Against Stuttgart, Frankfurt showed why they are (not) serious title contenders

In a clash that seemed only too fitting for a stadium plastered in Mercedes Benz branding and indeed situated on “Mercedes Street”, Stuttgart’s 3-2 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt was a high-octane clash between two teams that are often all too happy to throw caution to the wind in pursuit of success.

Like Vin Diesel’s Fast & Furious franchise, each goal seemed intent on outdoing the last one in scale and scope. Whether it was Hugo Ekitike’s bullet header before half time, Omar Marmoush’s remarkable free-kick shortly after the hour mark or Josha Vagnoman’s quite frankly ludicrous left-footed volley five minutes from time, it was unquestionably a match that lived up to the billing. 

While the hosts may have walked off the pitch with a degree of frustration over their inability to claim at least a point, thanks in no small part to a missed penalty at the start of the match and a remarkably tight offside call at the end of it, by the end of the 90 minutes it felt like a game that had been somewhat kinder to Stuttgart than Frankfurt.

Sebastian Hoeneß’s side had come from behind to almost claim a point and in the process show their determination and unquestionable talent in the face of serious injuries to key players, but Frankfurt failed to marry remarkable attacking intent with defensive stability. And in the process it was a game that showcased the Eagles’ undoubted capacity to score goals in seemingly any fashion, but also one that underlined why Dino Toppmöller’s team are far from the finished article.