Eintracht Frankfurt secured a dominant 5-1 victory over Galatasaray Istanbul in their Champions League group stage opener, temporarily placing them at the top of the standings.
The match began with an unexpected early lead for Galatasaray. In the eighth minute, Yunus Akgün capitalized on a counterattack, skillfully maneuvering past defender Collins and slotting the ball low into the far corner.
Frankfurt initially struggled to find their rhythm, but gradually began to regroup. The equalizer arrived in the 37th minute through an unusual circumstance; a clearance attempt by Davinson Sánchez inadvertently deflected into his own net.
The goal revitalized the home side, who proceeded to turn the game around before halftime. Can Uzun found the net in added time, finishing a move initiated by Jonathan Burkardt and Ritsu Doan. Shortly after, Burkardt doubled the advantage with a header from a free-kick delivered by Farès Chaïbi – both goals showcasing swift combination play and effective positioning within the penalty area.
Frankfurt maintained their control throughout the second half. In the 66th minute, Burkardt extended the lead to 4-1, with Ansgar Knauff assisting Nathaniel Brown, whose cross into the box found Burkardt for a headed goal, slightly deflected by a defender. The scoring was capped off in the 75th minute when Ansgar Knauff slotted past the goalkeeper after a decisive tackle by Elye Wahi against Gabriel Sara and a subsequent perfectly weighted pass.
Throughout the match, Eintracht Frankfurt demonstrated their dominance through controlled build-up play, pacey wing attacks and consistent pressing. Galatasaray struggled to create clear scoring opportunities, with many of their attacks effectively neutralized in midfield.