Eintracht beat Hull City | OneFootball

Jonathan Burkardt and Love Arrhov got the goals in Dreieich as the Eagles beat their Premier League opponents 2-0 to claim a fourth friendly win in as many games.

The 2,522 fans at the maxworx Sportpark in Dreieich witnessed what was ultimately a deserved 2-0 victory for Eintracht against newly promoted Premier League side Hull City AFC, in a match played across two 60-minute halves.

Head coach Adi Hütter sent his team out with a four-man backline comprising Robin Koch, Julian Etse, Keita Kosugi and Elias Baum in front of goalkeeper Kaua Santos. Hugo Larsson and summer signing Raphael Onyedika began in central midfield, with Ritsu Doan and Can Uzun occupying more attacking roles, while Younes Ebnoutalib and Jonathan Burkardt started up front.  

Burkardt breaks the deadlock

The Eagles opened the scoring shortly before the interval when Burkardt chased a long ball forward from Santos, before keeping his cool in front of goal and slotting in the opener (56’), giving Hütter’s charges the lead at half-time. 

Eintracht fielded an entirely different XI for the second half. Michael Zetterer replaced Santos in goal, while Niels Nkounkou, Arthur Theate, Jeremiaha Maluze and Ansgar Knauff made up the back four. Mario Götze and Oscar Højlund operated in central midfield, flanked by Farès Chaibi and Love Arrhov, with Jean-Mattéo Bahoya and Malik Pimpong up top. 

Arrhov doubles advantage

Hütter’s men doubled their lead in the 71st minute when Chaibi received the ball inside the Hull penalty area and touched it back to Bahoya, who found Arrhov. The Swedish youngster maintained his composure and curled a delightful effort into the right-hand corner from 17 metres out. 

Wahi and Amaimouni enter fray

Hütter introduced fresh legs in attack during the final 15 minutes. Elye Wahi replaced Pimpong (105’), before Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab – who returned to training this week alongside fellow World Cup participants Theate and Wahi – came on for Bahoya (112’). After another good run-out, the Eagles ultimately secured a 2-0 victory. 

“I was very pleased with the way we started each half,” said Hütter afterwards. “In future I want us to get forward quicker and pin the opposition in their own half, but that will take a little more time. It was a decent test against a physically strong opponent.”