Bundesliga Player Ratings Frankfurt 3-1 Hamburg

In animmediate rematch between two tradition-rich Bundesliga clubs who met in the DFB-Pokal five days earlier, Adi Hütter's Eintracht Frankfurt defeated Merlin Polzin's Hamburg by the exact same scoreline as in the cup. A complete team performance from the German Eagles at their Waldstadion lifted Hessen's SGE to eighth place in the table following a 3-1 victory, their third Bundesliga win of the season.

History was also made when,as promised, Hütter introduced 16-year-old prodigy Niko Ilicevic late in the encounter. At 16 years and one day, Ilicevic equalled Youssoufa Moukoko's record as the youngest player in Bundesliga history.

Frankfurt make the opening pinpricks The hosts noticeably carried some momentum from Tuesday's Pokal victory into the encounter, making regular incursions into HSV's penalty area in the opening minutes. A little over a minute later, Younes Ebnoutalib stung the palms of HSV keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes after a Miro Muheim turnover in the back ranks led to a flash-fire scoring chance directly in front of goal.

One certainly sensed that the early momentum would soon be reflected on the scoresheet. One-way traffic eventually yields opener Eintracht's relentless attacking waves finally produced the 1-0 in the 10th minute.

The resurgent Uzun played in Fares Chaïbi on the left with a sparkling run and through ball. Chaïbi's square ball, intended for the onrushing Ebnoutalib, took an unfortunate deflection that left Heuer Fernandes unable to intercept.

HSV defender Warmed Omari couldn't adjust to the deflection either and inadvertently steered the ball into his own net. As fluky as the match's first goal was, it certainly counted as a well-earned tally for the superior hosts.

Double Brassier mistake enables Hamburg to equalize The Hanseatic visitors had barely arrived in the match, yet were able to draw level just four minutes later with their first promising attack. Two defensive errors from SGE center-back Lilian Brassier in the same sequence led to the equalizer.

Brassier first botched a touch, allowing Hamburg's Miro Muheim to drive deeper into the area. The defender then sent a poor clearance of Muheim's cross onto the foot of Albert Grønbaek.

The Danish attacker alertly laid the ball off for Terem Moffi, who coolly slid home the 14th-minute 1-1. A captivating contest heads into the break level An immensely entertaining first half somehow drew to a close without any additional goals.