Perfect start to 2021

Amin Younes and Daichi Kamada played key roles as Eintracht came from behind to defeat Bayer Leverkusen and start the new year with a win.

Nadiem Amiri gave the visitors an early lead, but Eintracht deservedly restored parity courtesy of Younes’ first goal for the club. Edmond Tapsoba’s second-half own goal – set up by Kamada – proved decisive as the Eagles registered their fourth league victory of the season.

Abraham back from suspension

Adi Hütter made three changes to the team that beat Augsburg in Eintracht’s final match of 2020. David Abraham, Evan Ndicka and Kamada returned to the starting XI in place of Tuta, Aymen Barkok and the suspended Sebastian Rode. Kamada and Younes lined up together in attacking midfield for the first time since the latter’s arrival in October.

Younes off the mark

Younes was quick to test former Eagles goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky as Hütter’s charges made a lively start, but the hosts fell behind after 10 minutes when Amiri ran onto Florian Wirtz’s through-ball before shrugging off Erik Durm and back-heeling the ball beyond the onrushing Kevin Trapp.

Eintracht responded well, though, and went close to an equaliser when Makoto Hasebe fired straight at Hradecky after patient play from André Silva. Hütter’s charges eventually got the goal they deserved, Djibril Sow releasing Younes who slotted confidently past Hradecky for his first Bundesliga goal since February 2013. Younes should have completed the turnaround shortly before half-time but fired over the bar from Kamada’s pass.

Tapsoba gifts Eagles victory

The hosts emerged for the second period with all guns blazing and took the lead nine minutes after the restart, Tapsoba turning Kamada’s fierce low cross into his own net. The visitors started to see more of the ball as they searched for a route back into the match, but Eintracht continued to threaten on the break and Filip Kostic nearly increased their lead with a powerful shot that was deflected wide by Aleksandar Dragovic.

Kamada spurned another glorious opportunity to give the Eagles a two-goal cushion when he side-footed wide from a central position inside the penalty area, before Martin Hinteregger inadvertently fired Karim Bellarabi’s cross against his own bar. Leverkusen threw everything at Eintracht in the closing stages, but Hütter’s team held on to register back-to-back league victories for the second time this season.

Summary: Looking good at both ends

This was an excellent all-round performance from the Eagles. Hütter’s charges attacked with purpose, defended diligently against Leverkusen’s fearsome frontline and showed great character to claim all three points from a goal down.