Bundesliga-Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates in Freiburg-and the sports club too

With his teammates, Kevin Trapp had been celebrating in front of the Frankfurt fan block for a while when he suddenly ran across the square towards the cabin with a bare torso. Something was obviously lacking in the goalkeeper of the Eintracht-and a little later the black and white jubilation grape in the northwestern corner of the Freiburg stadium had grew up: a box of beer was now on the lawn that was freshly qualified for the Champions League.

Recruitment of respect

Then two more boxes were added quickly, this time Frankfurt Provenance. The fact that the 3-1 winners in the direct royal class duel first came to a nationwide-known beer from the southern Black Forest could also be interpreted as a small expression of respect for the inferior hosts. The Freiburger looked bravely at what was achieved: fifth place and participation in the Europa League. At the same time, however, they were to look at the enormous disappointment, defense chief Matthias Ginter initially even removed bitter tears.

A great season from SC Freiburg that was only missing the crowning glory? “Yes, can be. But now it doesn’t feel so tingling, «said the ginter Freiburg, who has returned to the sports club in Dortmund and Gladbach in 2022 after eight years. At that moment, particularly loud cries of luck in Ginter’s ears came out of the guest wing-and when playing the Champions League anthem, the Frankfurt players pushed the controller particularly far up. It was the accompanying music of a season in which Eintracht finally got the curve again.

Nervous matter

The Frankfurt team of coach Dino Toppmöller had already left two match balls at the ticket counter of Europe’s elite league recently, first in Mainz, then against St. Pauli. The final show of strength with the resistant Breisgauer seemed to become a nervous matter for Eintracht – at the latest when the Hesse fell behind after half an hour. Freiburg seemed ready for his premiere jump to the premier class, for which it needed a victory.

With a little luck, the Frankfurt team managed to equalize by Ansgar Knauff in added time in the first half. Rasmus Kristensen and Ellyes Skhiri then ultimately brought the Eintracht to the deserved winning road after an hour with a double strike. The club qualified for the first time via the Bundesliga for the Champions League. “A historical success,” as sports director Markus Krösche commented on his inner constitution: “I’m really broken now, the pressure was already high.” Trainer Toppmöller, who had extended his contract on Thursday to 2028, gave a pleasure to mention the “many doubters” around the club “who did not believe in us”. Especially not when Omar Marmoush, her best, had switched to Manchester City for 80 million euros at the end of January. And so board spokesman Axel Hellmann praised: “Today is a success of sporting over -performance.”

Insight

For the second time after 2022 – at that time as the winner of the Europa League – Eintracht has now passed the gateway to continental football prominence. The Freiburgers, on the other hand, may help the insight formulated by Ginter: »Against the four top clubs in the league, we got one of 24 possible points. That is also part of the truth. “

The Europa League, who was used by the southern Baden in the first season under chief coach Julian Schuster for the third time in four years, seems to be the tailor -made competition for Freiburg. That is why midfielder Vincenzo Grifo was able to set a top towards Leipzig, Wolfsburg or Stuttgart through “a howling and a laughing eye” soon after the game is closed. “In the end, we can be proud of ourselves,” said the 32-year-old. “Many teams with completely different ambitions have planned what we have now achieved.” The Freiburg kind of over -performance. And that was later celebrated extensively with the fans.