Three points in Sinsheim | OneFootball

Ritsu Doan scored a brace as Eintracht Frankfurt made it two wins from two Bundesliga games with a 3-1 victory at TSG Hoffenheim.

There was one enforced change from the 4-1 win over SV Werder Bremen on Matchday 1. Jonathan Burkardt was forced to pull out with a back problem, so Elye Wahi came in up front for just his second Bundesliga start. Mario Götze, who made his comeback from injury as a substitute against Bremen, also sat out this one due to muscular pain.

Efficient Eagles

Roared on by over 10,000 fans at the PreZero Arena, it felt almost like a home game for Eintracht. Hoffenheim had more of the possession in the opening quarter of an hour, with Tim Lemperle warming the gloves of Michael Zetterer, but Eintracht struck first with their first chance on 17 minutes as Ritsu Doan cut onto his left foot just outside the area and curled a beautiful strike into the top corner. Ten minutes later, the same man was on target when he finished off Jean-Mattéo Bahoya’s square pass at the far post from a swift counter-attack. It was only the Japanese’s second brace in his 133rd appearance in the German top flight.

It was very nearly 3-0 another 10 minutes later but Wahi was denied a first Bundesliga goal by a last-ditch block on the goal line by Robin Hranac. Hoffenheim then thought they’d pulled a goal back when Fisnik Asllani found the net following a quick free-kick, but it was ruled out for offside. The Eagles had another opportunity to extend their lead before half-time, but TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann foiled Bahoya’s effort and it remained 2-0 at the break.

No way back for Hoffenheim

The visitors didn’t ease off after the restart and soon got their third goal. Doan was the provider this time, playing in Can Uzun – who had a shot saved by Baumann moments earlier – and the youngster beat Baumann with a smart sliding finish to net his second league goal of the campaign. Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer responded with a double substitution as he searched for a way back into the contest, but his side were restricted to half-chances, Lemperle and Muhammed Damar both drawing straightforward stops from Zetterer.

With the three-goal cushion, Dino Toppmöller was able to use his bench to give early finishes to the likes of Doan and Uzun. Rasmus Kristensen had a long-range effort saved by Baumann before coming off himself in the 83rd minute. The hosts did threaten a late comeback when Grischa Prömel reduced the deficit in the first minute of stoppage time and then nearly scored another two minutes later, but it was merely a blemish on an otherwise impressive performance for Eintracht, who now head into the international break having won their first two Bundesliga games of the season for the first time since 2012.