Kamada hat-trick as Frankfurt thrash Salzburg

Frankfurt 4-1 Red Bull Salzburg
Goals: 1-0 Kamada (12'), 2-0 Kamada (43'), 3-0 Kamada (53'), 4-0 Kostic (57'), 4-1 Hwang (pen, 85')

Last season’s semi-finalists started much the better side and had their reward inside 12 minutes when Almamy Toure slipped in Kamada following a one-two with Kostic, and the playmaker coolly slotted the ball under goalkeeper Cican Stankovic. The Eagles continued to dominate, with Kamada and Kostic both going close. The Japan international got his second of the evening just before half-time with a perfectly timed run onto Djibril Sow’s through-ball on the counter, this time lifting the ball over Stankovic.

Former RB Leipzig assistant Jesse Marsch made two changes at the break for the Austrian champions, but things got twice as bad for the visitors as Kamada wrapped up his hat-trick almost immediately, placing a header perfectly between goalkeeper and post. Just three minutes later it was four to Adi Hütter’s side – himself a title-winning Salzburg coach – when Kostic was picked out by Andre Silva on the overlap and the Serbian confidently tucked home to continue his own impressive recent form. The visitors did get a goal back from the penalty spot, Hee-chang Hwang converting after Sow caught Andreas Ulmer. Frankfurt, though, take a commanding 4-1 lead to Salzburg for the second leg in a week’s time.

• Frankfurt's Europa League record reads: W14, D3, L2. Defeat to Arsenal in their opening group game was their first in the competition on home soil, but they remain unbeaten in the knockout rounds at their Commerzbank-Arena (W3, D3).
• Kamada now has six goals in seven Europa League games this season, all of which have come in the last three matches and include a match-winning brace away at Arsenal.
• Kostic took his total in the Europa League to four. In all competitions he has six goals in his last six games.
• This was Frankfurt’s 18th win in the Europa League, overtaking Schalke for the most victories by a German club in the competition.
• Frankfurt have won four of their last six games, having lost eight of the previous ten. They have now scored two goals or more in 12 of their last 13 home games.

Frankfurt: Trapp – Abraham (c), Hasebe, N'Dicka – Toure, Sow, Ilsanker (Durm 86'), Rode, Kostic – Kamada (Da Costa 81') – Silva (Paciencia 75')
Unused subs: Rönnow, Chandler, Kohr, Cetin
Out: Fernandes (hip), Gacinovic (cold), Hinteregger (suspended), Russ (Achilles tendon), Torro (knee)
Coach: Adi Hütter

Salzburg: Stankovic – Farkas, Onguene, Wöber, Ulmer (c) – Mwepu, Okugawa (Adeyemi 46'), Junuzovic, Szoboszlai (Camara 71') – Daka (Koita 46'), Hwang
Unused subs: Coronel, Ashimeru, Vallci, Ramalho
Out: Bernede (shin), Diarra (knee), Walke (fractured foot)
Coach: Jesse Marsch

Frankfurt 4-1 Red Bull Salzburg
Goals: 1-0 Kamada (12'), 2-0 Kamada (43'), 3-0 Kamada (53'), 4-0 Kostic (57'), 4-1 Hwang (pen, 85')
Frankfurt: Trapp – Abraham (c), Hasebe, N'Dicka – Toure, Sow, Ilsanker (Durm 86'), Rode, Kostic – Kamada (da Costa 81') – Silva (Paciencia 75')
Salzburg: Stankovic – Farkas, Onguene, Wöber, Ulmer (c) – Mwpeu, Okugawa (Adeyemi 46'), Junuzovic, Szoboszlai (Camara 71') – Daka (Koita 46'), Hwang

OVER TO YOU LEVERKUSEN

That makes it three wins from three in Europe for Bundesliga clubs this week. Can they go four-from-four? We're about to find out as Leverkusen take on Porto, which you can follow LIVE, right here. Thanks for joining us!

FULL-TIME

What a win for Frankfurt! The Eagles took flight tonight thanks to Kamada's stunning hat-trick and Kostic rounding off a fine performance with a fourth goal. They will be disappointed to have conceded that late away goal but Hütter's men have put them in an incredibly strong position ahead of the second leg. A fine, fine performance.

90+1' THREE MINUTES ADDED ON

In to stoppage time we go...

89' FRANKFURT STILL PUSHING

The home side are still bombing forward, even this late on in the game. They want to restore that four-goal lead!

86' FINAL FRANKFURT CHANGE

Durm comes in in place of Ilsanker.

85' GOAL! 4-1!

Sow commits the foul in the box - and is booked for his troubles - allowing Hwang to step up and send Trapp the wrong way.

83' PENALTY TO SALZBURG

81' STANDING OVATION FOR KAMADA

And rightly so as the three-goal hero is replaced by da Costa. What a performance from Kamada.

78' ALMOST FIVE

Almost instantly at the other end, Paciencia is denied from just six yards by Stankovic. That really would've killed this tie.

77' HASEBE TO THE RESCUE

What. A. Tackle. It looks for all the money in the world that Salzburg are to clinch an away goal but just as Koita is about to pull the trigger, Hasebe rushes round to make an incredible intervention.

75' FIRST FRANKFURT CHANGE

Paciencia will lead the line for the final 15 minutes, on in the place of his compatriot, Silva.

71' FINAL SALZBURG SUB

Camara comes on in place of Szoboszlai.

70' LAST 20

Frankfurt are still camped in the Salzburg half with just 20 to go now.

65' DOMINANT HOSTS

The visitors can't get out of their six-yard box, let alone half, right now. Frankfurt are absolutely bossing this match and, at this rate, will add to their four goal lead.

61' FRANKFURT FANS FLYING

It is absolutely rocking at the Commerzbank Arena. Black and white scarves are being whipped into a frenzy, the supporters are bouncing in unison and enjoying what is turning out to be a memorable night.

57' GOAL! 4-0 FRANKFURT!

We can't keep up... This time it's Kostic who's on the scoresheet, played in by Silva on the overlap and confidently tucking home a fourth. This has been an incredible performance from Frankfurt so far and there's still plenty of time for more goals.

53' GOAL! 3-0 FRANKFURT!

Did someone say hat-trick? Kamada well and truly proves the previous point, heading past Stankovic to seal a hat-trick inside an hour and put Frankfurt three goals to the good in this first leg. Brilliant from the Japanese attacking midfielder.

51' A MAN MADE FOR THE UEL?

Kamada may still be searching for a first Bundesliga goal but he has had no problem in finding the back of the net in Europe. His two goals tonight mean he has five goals and two assists in what is his seventh appearance in the competition this season.

46' TWO SALZBURG CHANGES

Koita and Adeyemi have come on for the visitors after the break with Daka and Okugawa making way.

46' SECOND HALF UNDERWAY

Can Frankfurt add to their lead?

HALF TIME

A superb half of football from Frankfurt, who have already put themselves in a great position to advance to the last-16. Kamada's two superbly taken goals have them 2-0 up at half time and in complete control.

43' GOAL! 2-0 FRANKFURT!

Well, Kamada threatened to double his tally earlier and he has done so now with a sumptuous finish. Sow feeds him free just inside the Salzburg half and Kamada has a lot to do, cutting inside the last man before lifting beyond Stankovic. A superb finish.

39' LOVELY FROM FRANKFURT

Kostic really does have his side ticking tonight and this time shares a one-two to allow N'Dicka to get beyond him on the overlap. Neither man can quite pick out Silva in the middle but, again, they are having joy getting in behind Salzburg's defence.

35' A GREAT BLOCK

Salzburg threaten for pretty much the first time but Mwepu's effort doesn't have a chance of troubling Trapp as captain Abraham slides in to make a superb block.

33' WIDE FROM KOSTIC

Frankfurt work a nice opening on the left for their No.10 but Kostic drags it wide of the far post. A decent chance for a player of his ability.

30' SO FAR SO GOOD

Hütter will be very happy with how Frankfurt have started this first half hour. All gone to plan so far.

25' CROSS-TIC

Is there a better crosser of a footballer than Kostic right now? You'd be hard pressed to find one and he shows just how pinpoint he can be from out wide with a lovely clip towards Silva and Frankfurt win a succession of corners. Salzburg manage to hold firm - for now.

20' ALMOST A SECOND FOR KAMADA

The Japan international is once again in behind the Salzburg defence but this time he fires wide from a narrow angle on the left side of the box. Very close.

16' FRANKFURT WELL ON TOP

They may have started a little slowly but, boy, have Frankfurt come to life. They're camped in the Salzburg half now.

12' GOAL! 1-0 FRANKFURT!

What a lovely goal this is. Toure plays a delightful one-two with Kostic out on the right before the former slides in Kamada to slip beneath Stankovic and hand Frankfurt the lead. Cracking build-up and a cracking finish.

9' HÜTTER'S GAMEPLAN

Frankfurt's flexibility in transition is quite remarkable. Hasebe and Rode both drop in to make it a three-man central defence at different times, with Toure and N'Dicka allowed to stretch the pitch out wide. Great options.

6' KOSTIC COULD BE KEY

The Frankfurt winger has been their liveliest player so far and you feel he could have a big part to play here. Always an outlet, always a threat.

3' STEADY START

Eintracht are taking a little time to get going in an attacking sense in the early exchanges, with the visitors enjoying the lion's share of possession. Nothing to alarm the hosts yet, though.

1' KICK-OFF!

Aaaaaaand, we're off...

HERE WE GO...

The teams are out from the tunnel, the Frankfurt fans are in fine voice and we're just about ready to get going at the Commerzbank Arena.

THREE FOM THREE?

Both Dortmund and RB Leipzig got their Champions League knockouts off to a fantastic start this week with important first leg victories. Can Frankfurt make it three from three tonight? If they do, Leverkusen will have the chance to make it a fine quartet of wins for our Bundesliga clubs in Europe later on tonight.

15 MINUTES TO GO

Not long until kick-off now, so take this as your 15 minute warning to start getting comfortable.

TWO OTHER CHANGES

Adi Hütter has made two more changes, and three in total, from the side that started the defeat to Dortmund. Unlike Chandler, who makes the bench, Hinteregger (suspension) and Gacinovic (cold) miss out entirely, with Sow, Hasebe and Kamada their replacements.

CHANDLER ON THE BENCH

The big news coming out of the home side is that USA international Chandler starts on the bench. He's been in red-hot form recently, scoring four goals in five unbeaten matches (W4, D1). The Eagles may have been brought down to earth by Borussia Dortmund last time out but they are still enjoying their best form of the season.

SALZBURG TEAM NEWS

Stankovic – Farkas, Onguene, Wöber, Ulmer (c) – Mwpeu, Okugawa, Junuzovic, Szoboszlai – Daka, Hwang
Subs: Coronel, Ashimeru, Vallci, Koita, Ramalho, Camara, Adeyemi

FRANKFURT TEAM NEWS

Trapp – Abraham (c), Hasebe, N'Dicka – Toure, Sow, Ilsanker, Rode, Kostic – Kamada – Silva
Subs: Rönnow, Chandler, Da Costa, Durm, Kohr, Cetin, Paciencia

WELCOME TO OUR FRANKFURT vs. SALZBURG LIVE BLOG

A very good morning, afternoon or evening to you, wherever you are in the world. We have a cracker in store this evening as Frankfurt welcome Austrian outfit Salzburg to the German financial capital for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-32 tie. So, without further ado, here are tonight's teams...