The Bundesliga was back after the winter break with a proverbial bang as two of the league’s heavyweights met with Eintracht Frankfurt hosting Borussia Dortmund. Despite a couple of Saturday afternoons games already falling victim to Germany’s weather spike on Friday, this one survived.
Stakes were high heading into Friday’s clash with Eintracht looking to retain Champions League football for next season. BVB, meanwhile, came into the contest nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
The hosts made five changes from their final game of 2025, in which they took a point against Hamburg at the Volksparkstadion. With Dino Toppmöller still missing Jonathan Burkardt and Michy Batshuayi, he handed a debut to January signing Younes Ebnoutalib. Niko Kovač made three changes of his own, with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel passing a late fitness test to take his place in the starting XI.
The visitors struck first after 10 minutes when Nico Schlotterbeck played a diagonal pass into the path of Julian Ryerson, who in turn drilled in a brilliant cross for Maximilian Beier to neatly send the ball past Kauã Santos’ at the near post.
Frankfurt rallied as they looked for an immediate reply and soon found themselves gifted a golden chance to equalise when Serhou Guirassy needlessly fouled Robin Koch in the Dortmund box. Can Uzun made no mistake from the spot.
An intense end to end first-half saw Nico Schlotterbeck and Beier both squander good chances for BVB to retake the lead, meaning the teams went into the break level.
In a frantic opening to the second period, Toppmöller’s side showed their intent within seconds as Uzun’s cross was met by Younes Ebnoutalib, the striker’s effort landing just the wrong side of the post. Minutes later, Ansgar Knauff forced a brilliant save from Gregor Kobel at his near post. Dortmund also had a good opportunity when Ryerson’s cut-back found Marcel Sabitzer free inside the box, but his effort was blocked by Knauff.
Dortmund retook the lead on 67 minutes when Felix Nmecha let fly from 20 yards, his strike taking a significant deflection off Hugo Larsson before finding its way into the back of the net.
Frankfurt responded immediately as Arnaud Kalimuendo turned his marker with ease and slipped Ebnoutalib through on goal, the debutant firing brilliantly past Kobel.
Both sides continued to push for another lead, with the visitors coming close when Daniel Svensson’s cross caused a mix-up in the Frankfurt box. Knauff spared his goalkeeper’s blushes by clearing the ball off the goal-line.
Dortmund came agonisingly close to regaining the lead as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, Schlotterbeck’s header from a corner striking the angle of post and bar.
Jubilation followed for Eintracht a minute later after more excellent work from Kalimuendo forced Ryerson into a hurried clearance. The ball fell straight into the path of former Dortmund midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud, who emphatically fired past Kobel.
BVB threw men forward in search of an equaliser and delivered a punch to the hosts’ gut with virtually the last kick of the game. Sabitzer’s cross was met by substitute Carney Chukwuemeka, who brought the ball under control before slotting past Santos.
A pulsating game to welcome back the Bundesliga in 2026 ended with both sides having to settle for a point apiece. It was a contest that could easily have gone either way, and in the end both teams should be content with a draw.
That said, Toppmöller and Frankfurt will naturally be gutted not to have taken all three points after taking the lead so late on. As for Dortmund, the winter break has done little to shake their habit of surrendering leads – or conceding goals deep into stoppage time.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Kauã Santos (5) – Rasmus Kristensen (6), Robin Koch (6), Arthur Theate (5) – Ansgar Knauff (7), Hugo Larsson (6), Oscar Höjlund (6), Nathaniel Brown (6) – Ritsu Doan (5), Can Uzun (6) – Younes Ebnoutalib (8)
Others: Arnaud Kalimuendo (7), Mario Götze (-), Mahmoud Dahoud (-)
Borussia Dortmund: Gregor Kobel (6) – Niklas Süle (5), Nico Schlotterbeck (6), Waldemar Anton (5) – Julian Ryerson (6) , Marcel Sabitzer (6), Felix Nmecha (7), Daniel Svensson (6) – Maximilian Beier (7), Julian Brandt (6) – Serhou Guirassy (4)
Others: Fabio Silva (6), Karim Adeyemi (-), Emre Can (-), Carney Chukwuemeka (-)
This would have been the first opportunity for many Bundesliga fans to see Younes Ebnoutalib in action following his move from second-division Elversberg, and he did not disappoint. A constant thorn in the side of Dortmund’s back line throughout the match, the 22-year-old drew fouls that resulted in first-half bookings for both Niklas Süle and Waldemar Anton. The forward got his just rewards of a debut goal in the second half, converting his chance with aplomb.
An honourable mention to Arnaud Kalimuendo who also had a debut to remember after sealing his loan move to Die Adler earlier this week.
