They couldn't keep the direct place behind Bayern.

But the 1-1 draw at the indirect table neighbors SC Freiburg also keeps Eintracht, which has slipped marginally down to fourth place, all options to achieve great things this Bundesliga season.

The end of the first half of the season is finally over for Frankfurt and the other 17 teams.

A semi-series in the first class had never been finished so late.

Eintracht can consider themselves lucky to have survived the demanding away game in front of 34,700 spectators in the sold-out Freiburg stadium unscathed.

Ralph Weitbrecht

sports editor.

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In a game that started weakly and only had more bright moments after the break, Randal Kolo Muani once again set a highlight.

It was the Frenchman who gave Eintracht the lead with a low shot just before the break.

Matthias Ginter two minutes after the restart ensured the final score of 1:1 in a game that by no means lived up to the high expectations of the two top teams in the Bundesliga.

The man is a force.

For a long time there was almost nothing to be seen from Eintracht – and not from Kolo Muani either.

But when the chance arose to strike boldly, the Frenchman made short work of it.

The Frenchman saw he could outsmart Mark Flekken with a low shot.

And that's exactly how he did it.

Trapp was missing

It was the 42nd minute and therefore Eintracht's first serious opportunity to score.

Kolo Muani scored the Frankfurt lead in the style of a real executor, a goalscorer who not only aroused desires, but also through his appearances at the World Cup in Qatar.

The nice thing about it: Kolo Muani continues to wear the dress of Eintracht.

His goal to make it 1-0 was one of the few bright spots in a first half in which Eintracht lacked almost everything that made them so strong in the past.

Freiburg were the better team without also shining.

The biggest surprise when the line-ups were distributed an hour before kick-off: Kevin Trapp was missing from the score sheet.

The Eintracht goalkeeper had to pass with a cold.

Already on Tuesday the national keeper didn't feel as fit as usual.

Because Trapp couldn't do it, Diant Ramaj had to prove himself.

For the second time ever under first class conditions.

Once before, away at FC Augsburg last season on January 16, 2022, the 21-year-old was 1-1 in the Frankfurt goal.

At that time he did his job properly.

And this time, too, at the strong Freiburg sports club, the native of Stuttgart knew how to put himself in the limelight.

The people of Breisgau definitely played into his hands, because there was a lot to keep for Ramaj, who was contractually bound to Eintracht until mid-2027.

Djibril Sov as Captain

Kristijan Jakic watched what was going on rather poorly in the first half from the bench.

Coach Glasner left the strong Croatian outside.

On the wings, the Frankfurt soccer coach relied on Ansgar Knauff and Christopher Lenz right from the start.

The fact that Knauff was called up on the right again for a change underlines his variability.

In the past season, in which Knauff was particularly convincing in the Europa League, his impulses came from the right flank.

The double six in front of the defense were Daichi Kamada and Djibril Sow.

The Swiss also led Eintracht as captain because of Trapp's absence.

For the first time since suffering an ankle injury in the training camp, Tuta got a taste of Bundesliga air again.

The Brazilian was called up on the right in the back three.

As much as one looked for good Eintracht scenes, they didn't exist until Kolo Muani's opening goal.

Not a single offensive action, not a brilliant idea: For a long time, the Glasner team simply didn't want to succeed in Freiburg.

It was the sports club that appeared in front of the Frankfurt goal for the first time in the 20th minute, but Ramaj had no problems clearing Lucas Höler's shot.

Kamada was booked a minute later for an uncontrolled shove.

It's a good thing that Evan Ndicka was in the right place shortly afterwards to stop Michael Gregoritsch (23').

Ritsu Doan also appeared dangerously in the Frankfurt penalty area, but missed his goal (28th).

After a good half hour, Ramaj needed two attempts to get the ball under control against Christian Günter.

With much to suggest this game would end goalless at half-time, Kolo Muani struck.

His goal was like a liberating blow, because after the break, the game between second and fourth in the table finally got better.

This was expressed, among other things, by the attacking run of the Freiburg team, which drew attention to themselves quickly and sustainably.

Only two minutes were played in the second period when Matthias Ginter made it 1-1 with great effort (47th).

Glasner made the first personnel changes in the 64th minute.

Sebastian Rode and Aurelio Buta came on for Kamada and Knauff.

Sixty seconds later, Ramaj was on guard as he parried a rogue return from Lenz.

Rafael Borré (for Jesper Lindström) was also allowed to get involved from the 77th minute and try to maybe score the second goal after all.

But nothing more came of it.

Home win against Schalke, away point in Freiburg: Bayern are now waiting for Eintracht at the end of the English week.

For the classic against the champion, Trapp should be fit again by Saturday.