myFinally the breakthrough, finally the first victory. Frankfurt Eintracht managed to win a Bundesliga points match at RB Leipzig's stadium. The minimum effort was enough for coach Dino Toppmöller's team: a goal. Ansgar Knauff scored the goal in the seventh minute. The attacking winger took advantage of some excellent preparatory work when he shot from close range, which Niels Nkounkou was responsible for at the other end.

“It was a great game for us,” said Knauff, who turned 22 three days ago. “We practice this a lot in training.” This is the model that worked excellently this Saturday in Leipzig. As he did twice in the last home victory last year against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Nkounkou once again shone excellently in the first competitive match of the new year, discovering the best-positioned man next to him and putting him on the spot. look with a space. opening pass. “Niels just makes a great cross. “He still gets it.”

1-0 for Eintracht against RB Leipzig. “We start the new year with a great feeling,” said a happy Kevin Trapp. The Frankfurt goalkeeper was Eintracht's most active professional on a freezing afternoon, in which Leipzig invested a lot, especially in the second half, and tried everything to at least tie. But coach Marco Rose's team ultimately lacked bright ideas and brilliant moments.

RB managed to get Lois Openda into promising situations from time to time. But the Belgian almost desperate Trapp, who showed his class on several occasions. “Trappo did an excellent job,” Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller said in his analysis. Even defeated Leipzig paid tribute and recognition to the goalkeeper. “Kevin is one of the best goalkeepers in the league,” praised Christoph Baumgartner in the catacombs of the stadium. RB coach Marco Rose was pragmatic after the unexpected 0-1 home defeat. “It will always happen that we don't score a goal or get any points.” The soccer teacher added almost philosophically: “Football is like life. You also need a little luck.”

Two new ones at Eintracht

Of course, Toppmöller immediately called up his two new recruits for the difficult test with the Saxons. Sasa Kalajdzic as the so-called target player in the center of the attack, Donny van de Beek in the offensive on the left. Eintracht started the game well and it wasn't long before a stroke of genius led Frankfurt to take the lead. Nkounkou, who was deployed on the left flank, performed excellently. The deep-sighted Frenchman immediately discovered the space that had opened up for him and Knauff, who was running to the other side. Effett's pass through the Leipzig defense ended up right in the path of Knauff. He shot without concessions and the Eintracht players formed a large crowd that cheered him after this perfectly scored goal.

1-0 in Leipzig: that doesn't happen every day. But it happened this Saturday afternoon in the stadium, which had a great attendance of 45,867 spectators, and it was deserved at that point. For a long time, RB lacked much of what characterizes the club and makes it an integral part of the European Cup every year. In the 17th minute, the Saxons came dangerously close to the Hesse goal for the first time. Openda almost easily beat Eintracht defense chief Robin Koch. On his subsequent pass, Benjamin Sesko was unable to do anything substantial in a promising position because Tuta made a decisive clearance. Four minutes later, Lukas Klostermann had a good chance with a header from a corner kick. But the attempt of the man who tied himself to the RB before the start of the game for another four years until mid-2028 lacked force. On the other hand, it was Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe who took action with his head, but he also did not hit the target (25th).

After a good half hour, the Leipzig team, which increased its attacking efforts, improved. It was also the phase in which Eintracht goalkeeper Trapp was able to make several good saves. The national goalkeeper was on guard twice against Openda (36th and 38th). Tapp showed his class in one-on-one situations, especially in the Belgian's second great opportunity. There is no doubt: Openda was, by far, Leipzig's most outstanding professional. Three minutes after the break he had another great opportunity to score. This time he missed and shot high over the Frankfurt goal (48th).

Toppmöller made his first personnel adjustments in the 62nd and 63rd minutes. The Eintracht coach took Kalajdzic and van de Beek out of the game. Jessic Ngankam and Aurelio Buta were able to vent for almost half an hour. When Openda took the measure, this time with his head, Trapp was there again and very reliably (65th). His defensive reaction to a shot by Benjamin Henrichs was also notable. The tie for RB seemed to be a matter of minutes, but it did not happen again.

“For us it was very bitter,” Baumgartner said later. But for Eintracht, which after some preparatory work by Nkounkou was on the verge of making it 2-0 thanks to Mario Götze (57th), the sports business trip to Leipzig went very well. “The team defended with passion and heart,” said Markus Krösche. Frankfurt's sporting director praised “that we put everything into it. We are happy”. Coach Toppmöller was also happy and satisfied with the debut of his two new players. “These are two top-level players. “They both fit perfectly into the team.” And he finally helped to achieve the first victory away from home in Leipzig.