Rafael Borre and Daichi Kamada among goals as Eintracht Frankfurt beat Olympiacos
Goals from Rafael Borre, Almamy Toure and Daichi Kamada saw Eintracht Frankfurt beat Olympiacos 3-1 and leapfrog the Greek champions to the top of UEFA Europa League Group D.
Borre was a live wire in the opening stages, having several attempts from crosses from the left wing but finding no way through. The Colombian was then taken down in the box by Pape Cisse, before dusting himself off and converting the penalty with aplomb. The Greek side then found a surprise way back into the game when Kristijan Jakic handled in the area and Youssef El-Arabi narrowly beat Kevin Trapp from the spot. Eintracht restored their head on the stroke of half-time. Martin Hinteregger’s header came back off the bar, but the Bundesliga side recycled the ball, with Djibril Sow squaring for Toure to tap in for 2-1.
The second half was open as Eintracht looked to put some distance between themselves and Olympiacos, while the visitors at Deutsche Bank Park pushed for an equaliser. In the end it was the former that happened when Goncalo Paciencia’s strike from 20 yards proved too hot to handle for Tomas Vlacik and Kamada was quickest to react to round the goalkeeper and roll the ball over the line for the third. The result sees Frankfurt move top of Group D on seven points – one clear of Olympiacos before their reverse fixture in Greece in a fortnight. Fenerbahce (two) and Royal Antwerp (one) remain further behind.
Match stats
Borre scored his first Europa League goal and his second for Frankfurt in all competitions.
Kamada’s seventh Europa League goal saw him surpass Takumi Minamino as the competition’s all-time top-scoring Japanese player.
He has as many goals in 13 Europa League appearances as he does in 70 Bundesliga games for Eintracht.
Only Luka Jovic (10) has scored more times in the Europa League for Frankfurt than Kamada.
This was the first time in 12 matches under Oliver Glasner that the Eagles had scored three goals.
It was also Frankfurt’s first home win in any competition his season.
He loves this competition and gets his first of the campaign in Europe as the first to react from Vaclik's parried save from Paciencia's long-range hit. The Japan international simply rounds the goalkeeper and taps in.
Away we go again for the second half. Both teams resume unchanged.
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
+ 3
FRANKFURT LEAD AGAIN!
Hinteregger was initially denied by the crossbar when he flicked on Kostic's header, but Frankfurt stayed alive and played their way back into the box, with Sow ultimately squaring for Toure to tap home and restore the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Borre once again the man and he's taken down by a tumbling Cisse in the Olympiacos box. The Portuguese referee shows no hesitation pointing to the spot.
23'
BORRE!
The Colombian's third attempt and he's getting ever closer. Another header onto a cross from the left, just a few yards out. Vaclik gets himself in the way in the Olympiacos goal before throwing himself onto the loose ball before it could trickle over the line.
20'
BORRE AGAIN!
It's that combination once more. Kostic's cross is high and deeper this time with Borre running onto it with his head, but he can't put it on target. Frankfurt are edging closer, you feel.
18'
CLOSE FOR BORRE
Kostic whips in a cross from the left. Borre gets across his man at the front post, but his attempted flick is blocked behind for a corner. Thumbs up from the Colombian for the ball, though.
13'
KAMADA!
And there is the first attempt as Borre crosses from the right and Kamada gets his head to it running into the box, but he can't direct his effort inside the far post.
10'
BUSY BUT QUIET START
We're 10 minutes in and still yet to see a shot in anger, but both teams are happy to get the ball down and try to play their way through.
5'
OR ARE THEY?
This is one to keep an eye on. It's starting to look like a four out of possession but a three when Frankfurt have the ball, with Toure advancing up the right wing and Hinteregger shifting inside.
2'
BACK FOUR
A bit of a shock to see that Frankfurt are actually playing with a back four, comprising of Toure, Tuta, Hasebe and Hinteregger - the latter a surprise at left-back.
Deutsche Bank Park is looking pretty full as ever (now it's allowed to be full again) as the fans cheer along and the teams gather in the tunnel.
ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE
Leverkusen have claimed a 1-1 draw away at Real Betis in this competition, while Union Berlin have been beaten 3-1 at Feyenoord in the Conference League. And a result that affects Frankfurt in Group D: Fenerbahce and Antwerp have played out a 2-2 draw.
NOPE-AH!
Olympiacos have come to Germany eight times before in European competition, losing seven of them without even scoring a goal. The most recent was a 2-0 loss at Bayern in the 2019/20 Champions League group stage. Their sole win came against Werder Bremen in the 2007/08 group stage (3-1).
ALL GREEK TO ME
It’s pretty rare to see Greek clubs in Frankfurt, but they tend to leave with very little. The last time Eintracht hosted a team from Greece they dispatched Iraklis 5-1 in the 1995/96 Intertoto Cup thanks to a Jay-Jay Okocha hat-trick. And the only other team to come here was PAOK in the first round of the 1981/82 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and they lost 2-0.
STATE OF PLAY
This game sees the unbeaten top two in Group D look to cement their positions ahead of Fenerbahce and Royal Antwerp. Eintracht are second on four points after a 1-1 draw here against the Turkish club was followed by a dramatic late 1-0 win in Belgium last matchday thanks to Paciencia’s 91st-minute penalty. Olympiacos are top on six points after a 2-1 win against Antwerp and a 3-0 cruise in Istanbul.
TEAM NEWS
Oliver Glasner has made five changes after Saturday’s defeat to Hertha Berlin. He opts for a new front three with Borre, Paciencia and Kamada – all substitutes at the weekend – replacing Hauge, Lammers and Lindstrom, who all drop to the bench. Tuta returns in place of N’Dicka in the three-man defence, with Toure replacing Chandler at right wing-back.
