Gazeta Lodz - Electric Ekitike keeps Frankfurt on Champions League course

Days out from hosting Tottenham in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final after the London opener finished 1-1, Frankfurt were in control against their struggling opponents.

Ekitike created Frankfurt's first after 10 minutes, slicing the ball on the counter to Fares Chaibi, who cut through a crowded penalty area for Jean-Matteo Bahoya to tap home.

With 42 minutes gone, Ekitike showed great control to latch onto an Arthur Theate pass and knock it into the path of Germany centre-back Robin Koch, who smacked it into the bottom right.

Germany's 2014 World Cup final hero Mario Goetze was subbed on in the 70th minute and helped seal the result a minute later.

Goetze controlled an Ekitike pass and found Chaibi, who in turn passed it wide to Nathaniel Brown. Brown guided the ball laterally across the face of goal for Ekitike, who tapped in from close range.

The 22-year-old Ekitike now has 21 goals and nine assists in all competitions, having picked up the slack after Omar Marmoush's departure to Manchester City.

With an eye towards Thursday's return leg against Tottenham, Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmoeller told DAZN he would give his players the day off on Monday.

"What's important is we enjoy the moment today, then have a bit of distance from football for a day. Then the anticipation can rise up again," said the 44-year-old.

"It's important for the lads to switch off now, train this week and get back together with the fans on Thursday to reach the Europa League semi-finals."

The victory took Frankfurt to outright third, five points clear of fifth-placed RB Leipzig.

A top-four finish would mean a first ever Champions League qualification via the Bundesliga for Frankfurt, whose only previous appearance in the competition came from winning the 2022 Europa League.

Just months after facing Chelsea in the UEFA Conference League, Heidenheim's defeat leaves the minnows in the relegation playoff spot, seven points from safety with five games remaining.

- Burke hits brace for Bremen -

Earlier on Sunday, Scotland international Oliver Burke scored a 90th-minute winner as Werder Bremen came from a goal down to win away at a 10-man Stuttgart 2-1.

In the first half, Burke's 32nd-minute goal cancelled out Leonidas Stergiou's 19th-minute strike, leaving things level at the break.

Former Bremen striker Nick Woltemade, who has pushed himself into the Germany conversation since moving to Stuttgart in pre-season, picked up a second yellow after 65 minutes.

With Stuttgart holding on in hope of a first home point since January, Leonardo Bittencourt slipped a pass to Burke, who hammered home as the clock ticked towards injury time.

Burke, who has 13 caps for Scotland since making his debut in 2016, now has three goals in his past two games for Bremen.

The loss, Stuttgart's fifth home defeat in a row, leaves last season's league runners-up in 11th, eight points off the Champions League placings.

Stuttgart have qualified for the German Cup final and will make it through to the Europa League regardless of league position should they beat third-division Arminia Bielefeld in Berlin in May.

"Maybe we need to defend better, but it's hard when you're a man down," Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller told DAZN.

The Germany international was also unimpressed with the officiating that saw Stuttgart reduced to 10 men.

"I don't think you have to give a yellow for that," Stiller said of Woltemade's second booking.

"I have no idea what the referee was thinking."

Bremen have now won four of their past five games to go three points behind the European placings in their bid to return to continental competition for the first time since 2011.

E.Dudek--GL