The starting line-up showed just one change from the Matchday 1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund, with Niels Nkounkou recalled in place of Farès Chaibi. That saw Arthur Theate, on his home debut, move into a back three alongside Robin Koch and Tuta.
Hugo bosses it
Eintracht dominated from the off at a sunny Deutsche Bank Park, although it took a while for spaces to open up in the Hoffenheim defence. After half-chances for Omar Marmoush (7’) and Hugo Ekitiké (16’), the forward duo combined for the opening goal. From a Hoffenheim corner, the Eagles countered with Marmoush playing the ball into the path of the Frenchman, who shook off his marker, rounded goalkeeper Oliver Baumann and squeezed the ball into the net (24’).
The home fans were almost celebrating again three minutes later – in fact, some of them briefly did when Marmoush’s long-range effort rippled the side netting. It was 2-0 shortly after, though, following some more excellent combination play in attack. Again it went through Marmoush on the left and he played the ball into the middle to Ekitiké, who forwarded it on to Hugo Larsson, who was free to place a first-time finish past Baumann. The Eagles continued to dominate and Marmoush fired wide after cutting in from the left during stoppage time, as the first half ended with a deserved two-goal lead for the hosts.
Marmoush with prompt reply
Hoffenheim boss Pellegrino Matarazzo made a double substitution for the second half, but there was little change on the pitch at first. Mario Götze (51’) and Marmoush (53’) both threatened for Eintracht, but the visitors then reduced the deficit out of nothing, when Andrej Kramaric turned a pacey cross from the right into the net (54’).
Any worries among those in white were quickly allayed, though. Just two minutes later, a chance looked to have gone for Frankfurt but Götze recycled the ball and found Marmoush in space on the left of the penalty area, and the Egyptian had time to set himself up and pick his spot to make it 3-1.
From then on, it was largely comfortable for Dino Toppmöller’s men, aside from a couple of long-distance efforts from Hoffenheim. At the other end, substitute Igor Matanovic twice went close to extending the lead, but it finished 3-1 as Eintracht claimed their first three points of the new season and made it nine home games unbeaten against the Kraichgau club.
