BERLIN: Surprise packages Freiburg suffered a second consecutive league defeat with a 2-0 home loss to Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday as they stayed third in the Bundesliga and missed the chance to close on leaders Bayern Munich.

Freiburg, who had suffered their first league loss of the season in their last game against Bayern, are on 22 points, with Borussia Dortmund on 27 in second and Bayern on 28.

It was Eintracht’s second win in a row and the Eagles had a bit of luck on their side when Jesper Lindstrom benefited from a bad clearance to take the lead in the 34th minute.

Freiburg had had the better chances but they were even unluckier in the 42nd minute when Filip Kostic whipped in a an awkward free kick that sailed past half a dozen players with none making contact before sailing in at the far post as keeper Mark Flekken looked on.

Eintracht climbed to 11th in the 18-team division, ahead of Cologne on goal difference. Cologne drew at Mainz 05 1-1 in the late game, when their top-scorer Anthony Modeste was forced off with an injury.

Jonathan Burkardt put Mainz ahead against the run of play with a cool cut inside and finish shortly before half-time. The visitors bounced back early in the second half when defender Salih Ozcan headed in a Mark Uth free-kick to level the scores and claim his first ever Bundesliga goal.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2021