Europa League: Hoffenheim and Lyon draw, Eintracht defeats Prague

TSG Hoffenheim – Olympique Lyon 2:2 (0:0)

TSG Hoffenheim and Olympique Lyon drew 2-2 (0-0). Valentin Gendrey scored the first goal for Hoffenheim in the 47th minute, Abner Vinicíus for Lyon in the 66th minute. In stoppage time, Umut Tohumcu increased for Hoffenheim (90+5) and Alexandre Lacazette (90+3) for Lyon.

The game began with a moment of shock for Hoffenheim when Georges Mikautadze, standing completely free, headed into the arms of national goalkeeper Oliver Baumann in the 9th minute. Anton Stach later missed the opening goal for TSG with a direct shot from 14 meters.

In the second half, Gendrey used a cross pass from Tom Bischof to take the lead. Shortly afterwards, Max Moerstedt missed the 2-0 – the ball went past the post. Lyon coach Pierre Sage tried to turn the game around with a quadruple substitution. Vinicius used a rebound in the penalty area to equalize. Lacazette completed the supposed turnaround in stoppage time before Tohumcu equalized and made the final score 2-2.

With five points, Hoffenheim are now in midfield and still have every chance of moving into the next round.

In the Bundesliga, TSG will face FC Augsburg on Sunday.

Eintracht Frankfurt – Slavia Prague 1:0 (0:0)

In the Europa League Eintracht Frankfurt won against Slavia Prague 1-0 (0-0). Omar Marmoush gave his team victory with a free kick in the 53rd minute. With ten points after four match days, the Hessians were able to consolidate their position in the top group.

Marmoush created the first chance to score in the 7th minute, but Slavia’s goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky saved it (7th). Later, Ansgar Knauff was also denied by Kinsky from a tight angle and Marmoush’s follow-up shot didn’t put the ball into the goal (33′). Shortly before the end of the first half, Prague’s Tomáš Chorý narrowly missed taking the lead (43rd minute).

The second half began with a foul on Marmoush just a few meters outside the Prague penalty area. He then scored with a free kick to make it 1-0. Marmoush almost scored a brace, but Igoh Ogbu prevented the 25-year-old’s shot at the last moment (68′). In the 89th minute, Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp held strong against Matěj Jurásek and thus secured the victory for Eintracht.

It is the third home win for Eintracht within nine days. Frankfurt had previously won the DFB Cup against Borussia Mönchengladbach (2-1) and in the Bundesliga against VfL Bochum 7-2. On Sunday, Eintracht will face VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.

Hans-Dieter Hermann:
“The penalty is often missed before the start”