Rafael Borré’s penalty fired the Eagles into the lead, only for Youssef El-Arabi to equalise from the spot four minutes later. Almamy Toure’s point-blank finish put Oliver Glasner’s side back in front in first-half stoppage time, and Daichi Kamada completed the scoring in the second half as the Eagles leapfrogged the Greek side in the Group D standings.
Rode returns to bench
Glasner made five changes to the Eagles team that suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Hertha Berlin on Bundesliga Matchday 8. Sam Lammers, Jens Petter Hauge, Jesper Lindström, Timothy Chandler and Evan Ndicka dropped to the bench, with Borré, Toure, Kamada, Goncalo Paciencia and Tuta recalled to the starting XI in their stead. Club captain Sebastian Rode was also among the substitutes after recovering from a knee operation.
Eagles edge eventful first half
Both teams went close to taking an early lead at Deutsche Bank Park, El-Arabi firing wide from Mady Camara’s delivery before Kamada sent a header off target at the other end. Borré almost took advantage of a lapse in concentration from Olympiacos goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik midway through the first half, sending a firm header towards goal which the Czech Republic custodian was able to claw off the line after misjudging Filip Kostic’s cross.
Eintracht broke the deadlock from the penalty spot three minutes later. Pape Abou Cissé was adjudged to have fouled Borré, who dusted himself off and fired past Vaclik for his second goal of the season. El-Arabi’s spot-kick restored parity after Kristijan Jakic had handled inside the box, but Toure slotted home a Djibril Sow cross – moments after Martin Hinteregger had struck the crossbar – to restore the hosts’ advantage.
Kamada completes scoring
Paciencia was first to test Vaclik in the second half with a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area. The visiting keeper could only parry the Portuguese’s effort into the path of Kamada, who rounded Vaclik before slotting into an empty net to hand the Eagles a two-goal cushion.
Paciencia went close to adding a fourth with a header from another Kostic delivery, but the 27-year-old sent the ball sailing just over the crossbar. A satisfactory evening was capped by the return of Rode, who replaced Paciencia eight minutes from time for his first appearance since undergoing knee surgery in August.
Summary: Just what the doctor ordered
This was just the result Eintracht needed after Saturday’s Bundesliga loss at home to Hertha. After inflicting a first Europa League defeat of the season on Olympiacos, Glasner’s troops will head into Sunday’s game away at struggling VfL Bochum full of confidence.
SGE line-up
Trapp – Tuta (Ndicka 60’), Hasebe, Hinteregger – Toure (Durm 82’), Sow (Hauge 89’), Jakic, Kostic – Kamada – Borré, Paciencia (Rode 82’)
Goals
1-0 Borré (26’ pen)
1-1 El-Arabi (30’ pen)
2-1 Toure (45’)
3-1 Kamada (59’)
