The Eagles had their backs to the wall for the majority of the first half but took the lead three minutes before the interval through Kolo Muani’s expert finish. Ginter’s powerful header restored parity not long after the restart, but neither side was able to find a winner.
Trapp ruled out through illness
Eagles goalkeeper Kevin Trapp missed the trip to the Europa-Park Stadion with a cold, so Diant Ramaj was handed his first Bundesliga start of the campaign. Christopher Lenz was brought in to replace the injured Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe, while fit-again Tuta was preferred to Kristian Jakic in the back three.
Kolo Muani nets against run of play
Freiburg started the game like a team with a point to prove after Saturday’s 6-0 defeat at in-form VfL Wolfsburg, applying heavy pressure in the early stages without properly testing Ramaj. Lucas Höler sent a volley straight into the arms of the Eintracht keeper, before Ritsu Doan somehow steered Michael Gregoritsch’s left-wing delivery over the crossbar from point-blank range.
Ramaj came to Eintracht’s rescue again just after the half-hour mark, denying Höler inside the penalty box before preventing Christian Günter’s follow-up effort from nestling in the back of the net. With three minutes of the first half remaining, Kolo Muani collected a cross from the edge of the Freiburg area and sent a low shot inside the right-hand post to give the Eagles a narrow half-time advantage.
Freiburg fight back
The visitors’ lead was cancelled out two minutes into the second half. Günter’s corner towards the near post was only half cleared, allowing the Freiburg skipper to swing in another cross which Ginter was able to direct past the stranded Ramaj. The home side should have gone in front on 62 minutes, but Gregoritsch was unable to direct Höler’s delivery on target.
Second-half substitutes Lucas Alario and Rafael Borré nearly combined to put Eintracht back in front in second-half stoppage time, but Freiburg goalkeeper Mark Flekken was equal to the Colombian’s strike as the teams were made to settle for a point apiece.
Summary: A point gained
The Eagles were unable to hang on to their slender lead at the Europa-Park Stadion but Oliver Glasner will be satisfied with the result against Christian Streich’s team. The home side had the better chances and perhaps should have completed the turnaround in the second half, but Gregoritsch’s miss proved costly for the hosts.
SGE line-up
Ramaj – Tuta, Smolcic, Ndicka – Knauff (Buta 64’), Sow, Kamada (Rode 64’), Lenz – Lindström (Borré 77’), Götze – Kolo Muani (Alario 89’)
Goals
0-1 Kolo Muani (42')
1-1 Ginter (47')
