Head coach Oliver Glasner made two changes to the line-up for his final Bundesliga game in charge of Eintracht. Jesper Lindström came in for the injured Sebastian Rode, while Makoto Hasebe was preferred to Almamy Toure at the back. Philipp Max and Kristijan Jakic were both back in the squad following their recent injuries.
Grifo’s goal the difference
In glorious sunshine at Deutsche Bank Park, it was the visitors who had the first chance, when Ritsu Doan cut the ball back from the byline for Philipp Lienhart, but he skied over. That was followed immediately by Eintracht’s first attempt, with Lindström cutting inside and firing straight at Mark Flekken from just outside the area. Moments later, Randal Kolo Muani charged through the Freiburg defence but could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
After that lively start, the two sides somewhat cancelled each other out and the next notable incident didn’t come until the 31st minute, when Daichi Kamada released Kolo Muani on the left, and the Frenchman again hit the side netting. The Eagles were starting to get on top and Mario Götze’s curling shot from the edge of the area looked to be sailing into the top corner until Matthias Ginter blocked it with his head. Freiburg were more clinical, though, and broke the deadlock just before half-time, when Tuta inadvertently flicked on Roland Sallai’s cross for Vincenzo Grifo to head in at the far post. Grifo then drew a good save from Kevin Trapp from a free-kick in the last action of the half.
Late drama
Max, who signed a permanent contract on Friday, came on for Lenz at the break. The visitors, meanwhile, were happy to defend their lead and keep it tight after the restart, making it difficult for Eintracht to create openings. With 70 minutes gone, the Eagles’ chances of qualifying for Europe via the league looked to be gone with Wolfsburg drawing and Mainz leading.
However, that all changed in the closing stages of a dramatic final day of the Bundesliga season. Glasner threw on Rafael Borré for Hasebe in the 71st minute as his side went all out. Flekken made an excellent reflex save from point-blank range to keep out Kolo Muani’s header, but the Frenchman did find the net with his head four minutes later, powering home Kamada’s cross to net his 15th goal of the campaign.
With Freiburg’s rivals for fourth place Union Berlin simultaneously taking the lead, both teams needed to find a winner, making it an end-to-end finale. Kolo Muani had another header saved by Flekken, while Doan and Michael Gregoritsch both squandered chances for the visitors. Then, in the first of five minutes added on, Götze’s cross from the left eluded everyone except substitute Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe, who bundled it in at the far post. There was a lengthy VAR review but the goal was confirmed and, with Wolfsburg losing, so was seventh place for Eintracht, meaning they are guaranteed at least the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023/24!
SGE line-up
Trapp – Tuta, Hasebe (Borré 71’), Ndicka – Buta (Toure 79’), Kamada, Sow (Dina Ebimbe 79’), Lenz (Max 46’) – Lindström (Aaronson 59’), Götze – Kolo Muani
Goals
0-1 Grifo (44’)
1-1 Kolo Muani (83’)
2-1 Dina Ebimbe (90’+1)