The scoreline – Eintracht’s fourth 1-1 draw this season – was a fair reflection of a tight and hard-fought contest. Aymen Barkok gave the Eagles the lead on the stroke of half-time but Yussuf Poulsen equalised for Leipzig after the break, and the two sides had to settle for a point apiece.
First appearances for Ndicka and Durm
There were five changes to the starting line-up from the 2-2 draw at VfB Stuttgart on Matchday 7, including first Bundesliga outings of the season for Evan Ndicka and Erik Durm, who occupied the full-back roles in a new 4-2-3-1 system. Djibril Sow, Barkok and Filip Kostic also came into the side, with Makoto Hasebe, Almamy Toure, Steven Zuber, Dominik Kohr and Bas Dost all dropping to the bench.
Barkok breaks deadlock
Adi Hütter said before the game that he was expecting a “fast-paced contest” and that’s what he got, although genuine goalscoring opportunities were at a premium during the first half. Daichi Kamada had an early sight of goal but scuffed his volley wide, while Dani Olmo’s attempted lob was deflected onto the roof of the net at the other end.
Martin Hinteregger then headed just over from Kostic’s in-swinging corner on 22 minutes, but it wasn’t until the 35th minute that either goalkeeper was really called upon, as Angelino’s first-time volley was tipped behind by Kevin Trapp. With both sides cancelling each other out, it looked like the first half would end goalless until Ndicka’s free-kick from the halfway line caused confusion in the Leipzig box, and Barkok drifted in to fire in his first Bundesliga goal since December 2016.
Leipzig respond
The Eagles nearly doubled their lead just moments after the restart, but Kostic was denied by Peter Gulacsi from a tight angle at the near post. However, the visitors did most of the attacking after that and levelled the score in the 57th minute. Angelino received the ball in space on the left and zipped in a low cross which Poulsen – one of three half-time substitutes for Leipzig – turned in with a fine flick.
With the score level again, the defences remained on top for the remainder of the match, with few chances at either end. The best opening for a winner came when Barkok played in Andre Silva in the 78th minute, but his toe-poke was blocked by Gulacsi.
Summary: Solid performance
Eintracht didn’t manage to create many opportunities against the league’s best defence, but they were strong and disciplined themselves at the back and worked hard for a deserved point.
SGE line-up
Trapp – Durm, Abraham, Hinteregger, Ndicka – Ilsanker, Sow – Barkok, Kamada (Kohr 63‘), Kostic – Silva (Dost 79‘)
Goals
1-0 Barkok (43’)
1-1 Poulsen (57’)
