Eintracht Frankfurt had their 15 game unbeaten streak snapped as they lost 4:2 to Portuguese giants SL Benfica in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal. Eintracht, the last remaining German team in European competition this season following Bayern, BVB and Schalke’s exits from the Round of 16 of the Champions League, had last lost back in December 2018 to Bayern, but were well beaten at the Stadium of Light, with young Joao Felix announcing himself on the world stage with a hat trick.
Felix had three goals and an assist (check out his second goal if you can- an absolute screamer). Luka Jovic had scored against his parent club to make it 1:1, but Benfica netted in the 43rd, 50th and 54th minutes of this clash to put the result of the game beyond doubt.
It’s not all gloom and doom for Frankfurt though- their two away goals have kept them in the contest. A 2:0 in the return leg will do very nice, and so would a 3:1.
Felix became the youngest player to score a Europa League hat trick. There were more than a dozen clubs who sent scouts to watch this game, including several big Premier League ones (United, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenl and Leicester), and his performance here would’ve caught the eye of many. He has a €120m release clause in his contract, but there’ll be plenty willing to stump up that fee if he continues to progress at this level.
