Age does not protect against goals.

Max Kruse will be 34 in just over a month.

He has proven many times that the professional soccer player is by no means old-fashioned.

Also and above all against Eintracht, with which the Wolfsburg returnee has to do on Saturday (3.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on Sky) in Frankfurt.

Of course, the duel between Eintracht and VfL is about more than just Kruse.

But Kruse is the man for the special moments - and for the goals.

Ralph Weitbrecht

sports editor.

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At his former employer Union Berlin, who he left at the end of the winter transfer period to join the financially strong Wolfsburg, mainly for economic reasons, Kruse was a bank.

The man the Iron Ones could count on.

November 28th, 2020: Eintracht played at the Alte Försterei and managed a 3:3.

Double scorer at Union: Kruse.

March 20, 2021: Home game for Eintracht against Union.

Frankfurt won 5-2.

Both Berlin goals went to the account of - Kruse.

November 28, 2021: Another victory for Eintracht against Union.

This time it was 2:1.

But Mister Reliable struck again.

Kruse scored the only goal for the men from Köpenick.

So now he's back: in the new, old green Wolfsburg dress, together with his trainer from the Bremen days, Florian Kohfeldt.

For Eintracht, the comparison with the twelfth place in the table, who have seven points less, is a game with a groundbreaking character.

After all, it is the aim of coach Oliver Glasner's team, which won for the first time this year in Stuttgart last week, to stay on course.

Europe beckons, Europe is not far away, Europe is possible.

Hinteregger could replace Hasebe

But only if Eintracht manages to keep Kruse at bay and compensate for Makoto Hasebe's absence.

Martin Hinteregger could be Glasner's man of choice for the position that has become vacant in the back three.

His Austrian compatriot imposes himself, but he has to improve.

Hinteregger has not yet reached the form of the past few days.

But it is possible that the new, old defense chief has made a leap in the current training week, which mostly took place behind closed doors.

On Saturday, at the best time in the Bundesliga at half past three in the afternoon, it will be a little louder than usual in the Frankfurt Arena.

10,000 spectators are allowed;

those responsible around board spokesman Axel Hellmann and sports director Markus Krösche registered it with benevolence.

But the actual goal of being able to welcome many more fans is far from being achieved, despite all the relaxation measures.

In order to win new old friends for Eintracht brand football again, the club will continue to advertise itself.

That's what Hellmann said months ago, and that's how it will continue to be implemented.

The "Unity in the region" campaign is being promoted.

It is intended to help amateur clubs that are particularly affected by the effects of the corona pandemic.

The men's and women's professional teams are also involved in the campaign, as is the tradition self.

A total of ten benefit games will be played.

"The pandemic has hit professional and amateur sports hard," Hellmann said on Thursday.

"That's why we want to come to the people on our doorstep, to our clubs in the region and to the children and young people who have had to live with massive restrictions.

Right now we would like to establish more contact with people again, convey closeness and send a clear signal: Football - whether professionals or amateurs - pulls together in difficult times and is there for each other." Patron of the campaign is Hesse's Prime Minister Volker Bouffier.