Farès Chaïbi and Jean-Mattéo Bahoya struck in the second half to secure a 2-0 Bundesliga victory for Eintracht Frankfurt over SC Freiburg.
Eintracht Frankfurt broke a tense deadlock at Deutsche Bank Park, defeating SC Freiburg 2-0 in a crucial Bundesliga encounter. Second-half goals from Farès Chaïbi and Jean-Mattéo Bahoya sealed a deserved victory for the home side. Their attacking prowess in the latter stages proved decisive.
Coming into the match, Freiburg sat seventh in the Bundesliga standings, two points clear of eighth-placed Frankfurt. Both teams sought to consolidate their European aspirations. Frankfurt's recent form had been patchy, while Freiburg aimed for greater consistency.
The opening 45 minutes saw a cagey affair unfold. Frankfurt dominated possession with 63%, pushing forward frequently. However, Freiburg remained resolute in defense, limiting clear-cut chances for the hosts.
Frankfurt registered seven total shots in the first half but only two on target. Freiburg's disciplined setup absorbed much of the early pressure. Goalkeeper Noah Atubolu made some key saves, keeping his side firmly in contention.
As the teams headed into the break, the score remained 0-0. Both managers faced the challenge of unlocking their opponents' defenses. Frankfurt needed to find a way to convert their significant possession into goals.
The second half started with renewed intent from Frankfurt. The breakthrough arrived in the 64th minute. Substitute Farès Chaïbi, who had recently entered the pitch, fired home with his first goal of the match. Nnamdi Collins provided the assist, sparking jubilant celebrations among the home crowd.
Chaïbi's introduction had an immediate impact, shifting the momentum in Frankfurt's favour. Two minutes later, Freiburg’s Lucas Höler received a yellow card for a rough challenge. Both teams then made a series of tactical substitutions, attempting to gain a late advantage.
Frankfurt continued to press for an insurance goal, eager to solidify their lead. Their persistence paid off in the 81st minute. Jean-Mattéo Bahoya doubled the advantage, slotting the ball past Atubolu with a precise finish. Chaïbi turned provider this time, completing a fantastic cameo performance.
A late flurry of yellow cards saw Collins booked for Frankfurt in the 86th minute, followed by Colin Irie for Freiburg just a minute later. Frankfurt comfortably held onto their two-goal lead. Freiburg struggled to mount a serious comeback in the final stages.
Frankfurt’s dominance was clear in the statistics, registering 14 total shots with 7 on target, compared to Freiburg’s 4 shots and 2 on target. Frankfurt also boasted a higher expected goals (xG) of 1.05 against Freiburg's 0.55. Noah Atubolu made 5 saves for Freiburg, preventing a potentially larger defeat.
