Having overcome their poor start to the season, Eintracht Frankfurt are on a roll. Adi Hütter's men are rising up the table, while things have suddenly become a little more difficult for the highly-rated Julian Nagelsmann and his Hoffenheim side.

The teams

Hoffe coach Nagelsmann made three changes to the team that had lost in midweek to Manchester City in the Champions League. The fit-again Kevin Vogt and Nico Schulz were back, and were joined in the starting eleven by Leonardo Bittencourt. Making way were Justin Hoogma, Pavel Kadeřábek and Joelinton.

Frankfurt were also making changes to a team that had been in European action, and four men that played in midweek in the 4:1 win over Lazio were rotated. Simon Falette, Lucas Torró, Mijat Gaćinović and Sebastian Haller were either benched or rested, with Gelson Fernándes, Allan, Evan Ndicka and Ante Rebić all brought back in.

Hoffenheim stunned

The visitors started at a high tempo and the hosts took their time to get into the game, but there was little to talk about for the opening 25 minutes. Nagelsmann's side created the first genuine opportunity a minute shy of the half-hour mark, when a deflected header from Bittencourt was saved by Frankfurt 'keeper Kevin Trapp. Suddenly, some life had been injected into the game.

As half-time approached, a stodgy contest had been transformed into an end-to-end battle. For Frankfurt, Rebić had what he thought was a good claim for a penalty. At the other, Kerem Demirbay hit the crossbar.

Five minutes before half-time, it took a foolish error to break the deadlock. A misplaced throw-in from Hoffenheim's Florian Grillitsch quickly seized by Luka Jović, and the Serbian's pass sent the speedy Rebić on his way. Spotting Oliver Baumann off his line, the Croatian dinked a left-footed shot neatly over the 'keeper and into the right side of the net.

Frankfurt to the fore

The second half could not have started any better for Adi Hütter and die Adler. The Austrian coach had replaced Allan with Mijat Gaćinović, and immediately the change paid off. Once again, it was Frankfurt's Balkan crew that did the business.

Gaćinović found Filip Kostić, whose cross was too difficult for Baumann to deal with. The Hoffenheim 'keeper could only palm the ball away, and Jović was in he perfect position to pounce. It was a goal made in Serbia, and Jović executed the perfect right-footed finish (46.)

Hoffenheim had no choice but to counterpunch, and Nagelsmann rang the changes. There were opportunities for both teams. Rebić hit a shot straight at Baumann, while at the other end Ádám Szalai was foiled by Trapp.

Ten-man twist, Trapp secures the win

Frankfurt's lead was solid enough, but things took an awkward turn when Rebić, already booked for a silly penalty appeal in the first half, was sent off for a second bookable offence. It was the perfect opportunity for the home team to pile on the pressure and work their way back into the contest.

Hero and villain. Rebić scored Frankfurt's opening goal, before being sent off in the second half.

With the visitors forced firmly on the back foot, it was all Hoffenheim for the final twenty minutes. There were chances for Demirbay and Ishak Belfodil, before sub Riess Nelson finally punctured the Frankfurt net with a smart right-footed shot. Trapp could have done slightly better, but it was a crisp finish from the young Englishman.

The goal set up a tense final period, with blue wave after blue wave crashing against a black and red wall. The final moment of drama came three minutes into additional time, when Belfodil's powerful effort brilliantly tipped over by Trapp.

Result: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 1 (Nelson 82.) Eintracht Frankfurt 2 (Rebić 40., Jović 46.)