Bundesliga Player Ratings | Eintracht Frankfurt’s ‘Nightmare 2026’ continues | OneFootball

Eintracht Frankfurt’s nightmare start to 2026 continues following another Bundesliga defeat. Just three days after suffering a humiliating exit from Europe, Germany’s RheinMainAdler have again conceded three goals in the fifth consecutive match on-the-spin. Questions about the “patterns of defensive errors” affecting the team certainly won’t dissipate a bit after the latest disaster. 

Get German Football News is pleased to supply a full recap and player ratings. 

Arnaud Kalimuendo scores another opener

Just as he did last Friday night against Bremen, Nottingham Forest loanee Arnaud Kalimuendo got his name on the scoresheet first. In this case, however, it took the 24-year-old a little longer to net his second overall Bundesliga goal. Kalimuendo had been knocking on the door for quite some time (4th, 5th, and 7th) before finally scoring the 1-0 in the 18th-minute. The Frenchman did well to latch onto a well-lofted ball from Can Uzun. After an excellent first touch, Kalimuendo fired past TSG keeper Oliver Baumann from about 13 meters out on the left. 

The Hessian hosts were unquestionably the dominant side over the opening quarter-of-an-hour and beyond. Much of this had to do with a flexible tactical system implemented by SGE interim trainer Dennis Schmitt. As Eintracht repeatedly switched between a back-three and back-four, Hoffenheim found it difficult to establish much of a rhythm. TSG defenders Ozan Kabak and Vladimir Coufal made some decisive defensive interventions early. Frankfurt could have easily scored more goals were it not for top-notch challenges at the back from their guests.

Hoffenheim pick up the momentum

To their immense credit, Christian Ilzer’s Sinsheimers fought their way back into the match. As the opening 45 carried on, it was the turn of the much maligned Eintracht defenders to shut down scoring opportunities. Robin Koch (28th), Rasmus Kristensen (32nd), and goalkeeper Kaua Santos (39th) prevented Hoffenheim from scoring an equalizer. TSG attacking midfielder Wouter Burger unfortunately screwed up an almost perfect chance at the 1-1 at 45+1. The former Stoke City man headed an excellent Fisnik Asllani cross directly at the SGE keeper from close range. 

Overall, Eintracht answered the call of their coach; defending in a compact and passionate manner. The hosts continued to look dangerous on the counter throughout the first half, coming close to getting Kalimuendo and Ritsu Doan into shooting range at the end of the charges. Frustration boiled over for Hoffenheim shortly before the end of the half. Highly active TSG fullback Vladimir Coufal picked up a booking, as did his defensive colleague Albian Hajdari. 

Frankfurt fall apart again

Much seemed to be breaking the way of the hosts as the second half got rolling, but unfortunately it all went awry for Dennis Schmitt’s team shortly after the restart. The SGE right couldn’t stop a strong combo up the TSG left in the 52nd-minute. Burger whipped in an inch perfect cross for Hoffenheim attacker Max Moerstedt and the 20-year-old polished off the 1-1 with an emphatic headed finish from approximately five meters out central. 

Precisely eight minutes after that, Hoffenheim took the lead. Young Eintracht Brazilian keeper Kaua Santos’ weak corner clearance in the 60th-minute placed the ball back with corner-taker Burger. Ozan Kabak snuck into the area unmarked and shouldered in Burger’s simple cross for the 1-2. Burger quickly picked up his second assist of the night.

The nightmare got even worse five minutes later. Eintracht conceded three goals for the fifth time in five games since the Bundesliga January 2026 restart when continually shaky defender Auréle Amenda turned the ball into his own net in the 65th-minute. Coufal and Andrej Kramaric ran circles around the SGE defense before Amenda deflected in Coufal’s cross for the 1-3. 

Neither team showed much interest in playing after that.

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim Player Ratings

Oliver Baumann (5) – Bernardo (6), Albian Hajdari (7), Ozan Kabak (8), Vladimir Coufal (7) – Leon Avdullahu (5) – Wouter Burger (8), Andrej Kramaric (6) – Alexander Prass (6) Max Moerstedt (8)  –  Fisnik Asllani (6)

Substitutes: Grischa Prömel (-), Ihlas Behbou (-)

Eintracht Frankfurt Player Ratings

Kaua Santos (3) – Auréle Amenda (3), Robin Koch (5), Nnamdi Collins (5) – Nathaniel Brown (5), Fares Chaïbi (4), Ellyes Skhiri (4), Rasmus Kristensen (3) – Can Uzun (6), Ritsu Doan (6)  –  Arnaud Kalimuendo (6)

Substitutes: Hugo Larsson (-), Ansgar Knauff (), Jean-Manuel Bahoya (-), Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab (-)

GGFN Player of the Match: Max Moerstedt (8)

The high player ratings of the Hoffenheim crew present us with an interesting choice. Wouter Burger (8) and Ozan Kabak (8) maintain the same rating as our eventual selection. Burger’s two assists will surely lead to the Dutchman earning MOTM honors in many other publications. The author goes with young German striker Moerstedt on this occasion because one simply couldn’t take one’s eyes off the 20-year-old in this one. Almost every one of the right-slant attacker’s 71 touches on the night got one excited. 

In addition to scoring the crucial equalizer, Moerstedt assisted on three other shots. In addition to accruing a ridiculous amount of touches for a forward, Moerstedt recorded 50 passes as he cycled about on his side of Ilzer’s 4-1-4-1. Moerstedt remains a very interesting player most all of us covering the Bundesliga tapped for a breakout campaign. Playing time has nevertheless been sparse. Moerstedt took advantage of Bazoumana Touré’s AFCON deployment to get some more time off the bench. 

Today, he took advantage of a bout of illness that left Tim Lemperle unable to start on short notice.

Moerstedt made a huge impact in his first Bundesliga start of the season. 

Keep an eye on him!

GGFN | Peter Weis