The Eintracht Frankfurt footballers missed a coup against FC Barcelona in the Champions League. Coach Niko Arnautis’ team lost to the defending champions 1:3 (1:0) after a strong first half.
National striker Laura Freigang even gave the Bundesliga club the lead in the 42nd minute in front of 16,100 spectators at Deutsche Bank Park. After the break, Salma Paralluelo (48th/62nd) and Mariona Caldentey (59th) scored for the Spanish record champions.
The Frankfurt team, who won 2-1 at FC Rosengard in Sweden at the start, are now hoping for more points on December 13th at Benfica Lisbon after their home debut in the group phase. Barcelona began with the composure of a team that had previously failed to drop a point in all ten competitive games this season. There was a 5-0 win against Lisbon, and the same result in the Spanish league against rivals Real Madrid on Sunday.
Barça women turn up the heat after the break
Most of the favorite’s attacks came through world champion and Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, especially since Alexia Putellas was missing due to injury. The Eintracht defense around Sara Doorsoun defended with great concentration. Even young star Paralluelo initially barely got a chance on the left wing against Pia-Sophie Wolter. Apart from a few harmless shots on goal on both sides, nothing happened for a long time. But then Freigang headed in from a cross from Verena Hanshaw to take the lead.
Shortly beforehand, Nicole Anyomi had already checked goalkeeper Sandra Paños. With temperatures around freezing point, the Barça women turned up the heat after the break. Paralluelo made it 1-1 from close range before the hosts conceded two more goals.
A good three years after taking over the former European Cup winner 1. FFC Frankfurt, Eintracht is playing for a place in the quarter-finals for the first time. The German champions FC Bayern Munich will play at Paris Saint-Germain this Thursday, VfL Wolfsburg had previously been eliminated.
