In a high-quality Bundesliga encounter, Luka Jovic's eighth goal of the season gave Frankfurt the lead four minutes after the interval, but Hoffenheim forward Serge Gnabry restored parity seven minutes later. The point means Eintracht provisionally climb to fourth – three points ahead of Hoffenheim – but that placing could change after Leipzig face Leverkusen on Monday.
Personnel: Fabian replaces Rebic
After Matchday 28's 2-1 defeat at Werder Bremen, Frankfurt head coach Niko Kovac made two changes: Marco Fabian replaced the injured Ante Rebic (calf), while Jetro Willems started at left wing-back in place of Timothy Chandler.
First half: Plenty of possession, but no breakthrough
Adopting an unusually defensive approach, Hoffenheim sat back and conceded possession to the Eagles in the first period, with Kovac's side enjoying 72 per cent of the ball at one stage. For all the hosts' domination of territory, there was little to report in terms of goalmouth action – Jovic spurned one headed effort in the 17th minute, while Andrej Kramaric wasted a chance at the other end. As half time approached, however, the tempo increased, and after Serge Gnabry shot wide in the 34th minute, Fabian's long-range effort dropped onto the roof of the net. Finally coming out of their shells, Julian Nagelsmann's troops ended in the ascendancy, with Kramaric striking the post and Makoto Hasebe denying Gnabry on the line prior to the break.
Second half: Jovic finds the net, Gnabry responds
Frankfurt burst out of the blocks at the start of the second period, and following a lovely build-up between Jonathan de Guzman, Danny da Costa and Fabian, Marius Wolf crossed from the right for Jovic, who steered expertly past Oliver Baumann from inside the six-yard box for his fourth goal in as many games. The lead was not to last, however, as Hoffenheim levelled minutes later through Gnabry’s driven finish. After the initial drama, the second half dropped in tempo, with substitutions on both sides interrupting the flow. Baumann was forced into good saves from da Costa and Sebastien Haller late on, but neither side was able force another breakthrough in the closing stages.
Summary: Both sides settle for a point
In a well-balanced affair, Frankfurt enjoyed more of the ball, but Hoffenheim were a constant threat on the break. Both sides had their moments – Eintracht straight after the interval, Hoffenheim towards the end of the second half – but ultimately a point was deserved and both sides can continue to dream of Europe.
Eintracht line-up
Hradecky – Abraham, Hasebe, Russ (Falette 67') – da Costa, de Guzman, Boateng (Gacinovic 61'), Willems – Fabian, Wolf – Jovic (Haller 55')
Goals
1-0 Jovic (49')
1-1 Gnabry (56')
