Bundesliga: Eintracht Frankfurt Seal Top-Four Finish with Thrilling Victory

Eintracht Frankfurt secured a Champions League spot with a 3-1 win over Freiburg, who will now play in the Europa League.

Eintracht Frankfurt secured a Champions League spot with a 3-1 win over Freiburg, who will now play in the Europa League next season. The match's intensity was heightened when news broke that Borussia Dortmund had taken an early lead against Holstein Kiel.

Frankfurt's victory marked a significant achievement, while Freiburg's defeat confirmed their Europa League participation.

A Dortmund win would have meant one team would miss out on the top four. If the match had ended level, Freiburg would have been relegated to the Europa League. Given the high stakes, the first half-hour was cautious, with both teams hesitant to take risks.

The tension was palpable as both teams carefully navigated the early stages, aware of the consequences of a loss.

The match erupted into life just before the half-hour mark, with Freiburg taking the lead. Ironically, the opening goal came from a long throw, a tactic Frankfurt often employed but Freiburg had tried to counter by moving advertising boards closer to the pitch. Philipp Lienhart threw the ball in, Matthias Ginter flicked it on, and Ritsu Doan volleyed home at the far post, giving the hosts the advantage.

WE'VE DONE IT!!! @ChampionsLeague HERE WE COME!!! 🤩

⏹ 90' | #SCFSGE 1-3 | #SGE pic.twitter.com/djUqhnrfgM

— Eintracht Frankfurt (@eintracht_eng) May 17, 2025

Forced to respond, Frankfurt pushed forward after falling behind, with Hugo Ekitike testing Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu twice with promising attacks. However, their pressure paid off just before halftime when Ansgar Knauff scored the equalizer in comical circumstances.

Knauff had initially flicked the ball around the corner, and when Philipp Lienhart wildly swung at and missed the ball, Knauff cleverly latched onto the rebound and fired the ball into the corner, leveling the score.

After halftime, Frankfurt took control and sealed their advantage just after the hour mark. Rasmus Kristensen's long-range strike arrowed in off the post, beating goalkeeper Noah Atubolu's desperate dive. Freiburg's task became increasingly difficult from that point.

The German side's hopes were further dashed minutes later when a penalty box melee ended with the ball trickling over the line off Johan Manzambi, after Ellyes Skhiri's shot had hit the post.

Freiburg's task became even more daunting after conceding the equalizer, knowing they needed a win to secure a Champions League spot. Ultimately, the hosts couldn't overcome the deficit and will now participate in the Europa League. Despite occupying a top-four spot for much of the season, Frankfurt's 3-1 win secured their third-place finish and a Champions League spot.

This marks Frankfurt's first top-four finish in the Bundesliga since the 1992/93 season.