Magical Meier back with a bang as Eagles crush Köln
Frankfurt - Alexander Meier made an emphatic return for Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring a hat-trick in a 6-2 win over 1. FC Köln that saw the two sides trade places in the Bundesliga table.
Meier had been out for 161 days, but last season's Bundesliga top-scorer needed just three minutes and ten seconds to open his account for the 2015/16 campaign with a trademark stooping header. Luc Castaignos, who has held the fort well in Meier's absence this season, made it two when he latched onto a defence-splitting pass and kept his cool to beat Timo Horn with just 25 minutes played. Meier ghosted in at the far post to make it three for the dominant Eagles, and although Anthony Modeste pulled a goal back, his joy was short-lived as Castaignos completed an almost carbon-copy of his first to give Frankfurt a 4-1 half-time lead.
Damage limitation was on the Billy Goats' minds in the second half and they succeeded right up until they lost sight of Haris Seferovic, who made it 5-1, before Dominique Heintz headed in another consolation for the guests. There was still time for Meier to put the cherry on top, however, as he completed his hat-trick with another header to take home the match ball as Frankfurt took the points.
