Eintracht Frankfurt back to their best in the Bundesliga
A total of 13 new faces arrived at the Commerzbank-Arena throughout the summer, ready to begin their new lives as Eintracht Frankfurt players. The same amount of players moved on, in search of a new challenge elsewhere.
The sheer amount of transfer activity that the club were involved in during the summer transfer window was a result of a disappointing 2015/16 season for the club, in which they avoided relegation to Bundesliga 2 by three points in the regular season and a single goal in the relegation play-offs.
Given their lacklustre displays last term, Niko Kovac’s side were tipped for yet another relegation battle this time round. However, so far, they have yet to drop into the bottom half of the table this term, let alone the relegation zone.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the club’s league positions have been largely inconsistent since they returned to the top flight in 2012. A sixth place finish in 2012/13 was followed by a 13th place finish the following year, while a 9th place finish in 2014/15 was succeeded by last season’s disappointing results.
Yet, while an improvement was to be expected, nobody could have predicted the tantalising form that Frankfurt have produced throughout the first half of the current campaign, with Kovac’s side currently sitting in fifth place after 13 games, with goal difference alone separating them from fourth placed Hoffenheim.
A major part of the club’s problems last season was down to the absence of club captain Alexander Meier, who netted 12 goals in 19 league appearances before a knee injury forced him to end his season early. Prior to his injury, he played a part in six key goals for the club, which ultimately secured a total of 10 points.
Meier has returned to the field as the club’s star man this season, slotting back into his position at the top of the Frankfurt’s attack, and got straight back to his goalscoring ways.
Meier currently leads the club’s scoring charts with four goals in 13 appearances. However, Meier has had plenty of help from his team-mates this term. In the 15 games Frankfurt have played this season there have been a total of 11 different goalscorers. The increase in quality throughout the squad is noticeable and it is certainly paying dividends in the league.
Aside from the abundance of goalscorers throughout the team, the club have also strengthened at the back. Having switched to a back three ahead of the new campaign, their defensive issues have vanished, while the addition of Real Madrid loanee Jesus Vallejo has also had a huge impact.
Eintracht Frankfurt ended the 2015/16 with the sixth worst defence in the Bundesliga, having conceded 52 goals throughout. However, they now possess the sixth best defensive record in the league, having conceded just 11 times this term.
With a visit from fourth placed Hoffenheim up next, a victory in their next game would push the club into the Champions League positions. Hoffenheim are already back to their best in the Bundesliga, but maintaining their current position for the rest of the season would be the springboard they need to push on in the coming years.
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