Bundesliga
Frankfurt vs. Sporting: CONFIRMED teams
Eintracht Frankfurt were beaten by Sporting CP on their UEFA Champions League debut.
As it happened
Frankfurt: Trapp (c) - Jakic, Tuta, Ndicka, Lenz - Dina Ebimbe, Sow - Lindstrom, Götze, Kamada - Kolo Muani
Sporting: Adan - St. Juste, Coates (c), Inacio - Porro, Morita, Ugarte, Reis - Trincao, Edwards, Goncalves
0 - 3(0 - 0)
Frankfurt
FINAL
Sporting
vs
FRANKFURT FALL TO DEFEAT
An historic night for Frankfurt ends in a 3-0 loss to Sporting in their Champions League debut. It was a tale of two halves, the first of which was very encouraging and the second saw them punished. They now turn their attentions to Wolfsburg at home on Saturday when domestic duties return before they travel to Marseille for Matchday 2 of the UCL next Tuesday.
90' +1
vs
FOUR MINUTES ADDED ON
We're into the death throes now.
85'
vs
NAIL IN THE COFFIN
Unfortunately, that third goal has put to bed any faint hopes of a Frankfurt comeback. A disappointing second half after a very encouraging first.
84'
vs
Ansgar Knauff
Kristijan Jakić
84'
vs
Makoto Hasebe
Daichi Kamada
80'
vs
LAST 10
Just 10 minutes to go at the Deutsche Bank Park. Frankfurt need a bit of magic or a touch of luck to find a goal and try to force a grandstand finish.
79'
vs
Paulinho
Francisco Trincao
79'
vs
Nuno Santos
Pedro Goncalves
75'
vs
ONE CHANGE APIECE
Glasner reaches into his deck to bring Alario on for Lindstrom as Eintracht go in search of what would be a quite incredible comeback. They'll be pleased to see the back of Edwards, who was replaced by Rochinha a moment before.
74'
vs
Lucas Alario
Jesper Lindström
74'
vs
Rochinha
Marcus Edwards
66'
vs
Rafael Borré
Éric Dina Ebimbe
73'
vs
SUCKER PUNCH
Eintracht's Twitter account is right to suggest that was a sucker punch. It's winded the hosts but, in truth, they've not been at their best since the break and Sporting have been clinical in those two decisive moments.
68'
vs
EDWARDS RUNNING RIOT
Well, they say one brings two, and it has in Frankfurt. Edwards is the architect as Sporting hit their hosts on a counter, with Trincao applying the finish from close range.
66'
vs
SPORTING LEAD
After just typing out Edwards' threat, the Sporting man opens the scoring. He's been excellent so far and had started growing more and more into the game, culminating in the Englishman squeezing the ball into the far corner via a healthy deflection. Frankfurt need to pick things up a bit, they've stalled since the break.
65'
vs
EYE ON EDWARDS
Edwards has been Sporting's biggest threat tonight and the 23-year-old just won a free-kick right on the edge of the Frankfurt box but the resulting set-piece is sent safely over Trapp's crossbar. The Englishman is having a good evening so far.
55'
vs
Kristijan Jakić
54'
vs
EXCELLENT BLOCK
Frankfurt again get success with their high press and Neto is immediately called upon as he block Kamada's effort that is bound for the bottom corner.
52'
vs
ST. JUSTE'S NIGHT OVER
Former Mainz man St. Juste has had his night ended early with injury. Brings about a switch at the back for Sporting.
52'
vs
Luis Neto
Jeremiah St. Juste
6'
vs
Hidemasa Morita
46'
vs
PELLEGRINI ON
One change at the break for Frankfurt, as Pellegrini replaces Lenz at left-back. If there was one weakness in that first half it was down the Frankfurt left, where Edwards caused Lenz some troubles and won the penalty that was ultimately ruled out by VAR.
45' +4
vs
Luca Pellegrini
Christopher Lenz
vs
GOALLESS AT THE BREAK
The answer to the previous question is: No. Sporting have had 58 percent of the ball, but Frankfurt have been the better side and should have taken an early lead through Kolo Muani but he was denied by Adan. Glasner will be the happier of the two coaches at the interval.
38'
vs
Evan Ndicka
45' +1
vs
FOUR MINUTES ADDED ON
Will we see a goal on the stroke of half-time?
45'
vs
PENALTY BOX PINBALL
Sow has worn one in the middle of the pitch and, while he was on the deck, Eintracht nearly scored. Lenz cuts it across goal but, like Kamada, can't find Kolo Muani and the ball bobbles off two Sporting defenders before Adan collects. It could easily have ended up an own-goal but the visitors survive. Sow is back up and running, too.
42'
vs
TRINCAO BURSTS TO LIFE
The Sporting winger nutmegs two Frankfurt players as we get the first proper glimpse of his talent but Frankfurt do well to crowd him out before Trincao can do any damage. A warning though for the hosts.
35'
vs
TRAPP DENIES EDWARDS
Sporting have registered their first shot of the match after 35 minutes. Edwards dribbles nicely inside of Lenz and onto his left-foot before arrowing the ball towards the near post, but Trapp is down well to save. A very good stop and also concentration from the Eintracht skipper who has otherwise been a bystander.
32'
vs
FRONT-FOUR TICKING
Kamada is now fed in on the right side of the Sporting box and again looks to cut the ball back to Kolo Muani but sees his pass cut out by Adan. The movement of Kamada and Kolo Muani, in particular, is causing Sporting's defence problems.
28'
vs
JAKIC THREATENING
Over on the Frankfurt right, Jakic is starting to show signs of more adventure and is getting space behind Reis and is starting to become a very handy outlet for Glasner's side.
26'
vs
RISKY AT THE BACK
Sporting have given the ball away a number of times already as they've looked to build out from the back under increasing pressure from the home side. One to keep your eye on as it feels like there's a mistake in the away defence.
18'
vs
NOT ENOUGH ON IT
Kamada is slipped in on the left of the Sporting box and he looks to play it across goal for a Kolo Muani tap-in but the Japan international doesn't have enough on his pass and Adan intervenes. Lindstrom goes close moments later as Eintracht again win the ball high up the pitch. Good stuff from the hosts.
13'
vs
SPORTING PENALTY OVERRULED!
Lenz is adjudged to have brought Edwards down in the box by the referee but he's quickly called over to his monitor and the decision is overturned. A good call.
11'
vs
GOOD START FROM DIE ADLER
Frankfurt have been good so far and settled into things nicely. Sporting are slowly growing into the game but you can see that Frankfurt are happy to let the visitors have the ball and then pounce on the counter. In that regard, Kolo Muani's pace in behind Sporting's defence could be key tonight.
8'
vs
FRANKFURT BACK TO BLACK
It's worth noting that Frankfurt - who have adopted their white kit in the Bundesliga on the back of, and a nod to, their success in the Europa League last term - have reverted to their traditional all-black home kit for the Champions League and it's the visitors in white tonight.
3'
vs
KOLO MUANI IN...
... but the Frankfurt striker is denied. It's a shocking backpass that frees Kolo Muani and he's one-on-one with the Sporting keeper but Adan makes an excellent save with his feet. Should be 1-0 to the hosts.
1'
vs
OFF WE GO!
The visitors get us underway
vs
THE CHAAAAMPIIIONS!
The famous Champions League anthem has just played out at the Deutsche Bank Park for the first time ever. Full on goosebumps moment in Frankfurt.
vs
10 MINUTES TO KICK-OFF!
Get your drinks within touching distance and snacks at the ready as we're just 10 minutes from kick-off at the Deutsche Bank Park. An historic night is in store and this should be a belter...
vs
GÖTZE THE DIFFERENCE MAKER?
While Frankfurt haven't featured in the UCL until tonight, Götze does have plenty of previous in the competition. He made the Champions League final with Dortmund in 2012/13, and has helped Frankfurt win their last two games and go four unbeaten. The stage is set for the Germany international - who hit the winner in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final - to shine.
vs
GOOD OMENS FOR SGE
A look through the history books finds that Sporting have never won a game in Germany (D1, L13), including losses from each of their last seven trips. Their overall record against German clubs is W3, D6, L19. Tonight's hosts will be hoping to round out those Ls to an even 20.
vs
GLASNER: "IMPORTANT WE FOCUS ON THE FOOTBALL"
It's safe to say there's been real excitement in Frankfurt this week ahead of the club making their Champions League debut tonight. Glasner, though, told media on the eve of the game that he wants his side to focus on the football and not get swept up in the "euphoria". He said: "We're focusing on the sporting side of things. We're expecting a really good opponent with a clear structure. All the euphoria aside, it's important not to focus on the lyrics of the anthem but to go about our tasks on the pitch."
Götze, a World Cup-winner and Champions League veteran with 62 competition outings for former clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, sparkled at the weekend as the Eagles warmed up for Sporting in style with a scintillating 4-0 victory over RB Leipzig. Daichi Kamada and summer arrival Randal Kolo Muani were also unplayable in that game, so head coach Oliver Glasner will be relishing the prospect of unleashing the trio in Europe as well. The Eagles, who qualified for the Champions League after winning last season's UEFA Europa League, are without captain Sebastian Rode who went off injured in the first half against Leipzig. New arrival Eric Dina Ebimbe again slots into midfield in Rode's place.
Champions two seasons ago and second to Porto last term, Sporting are currently eighth in the Liga Portugal. The Lions suffered back-to-back defeats against the champions and promoted Chaves before recovering to win 2-0 at Estoril on Friday. Former Mainz defender Jeremiah St. Juste got his first goal for his new club in that game, with English winger Marcus Edwards also on the scoresheet. Sporting lost talented central midfield pair Joao Palhinha (Fulham) and Matheus Nunes (Wolves) in the summer transfer window, but they brought in Francisco Trincao on loan from Barcelona to strengthen their attack. Former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates, Spanish wing-back Pedro Porro and Portugal attacker Pedro Goncalves all starred in the group stage last season, when the Lisbon side edged out Dortmund for a place in the last 16.
Watch: Kevin Trapp: Forever Frankfurt
Match stats
- Götze, who made the Champions League final with Dortmund in 2012/13, has helped Frankfurt win their last two games and go four unbeaten.
- Japanese attacking midfielder Kamada has three goals in his last four matches and five in all competitions this season.
- French striker Kolo Muani has two goals and four assists in five Bundesliga games since joining from Nantes.
- This is Frankfurt's maiden Champions League campaign, but they went all the way to the final in their only previous European Cup appearance back in 1959/60.
- Dutch speedster St. Juste - the fastest player in Bundesliga history - scored three times in 69 matches over three seasons for Eintracht's regional rivals Mainz before moving to Portugal this summer.
- Sporting have never won a game in Germany (D1, L13), including losses in the last seven. Their overall record against German clubs is W3, D6, L19.
Teams
Frankfurt: Trapp (c) - Jakic (Knauff 84'), Tuta, Ndicka, Lenz (Pellegrini 46') - Dina Ebimbe (Borre 66'), Sow - Lindstrom (Alario 74'), Götze, Kamada (Hasebe 84') - Kolo Muani
Unused subs: Grahl, Ramaj, Onguene, Smolcic, Alidou, Chandler
Out: Buta (knee), Rode (hamstring), Toure (muscular)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
Sporting: Adan - St. Juste (Neto 52'), Coates (c), Inacio - Porro, Morita, Ugarte, Reis - Trincao (Paulinho 79'), Edwards (Rochinha 73'), Goncalves (Santos 79')
Unused subs: Israel, Paulo, Alexandropoulos, Issahaku, Gomes, Esgaio, Marsa
Out: Cabral (muscle)
Coach: Ruben Amorim