Former Dortmund Duo Shines as Frankfurt Takes the Lead in Pokal Thriller
What a night it’s turning out to be at the Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt! Under the bright floodlights, Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund are battling it out in one of the most anticipated clashes of the DFB-Pokal’s second round. And already, the first half has given fans plenty to talk about — especially with two familiar faces from Dortmund’s past making all the difference.
It took barely seven minutes for the home fans to erupt. Mario Götze, once a Dortmund hero and now an experienced leader for the Eagles, threaded a perfect through ball into the path of Ansgar Knauff — another former BVB talent. Knauff, calm and clinical, slotted it past Gregor Kobel, giving Frankfurt an early 1–0 lead. The Waldstadion shook with joy, and the energy from the stands was electric.
The opening 45 minutes were packed with intensity. Dortmund, under Niko Kovac, pushed forward mostly through the right flank, where Karim Adeyemi and Julian Ryerson tried to create danger. But Frankfurt’s defense stood firm — organized, disciplined, and tough to break down. The BVB tried to respond with possession and pace, yet they struggled to find real openings. By contrast, Frankfurt looked sharp, composed, and always ready to strike when the opportunity arose.
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For Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller, the decision to start Götze over youngster Can Uzun already looks inspired. “Mario gives us calmness and experience in key moments,” Toppmöller had said before kickoff — and the first half proved him right. Götze’s vision and precision brought confidence to the entire side, while Knauff’s relentless running troubled Dortmund’s backline.
On the other bench, Niko Kovac’s choices are being closely watched. He opted to rest star striker Serhou Guirassy, giving Maximilian Beier a chance to start. Kovac had explained, “Guirassy has played almost every game. I wanted to give him a breather.” But Dortmund’s attack clearly missed the cutting edge that the prolific forward usually provides.
Historically, Dortmund has dominated this matchup — winning the last three Pokal duels, including the 2017 final. Frankfurt’s last victory over BVB in this competition came all the way back in 1979. So tonight’s match carries extra emotional weight for the home side and their supporters.
Frankfurt entered the game full of confidence after a strong 5–0 cup win against FV Engers and a solid Bundesliga performance against St. Pauli. They’ve been gaining momentum, and it’s showing. With players like Ritsu Doan and Jonathan Burkardt pushing forward and Michael Zetterer standing tall in goal, this Eintracht side looks determined to write a new chapter in its Pokal story.
As the teams head into the second half, one thing is certain — this match feels like a mini-final. Frankfurt wants revenge and redemption; Dortmund wants to reclaim its rhythm. But for now, the night belongs to the two ex-Dortmund stars in red and black — Götze and Knauff — who’ve reminded everyone that football always has a way of writing poetic stories.
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