First-choice goalkeeper Kevin Trapp missed the game with a cold, so Diant Ramaj started in goal. Evan Ndicka also sat out after picking up a knock in training, but there was a first start for Mario Götze, while Daichi Kamada started in a more defensive role alongside Djibril Sow in midfield.
The Eagles got off to a flying start at the Dietmar-Hopp-Sportpark, with Jesper Lindström controlling Sow’s ball over the top and volleying SGE in front inside the first minute. Ten minutes later it was 2-0 when Rafael Borré released Filip Kostic down the left and he hammered the ball into the far top corner.
The Colombian striker then got on the scoresheet himself in the 23rd minute, directing a header past goalkeeper Luis Idjakovic from Lindström’s pinpoint cross. The tempo dropped a little after that and although Kostic (32’) and Borré (42’) both had good chances to add to their tally, it stayed 3-0 at half-time.
With a completely different team for the second half, Eintracht were not as fluid and didn’t fashion as many openings, but nevertheless remained in control of the game. Lucas Alario was denied at close range in the 74th minute, but the Argentinian then laid the ball off for Kristijan Jakic, who side-footed it home for the fourth goal (83’). Alario then got on the scoresheet himself three minutes later, finding the net at the second attempt after good work from the lively Randal Kolo Muani to complete the scoring.
SGE first-half line-up
Ramaj – Toure, Tuta, Smolcic – Knauff, Sow, Kamada, Kostic – Lindström, Borré, Götze
Second half
Grahl – Onguene (Wenig 59’), Hasebe, Chandler – Hauge, Rode, Jakic, Lenz – Kolo Muani, Alario, Alidou
Goals
0-1 Lindström (1')
0-2 Kostic (11')
0-3 Borré (23')
0-4 Jakic (83')
0-5 Alario (86')
