Götze off the mark in pulsating Frankfurt win

Werder Bremen 3-4 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 0-1 Götze 2’ (assist: Kolo Muani), 1-1 Jung 14’, 2-1 Bittencourt 17’ (assist: Ducksch), 2-2 Kolo Muani 32’, 2-3 Lindstrom 39' (assist: Rode), 2-4 Sow 48' (assist: Kamada), 3-4 Füllkrug 90'+2 (pen.)

Eintracht have a busy few weeks coming up as they begin their maiden UEFA Champions League campaign, and they played their part in a breathless first half in Bremen. It took Götze just two minutes to net his first goal for the club, driving home Randal Kolo Muani’s cutback from the D. Werder would turn things around with two quick-fire goals of their own. Anthony Jung beat Kevin Trapp with a low effort from the edge of the area before the diminutive Leonardo Bittencourt headed a free-kick over the Eintracht goalkeeper to take the lead. Daichi Kamada had a goal ruled out for offside on review before Kolo Muani did restore parity on the half-hour mark when he was played in by the Japan international, stood up two defenders and beat Jiri Pavlenka. It was advantage Frankfurt once more before the break when Jesper Lindstrom finished off a rapid counter with a chip over the Bremen goalkeeper.

In a comparatively slow start, it took Die Adler three minutes to hit the back of the net in the second half after Kamada held up the ball in the box before teeing up Djibril Sow to finish from a similar position to Götze. Having come from behind in every game so far this season, Die Grünweißen were no strangers to this scenario and kept going as Ole Werner looked to his substitutes again after last week’s masterstroke against Borussia Dortmund. Lee Buchanan was one of the scorers off the bench that time and almost repeated the trick when flicked through in the box but he fired just over. Opposite wing-back Mitchell Weiser dragged just wide coming inside as the hosts continued to push for a way back into it. Niclas Füllkrug set up another grandstand finish when he converted an added-time penalty after Marvin Ducksch was felled. However, it was too late this time as their unbeaten start to the campaign came to an end. Conversely, it brought Frankfurt their first win of 2022/23 as they joined Werder on five points after four games.

• Götze got his 58th Bundesliga goal, but his first since 20 December 2019 - for Dortmund against Hoffenheim. It was his first shot in the league for his new club in his fourth game.
• His seven Bundesliga goals against Bremen is more than against any other club (also seven vs. Hamburg).
• Kolo Muani had a direct hand in Frankfurt’s first four goals of the season (two scored, two assisted).
• Eintracht have been involved in both games this season to see five first-half goals (also their 6-1 loss to Bayern Munich on Matchday 1).
• All 10 goals Bremen have conceded this term have come from open play.
• No Bundesliga club has seen more goals in their games this season than Werder (20 – 10 scored, 10 conceded).

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Bremen: Pavlenka - Pieper, Veljkovic, Friedl (c) - Weiser (Burke 77’), Bittencourt (Schmid 30’), Groß (Gruev 65’), Stage (Schmidt 65’), Jung (Buchanan 65’) - Füllkrug, Ducksch
Unused subs: Zetterer, Stark, Rapp, Agu
Out: Dinkci (match fitness), Mbom (Achilles), Salifou (abductor)
Coach: Ole Werner

Frankfurt: Trapp - Jakic, Tuta, Ndicka, Pellegrini (Lenz 65’) - Rode (c) (Chandler 77’), Sow - Lindstrom (Knauff 77’), Götze (Alario 86’), Kamada - Kolo Muani (Borre 86’)
Unused subs: Ramaj, Smolcic, Hasebe, Ebimbe
Out: Buta (knee), Hrustic (thigh), Onguene (thigh), Toure (muscular)
Coach: Oliver Glasner

Watch: Lindstrom: "Götze is a top player"