Status: 04.05.2025 9:30 p.m.
With a win against Mainz 05, Eintracht Frankfurt could have made it clear to the premier class – but the project failed. Because Jonathan Burkardt had the torrier again in 1-1 (1-0) in the 57th minute after Rasmus Kristensen (16th) had given the lead.
Frankfurt remains third with 56 points and still has a very comfortable lead of five points on the fifth Borussia Dortmund, so the team of coach Dino Toppmöller has another royal class match ball next weekend against FC St. Pauli. Eintracht can also hardly be taken in third place, SC Freiburg is the first pursuer to be four points and 23 goals. Mainz helps the draw even less than the seventh, the surprise team of the season has two points behind RB Leipzig (6th).
From the beginning, Frankfurt in particular showed that it wanted to take the great chance of making its way into the Champions League with a win. Hugo Ekitiké had the great opportunity to lead in the first minute, but Lasse Rieß celebrated a strong debut with a good parade in his debut in the Mainz goal. The 23-year-old had to replace Robin Zentner at short notice, who failed due to muscular problems.
Kristensen enables a goal themselves
In his second big task, however, Rieß was powerless. With a ball win, Kristensen initiated a Frankfurt counterattack, which the Dane closed free of charge from the opposing goalkeeper even after Preliminary work by Ekitiké (16.). This goal had a big impact, it caused Eintracht to no longer be displaced from the top 4 of the Bundesliga at that moment – while Mainz ‘hopes for Europe worsened.
However, the team of coach Bo Henriksen caught and came into play better and better. Andreas Hanche-Olsen had the first good chance after a corner kick, but he headed over (34th). Previously, the game was interrupted for a few minutes because Frankfurt fans threw black balls of paper (but also cups and a lighter) towards Nadiem Amiri. A plastic flag bar also flew that the referee assistant got to his back.
Lee’s kneecap prevents the Mainz compensation
Shortly before half -time, Mainz cheered in the long stoppage time (eight minutes) – but only briefly. Jae-sung Lee scored the 1-1 head, but the kneecap of the South Korean ensured a minimal offside position (45.+4). So it stayed with the Frankfurt lead after the first half.
Otherwise it was a real fighting game, intensive duels determined a game that had few football highlights. That was also the case in the second half, but at the beginning, Frankfurt managed to better contain the storm urge of the guests.
Burkardt’s thigh ensures the Mainz compensation
But then more or less the chance ensured that Mainz was really allowed to cheer. After a wide throw -in, the ball flew through the penalty area and at the second post Burkardt pressed him with his thigh over Kevin Trapp happily to 1-1 into the goal (57.). Kristensen was late in this case, did not hit the ball when he attempted clarification, but only Burkardt. It was already the 16th goal of the striker for the striker who again demonstrated his nose in this scene.
Mainz looked stronger, but Frankfurt had the great chance of the leadership. Arthur Hereate played a precise 60-meter ball on a label, which tried it with a lupfer, which he had set too high (69.).
In the 88th minute, the Frenchman also awarded the last top -class carpenter for the hosts, after which Burkardt left the opportunity to win the guests (90th). Frankfurt has to wait for the Champions League and win Mainz on the 33rd matchday at VfL Bochum, otherwise an outstanding season for the 05 without European happy ending ends.
