitution

Ismail Jakobs

Eren Elmalı

67'

Substitution

Gabriel Sara

İlkay Gündoğan

66'

Substitution

Ahmed Kutucu

Leroy Sané

66'

Burkardt gets his brace!

Frankfurt are running riot here. This time, Brown gets high up the pitch on the left and is played through to the byline, from where he digs out a cross towards Burkardt. The No.9 heads goalwards, but it takes a huge deflection off Sánchez, which wrong-foots Çakır.

66'

Jonathan Burkardt

GOAL!

4:1

65'

Speculative

Gündoğan beats two Frankfurt players inside the hosts' half before teeing up Akgün, who shoots from range. It's a well-struck effort which bounces just in front of Zetterer, but it's no problem for the Eintracht custodian.

Burkardt celebrates

The former Mainz man added his side's third just moments before the half-time whistle. The goal marks Burkardt's first ever Champions League goal on his debut UCL appearance.

© IMAGO/Jürgen Kessler

61'

Gündoğan from close range

With a little bit of luck, a Yılmaz cross reaches Gündoğan inside the six yard box. It seems to catch the German midfielder off guard, who guides it straight into the palms of Zetterer. From his reaction, it's clear he felt there was more in that for the visitors...

59'

Squandered by Knauff

Chaïbi gets clean through down the right flank for Frankfurt. Reaching the byline, he floats a cross towards Knauff at the back post, who goes for it on the volley from a tight angle, but completely shanks the connection, sending the ball well off target.

57'

Struck by Uzun

It's end-to-end at the moment here. Uzun leads a counter charge, driving up the pitch before laying it out wide to Knauff. The No.42 gets it back and hits an effort from the edge of the box, but it's straight at Çakır, who gathers comfortably.

56'

Offensive alteration

The substitution is a statement of intent from Galatasaray, who replace midfielder Lemina with out-and-out striker Icardi, as they continue to chase a two-goal deficit here.

55'

Substitution

Mauro Icardi

Mario Lemina

55'

Sané on the volley

A defensive header from Theate falls kindly for Sané on the edge of the box. The former Bayern winger touches it down coolly with his chest before letting fly with a venomous volley, which whistles narrowly past Zetterer's right post.

A look back at Uzun's rocket

The Turkish starlet couldn't have put the ball much more in the corner as his powerful effort scored the goal to give his side late on in the first half.

© Alex Grimm

52'

Knauff's shot blocked

Burkardt intercepts the ball high up the pitch before teeing up Knauff, whose effort from the edge of the box is blocked behind for a corner by Singo.

50'

Galatasaray coach booked

The visitors' manager picks up a yellow card for delaying the restart from a throw-in.

50'

Yellow card

Okan Buruk

48'

Uzun leads the charge

The first-half goalscorer slaloms his way towards the Galatasaray penalty area. He tries to slip Brown through to his left, but takes a tumble before he can play the ball. The referee correctly dismisses the calls for a free-kick.

46'

Peeep!

It's the visitors from Türkiye who get the ball rolling again here. Both sides emerge unchanged after the interval.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Frankfurt 3-1 Galatasaray

And breathe! Frankfurt fell behind to an early opener from Galatasaray captain Akgün, which precipitated a wobble from the home side. The visitors controlled the opening 25 minutes relatively comfortably, but Frankfurt got belief back into them after Dōan forced an own goal from Sánchez. A quick-fire double courtesy of a rocket from Uzun, and a deft headed finish from Burkardt - both players' first ever UCL goals - took Eintracht's advantage to 3-1 just before the break.

© IMAGO/kolbert-press/Marc Niemeyer

Half-time

45'

+ 5

Burkardt makes it three!

What a turnaround for the hosts! Right before the interval, a Chaïbi cross from a set-piece by the left touchline is floated into the box and Burkardt rises highest to glance it past Çakır! After a VAR check, the goal stands.

45'

+ 4

Jonathan Burkardt

GOAL!

3:1

45'

+ 2

Uzun fires Frankfurt into the lead!

What a moment for the 19-year-old! Burkardt whips a cross in from the right. The No.42 takes one touch to control it, before hitting a powerful effort on the turn with his second, rifling it into the roof of the net. There was no stopping that for Çakır and Eintracht steal the lead just before the break.

45'

+ 2

Can Uzun

GOAL!

2:1

45'

Stoppage time

Three additional minutes are indicated.

42'

Galatasaray second chalked off

Torreira wins the ball back off Chaïbi high up the pitch for the visitors before firing a cross into Yılmaz, who heads home past Zetterer with a superb diving header. It's not going to count, however, as Torreira was correctly judged to have fouled Chaïbi in the build-up.

38'

Dōan forces the leveller for Frankfurt!

The Eagles have landed! An Uzun pass is intercepted by Elmalı, but the Galatasaray defender miscontrols it, allowing Dōan to pounce. The winger shows his pace, bursting into the box before lifting the ball over the onrushing Çakır. It takes a big deflection off Sánchez on the way in, and as such, will go down as an own goal, but neither he, nor any Frankfurt fan in the stadium will care!

37'

Davinson Sánchez

OWN GOAL!

1:1

35'

Gündoğan floats it

The former Dortmund man plays a teasing ball into the Frankfurt box from a free-kick. Eintracht don't deal with it on the first time of asking, but Theate is there to clear the second ball.

Koch airways

The defender has been a powerhouse in terms of his aerial duels so far this evening.

© Alex Grimm

30'

Off the line!

It's Frankfurt's best chance of the night so far. A free-kick is floated from deep by Chaïbi. Koch gets his head to it, knocking it down for Burkardt, but the striker fails to make contact with the ball inside the six yard box. Even so, a Galatasaray leg directs the ball goalwards, but the visitors just manage to scramble it clear from off the line.

28'

Beaten away by Zetterer

Galatasaray switch the play from left to right. Sallai is up from the back and makes a great overlap before firing a cross into the six yard box. It's a really dangerous cross, but Zetterer is alert and parries the ball to safety.

25'

Frankfurt look to counter

In the immediate aftermath, the hosts have an overload down the right. Burkardt tries to pick Dōan out, but his through ball is just slightly overcooked. By the time the Japan international recovers the ball, Galatasaray have plenty of numbers behind the ball.

24'

Well over!

A Torreira shot strikes Koch's hand right on the edge of the Frankfurt penalty area. Gündoğan takes the subsequent free-kick, faking to shoot before laying it off to Yılmaz on his left, who was all alone inside the Eintracht box, but skies his effort well over the bar from eight yards.

22'

Another warning

Singo drives up the field from defence, beating three defenders before playing Yılmaz through down the right channel. The Turkish forward strikes a right-footed effort across goal, but Zetterer is equal to it.

19'

Teasing cross

A long ball up from Zetterer is brought down by Burkardt. The forward links up well with Dōan before searching for Knauff at the far post with a whipped, left-footed cross. It's a really awkward one for the visitors to defend, but just has too much on it for Knauff to be able to reach it and goes behind for a goal-kick.

Akgün celebrates

Frankfurt have not yet managed to fashion another chance since Galatasaray's captain gave the visitors the lead inside 10 minutes.

© IMAGO/Jürgen Kessler

13'

Eintracht rattled

Frankfurt had started really positively until the visitors' opener, but since then, have looked a little shaky in possession. Toppmöller will be hoping his side can stabilise themselves and find a way back into this one.

8'

Akgün gives the visitors the lead!

It's a ruthless counter-attack from the Turkish champions which results in the lead here. Sané wins the ball off Larsson in the middle of the park before threading Akgün through. The forward holds the ball up when he reaches the box, letting Collins slide past him, before drilling the ball home past Zetterer and into the far corner.

8'

Yunus Akgün

GOAL!

0:1

6'

Early yellow

Burkardt is too eager to win the ball back off Elmalı and treads on his foot in the process, earning the forward a booking from the referee. The Galatasaray defender stayed down for a short while afterwards, but he's back to his feet now.

5'

Yellow card

Jonathan Burkardt

2'

Knauff lets fly

It's an energetic start for the hosts. Brown wins the ball back off Sané high up the pitch before teeing up Knauff on the edge of the box. The No.7 curls an effort towards the bottom right corner, but Çakır is there to tip it round the post. Nothing comes of Dōan's subsequent corner.

1'

And we're off!

It's hosts Frankfurt who get us underway here. The atmosphere inside Deutsche Bank Park is absolutely electric!

Kick-off!

Danger man Sané

The former Bayern man has the second-most goal involvements of any German player in Champions League history with 39 (23 goals, 16 assists). The only player who surpasses this tally? One Thomas Müller.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Jan Prihoda

Allegiances to be tested?

Frankfurt rising star Can Uzun chatted with some of his fellow Türkiye internationals on the Galatasaray side during the pitch inspection.

© IMAGO/Marc Schueler

Look who's back!

Former Frankfurt goalkeeper and captain, Kevin Trapp, is in attendance this evening to receive his formal send-off from the Eintracht faithful. The 35-year-old custodian left the Eagles to join Paris FC back in August.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Florian Wiegand

More on that Frankfurt team

Similarly, Dino Toppmöller makes three changes to his side that were downed 3-1 by Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 3. Brown starts in place of the injured Kristensen, who misses out with a thigh issue. Having returned from illness, Larsson occupies a spot in the middle of the park, forcing Höjlund to take his place on the bench. Additionally, as Toppmöller hinted in his pre-match press conference, Knauff starts, taking Bahoya's place.

More on that Galatasaray team

For the visitors, there are three changes from their 2-0 weekend win against Eyüpspor in the Turkish Super Lig. Singo replaces Bardakci at the heart of defence, with the latter taking his place on the bench. Yılmaz and Lemina also come in Icardi and Sara, both of whom likewise start as substitutes.

Frankfurt starting XI

Zetterer – Collins, Koch (c), Theate, Brown – Larsson, Chaïbi - Dōan, Uzun, Knauff – Burkardt

Frankfurt subs

Grahl, Santos, Baum, Amenda, Höljund, Skhiri, Wahi, Dahoud, Bahoya, Chandler, Buta, Batshuayi

Galatasaray starting XI

Çakır - Sallai, Sánchez, Singo, Elmalı - Torreira, Lemina - Sané, Gündoğan, Yılmaz - Akgün (c)

Galatasaray subs

Batuhan, Günay, Baltaci, Jakobs, Sara, Icardi, Kutlu, Kutucu, Kaan Ayhan, Demir, Bardakci, Ünyay

2:42

Watch: Toppmöller & Chaïbi preview Galatasaray

3:47

Watch: Frankfurt's new goal brokers

Picking up the baton from the likes of Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitiké, Can Uzun, Ritsu Dōan and Jean-Mattéo Bahoya are making a real name for themselves in the Eintracht attack.

Zetterer or Santos in goal?

Following Trapp's summer departure, Michael Zetterer (pictured) was brought in to compete for the number one spot alongside the previously injured Kauã Santos. Speaking to Bild before this game, the former confirmed that he's been told by the goalkeeping coach that he's definitely starting this game and will make his Champions League debut. However, there's rumours that Santos will then be given the nod to make his competitive comeback on Sunday against Union Berlin.

© DFL

Galatasaray's danger men

Much has been made of Sané's return to Germany ahead of tonight's game, but he is just one of Gala's serious attacking threats. The Turkish champions already have 15 league goals in five games so far this season, with Baris Alper Yilmaz currently proving the most dangerous attacker. The striker already has three goals and three assists to his name in the league.

© IMAGO/Abdulhamid Hoşbaş

Osimhen misses out

Although Galatasaray have started their new season superbly with five wins from five, they will be without one of their star players tonight as former Wolfsburg player, Osimhen, has been left out of the squad due to an injury.

© Darius Simka/regios24

Dino Toppmöller on facing Galatasary

"Galatasaray are an extraordinary team. They have very experienced players. We need to stop them from having time on the ball. They are very difficult opponents."

© IMAGO/Halil Sagirkaya

Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray defender) on facing international team-mate Can Uzun

"We talked about this match in the national team as well. I believe Can will be beneficial to the national team for many years to come. But tomorrow, hopefully, he won’t be able to make the contribution he wants for Frankfurt. We will try our best to prevent him from doing so."

© IMAGO/Halil Sagirkaya

Okan Buruk (Galatasary Coach) on the Champions League and facing Frankfurt

"Expectations are higher this year. We have built a very strong squad to create these expectations. We are capable of competing with our opponents in the Champions League. When everything goes well, I believe this squad can aim very high."

© IMAGO/Halil Sagirkaya

Farewell, Kevin

Former goalkeeper Kevin Trapp will receive a send off from the home crowd ahead of their tie with Galatasaray, after the Europa League-winning 'keeper joined Paris FC in the summer having spent 10 years with the Eagles over two spells.

1:00

Watch: Bundesliga goals from Galatasaray players

Enjoy some of the best Bundesliga goals scored by players who now ply their trade for Galatasaray, including Leroy Sané, İlkay Gündoğan and Kaan Ayhan.

2:42

Watch: The best of Can Uzun

The 19-year-old has been one of Frankfurt's standout performers in the Bundesliga so far this term. See what he's capable of right here...

1:28

Watch: The top 5 Bundesliga goals from Turkish players

Turkish players have scored some absolute bangers in the Bundesliga over the years - check out five of the best!

Familiar faces

There are plenty of former Bundesliga players in Galatasaray's squad. The most prominent are former Schalke and Bayern Munich man Leroy Sané, as well as ex-Germany captain İlkay Gündoğan.

© IMAGO/Seskimphoto

7:09

Watch: Frankfurt's conveyor belt of talent

The Eagles have a knack of unearthing rough diamonds and turning them into the finished article. Let's see whether any of them can make an impact against the Turkish champions.

Previous meetings

Frankfurt have played Galatasary twice before, losing 1-0 on aggregate in the 1992/93 UEFA Cup second round. They will be looking for redemption, albeit belated, here.

© imago sportfotodienst

Experience in Götze

The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner is the current Frankfurt squad’s most experienced Champions League player. He’s made 69 appearances in the competition, registering 12 goals and 19 assists, although he is set to miss out against Galatasaray with injury.

© IMAGO/osnapix / Marcus Hirnschal

2:42

Watch: Can Uzun, Frankfurt's dashing young star

Can Uzun has enjoyed a fantastic campaign and has a bright future ahead of him.

Rasmus out

As well as dropping their first points of the new Bundesliga campaign, Frankfurt also lost defender Rasmus Kristensen to injury early on against Leverkusen, and he'll now miss their clash with Galatasaray.

© IMAGO/Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images

1:03

Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt

Dino Toppmöller's men suffered their first defeat of the season on the road to Bayer Leverkusen.

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Eintracht Frankfurt

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