Euphoric songs from the ranks, the official return of the cult player and a hard-won success as the icing on the cake: Eintracht Frankfurt has prepared itself for its upcoming tasks with an atmospheric European Cup party. Thanks to a double pack from birthday child Goncalo Paciencia (25th, 54th /handelfmeter), the Hessians won the second qualifying round for the Europa League against Flora Tallinn with 2:1 (1:1) and entered the next round after the 2:1 in the first leg.
The semi-finalist of the previous season will have to play for FC Vaduz in Liechtenstein next Thursday. The return match will take place on 15 August. For the upcoming tasks, Eintracht will again be the darling of the audience, Martin Hinteregger. For the minimum goal of the group phase, coach Adi Hütter’s team will also have to survive the play-offs (22/29 August). Vlasiy Sinyavskiy (40th) had balanced in the meantime for the Estonian record champion.
Hinteregger’s recall campaign, which had already been borrowed from FC Augsburg in the last second half of the season, was announced by the club before the kick-off whistle was blown – which added to the already fantastic atmosphere in the fan camp. “It’s overwhelming to be here again now,” said the 26-year-old Austrian.
In the sold-out World Cup arena, Hinteregger, like the other 48,000 spectators dressed as “Choreo” almost all in white, saw dominating hosts right from the start. The SBU, who competed without their back-injured runner-up World Champion Ante Rebic, allegedly courted by Inter Milan, seldom finished against the low-lying Estonians.
Newcomer Dominik Kohr (8th) fired a warning shot from a distance early on, and Dejan Joveljic (26th) headed past the goal by a narrow margin. Apart from that, the favourite was in the middle of preparing for the new season – but Paciencia broke the spell.
“We have to lead the duels more consistently,” said sports director Bruno Hübner in the Nitro half-time. Paciencia, in particular, seemed particularly motivated on his day of honour, almost having tied a three-pack with a kick in the pit (62nd).
In view of the demanding programme, the people of Frankfurt will certainly have to improve. Only three days after the first leg in Vaduz, the Hessians want to prevent a first-round finish in the DFB Cup at Waldhof Mannheim (11 August) as last year, the first real touchstone will be the Bundesliga opening against TSG Hoffenheim another week later.
