Match Centre

Eintracht Frankfurt's narrow 1-0 victory slightly flattered Köln, with the hosts' higher shot volume (15 vs 9) and quality (1.84 xG vs 0.82) justifying the three points. Younes Ebnoutalib's 77th-minute strike, assisted by substitute Noel Aseko, proved decisive in a game where Frankfurt's 56% possession translated into 11 shots inside the box – four more than the visitors managed.

Köln's defensive 5-3-2 limited Frankfurt to just seven shots on target from 15 attempts, but their own attacking output was meagre, mustering only three shots on target and two from outside the box. Frankfurt's seven corners to Köln's three further highlighted their territorial dominance, though both sides saw four shots blocked apiece in a congested midfield battle.

The key differential was Frankfurt's superior chance creation (11 shots inside the box vs Köln's seven), with substitute Aseko's impact off the bench proving pivotal – his assist came just six minutes after entering the fray. Frankfurt's 1.84 xG to Köln's 0.82 tells the story of a match decided by clinical finishing in limited clear-cut opportunities.