Upswing at Eintracht Frankfurt: Unknown trump cards

Nowhere else is a visit from Jürgen Klopp as common as in Mainz. The self-proclaimed carnival club awakens feelings of home for the national coach, who experienced his best and most original time in professional football here as a player and later as a coach. A visit to the arena at the Mainz Europakreisel is obvious given its location in Wiesbaden because of its proximity.

Now the 59-year-old saw a deserved 3-1 away win for Eintracht Frankfurt at FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. And the bright smile of hopeful Klopp, captured by the television cameras, matched the splendid mood of the numerous guests. Who would have expected that after Hessen's bumpy start to the season (3:3 at Union Berlin, 1:4 against FC Augsburg)?

"A strong statement from the team after last week's justified criticism. A very good team performance," said coach Adi Hütter, who, however, avoided lavish praise. From his first time from 2018 to 2021, the Austrian knows how quickly the emotional world changes in the football-loving environment of this traditional club with its large fan base. “We also won the Rhine-Main duel for the Eintracht family,” said the 56-year-old.

It is not without a certain piquancy that the surprise league leaders SC Freiburg are coming to the Waldstadion before the international break. Two days earlier, Klopp will have nominated his eagerly awaited squad for their debut as national coach for the first time. Jonathan Burkardt could hardly have campaigned for consideration better than at his former place of work. The striker, who moved to the banking city in 2025 for more than 20 million euros, combines - when he is fit - enormous speed with the corresponding cold-snout.

“It feels great,” said the assertive goalscorer of the 2-0 shortly before the break (45th + 1), who had already made it 1-0 by the outstanding double goalscorer Can Uzun (9th and 60th). "That's really important and a mental relief. If you caved in twice on the first two matchdays, then of course you know: 'This can't happen again under any circumstances.'"

The fact that the 26-year-old started as the only striker was due to the fact that Hütter switched to a back three to ensure more stability. A move that seemed to surprise his counterpart Urs Fischer. In general, Eintracht had a few trump cards on the field that not everyone had previously had on their list. The midfield talent Noel Aseko, signed by FC Bayern, impressed as a central defender, just like youngster Jeremiaha Maluze in his second Bundesliga game. Suddenly there were six German players in the Eintracht starting eleven again. Perhaps the much-criticized sports director Markus Krösche didn't do so much wrong with the composition of the squad?

Klopp was certainly just as pleased as the strong performance of goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, who, like Burkardt, who was hoping for the national team ("That would be nice: who doesn't hope for that?"), did the best advertising on his own behalf. Nothing is as unclear in the DFB selection before the four-pack in the Nations League against the Netherlands, twice Greece and Serbia as the goalkeeper question. Marc-André ter Stegen and especially Oliver Baumann would not actually be future solutions due to their age, but the keeper, who moved to Frankfurt from SC Freiburg on a loan model with an option to buy, would.

When the score was 1-0, the 24-year-old saved his sixth (!) penalty in the Bundesliga against Nadiem Amiri. Atubolu dealt with his mistake the previous week on his home debut against FCA unmoved. He seems to be additionally inspired by his intended leadership role in the young ensemble of Eagle Bearers. Atubolu said it was difficult for him to unsettle the national player Amiri, who was recently successful ten times from the point - and who also scored against Paraguay in the World Cup round of 16. “Then I trusted my abilities.” With an announcement, the skilled goalkeeper fished the shot from the bottom corner. For Hütter it was the “crucial point” in the game. Whether this was the general turning point remains to be seen. Eintracht Frankfurt likes to confirm its reputation as “the moody diva from the Main” every now and then.