Frankfurt and Bordeaux clashed in Group F on matchday one in the Europa League and the game ended in a one-sided result.
Bordeaux's team was weakened with one eye on the league, and it showed as much with their defence poor throughout. Vaclav Kadlec and Marco Russ scored simple goals in the first half.
In the second, the hosts made sure of the points as the excellent Constant Djakpa scored a free kick by curling into the bottom corner.
Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary below.
Hello everyone. The week's European football continues, and tonight the Europa League gets underway. I will be bringing you updates form Frankfurt against Bordeaux in Group F.
The Bundesliga goes head-to-head with Ligue 1 tonight and this one should be close. The French side, however, have been good against German opposition lately in Europe and have not lost in their last four encounters.
That said, they often struggle away from home. They have just one win from their last seven away but they do have recent experience in this competition having made it out of the group stages last year. Frankfurt, on the over hand, have not appeared in Europe since 2006-07.
Let's get the team news then, shall we? I have it right here.
FRANKFURT XI: Trapp; Jung, Zambrano, Anderson, Djakpa; Russ, Rode; Aigner, Barnetta, Inui; Kadlec
BORDEAUX XI: Carrasso; Faubert, Henrique, Brechet, Orban; Traore, Poko, Sertic, Maurice-Belay; Rolan, Jussie
There is plenty of attacking talent on display. Particularly threatening in my opinion will be the attacking trio from Frankfurt in behind Vaclav Kadlec of Tranquillo Barnetta, Stefan Aigner and Takashi Inui.
When the Frankfurt attack combine they can be a match for a lot of teams. Bordeaux's front line has a South American feel today, with Brazilian Jussie Ferreira Vieira partnering summer signing Diego Rolan. Rolan looks a good prospect, but has yet to score league goal this season.
We're five minutes away from kickoff, so let's have a look at the odds. For a home win 7-10 is the best you can get, with 11-2 for the away side. I can't see beyond the Germans here.
The handshakes and other pleasantries are just about over. It does appear from the lineup that Bordeaux are focusing on the league, but we will see how they do.
KICKOFF: Frankfurt get us underway in front of a packed crowd at Commerzbank-Arena.
The game has started with a couple of free kicks and has not yet found a flow. Frankfurt are the side doing much of the pressing though in front of their home crowd. Bordeaux are sitting very deep indeed - not one player remains in the Frankfurt half when the Germans attack.
GOAL! Frankfurt 1-0 Bordeaux (Vaclav Kadlec)
So much for Bordeaux trying to keep it tight. The goal is nothing more than a long ball from Djakpa at left-back. Henrique gets under his headed clearance and it eventually falls to Kadlec, who makes no mistake with his finish. First blood Frankfurt.
Vaclav Kadlec just cannot stop scoring. He is the sort of striker who gets into the channels and makes life hard for a defence, but he has proven there that he can also poach. What can this weakened Bordeaux team muster now?
This is going to be very tough for the French side. Frankfurt are firmly in control and are passing well in the final third now. Rode looks for Jung with an angled ball, but the right-back was given offside as he tried to latch on to it.
Russ tries to start a move from the back, but his touch is poor and ends up fouling Sertic. That's not where he is at his best, but he did initially cut out a pass - which is his strength. Rolan goes for goal from about 25 yards but strikes it over - a bit of a waste from the youngster.
The game has slowed down a notch after that fast start. Bordeaux's passing is well off at the moment; they're trying to play over the top, but Frankfurt's line is deep and they are able to cut out all the passes.
CHANCE! Barnetta is so close to making it 2-0. Inui puts in an absolutely magnificent cross along the six-yard box and the Swiss, sliding, turns it wide. Having got there, he will have wanted to do better with that chance.
GOAL! Frankfurt 2-0 Bordeaux (Marco Russ)
That is more absolutely dreadful defending. Really bad. A short corner is played to Barnetta, who puts it low into a dangerous area. There is no white shirt anywhere near Russ as he sticks out his boot and turns it in. That's probably the game already.
CHANCE! Big chance for Jussie to equalise there. He finally manages to get in behind and, although forced slightly wide, manages to get a shot on target which is turned wide by Trapp.
Another save from Trapp, but that one was easy. Bordeaux are suddenly higher up the pitch, with Maurice-Belay shooting from just outside the box, but it did not have much power.
Frankfurt are almost in again. It's more good work from Inui on the left side of the box and he finds Rode, but good pressure from the men in white forces the ball away from him and it goes out of play for an away throw.
CLOSE! Bordeaux again come forward and Poko must do better! He rises high in the box and meets a cross from Maurice-Belay but puts it wide. He should hit the target.
At the other end Russ is again the target from a corner. This time Barnetta takes it directly and some static marking allows Russ to meet it, but it goes harmlessly over the bar and never really threatened the goal.
It's s shame for Bordeaux that they had to go 2-0 down to start making a game of this, but they are now looking very threatening down the left. Maurice-Belay and Jussie are combining well but they need more chances.
Bordeaux are still on the attack and they win another corner. Sertic takes it and it's partially cleared before going back to him. It's a foul from Orban on Zambrano in the end, with the Frankfurt man nipping in their first to draw the foul.
Frankfurt have managed to ease the pressure that had been building, but they are suddenly sloppy with their passes at the back. They kick it out of play as Djakpa goes down after a challenge with Rolan.
The hosts break forward for the first time in a while, but Rode's ball to pick out Aigner is overhit and the forward cannot get there.
Here they come forward in numbers as Barnetta leads a break down the right. His ball across finds Djakpa, who cuts on to his right but his effort is blocked. Barnetta hits it as it comes down but the angle was never there and it's harmlessly wide.
CHANCE: Djakpa is involved again as he finds the run of Kadlec. The striker tries to slide it past Carrasso on the run, but doesn't catch it and makes it easy for the goalkeeper.
CHANCE! Huge, huge chance from the hosts. This time it's Inui who gets forward and gets the better of Henrique and Anderson far too easily, but unfortunately for him one of his touches is too heavy which allows Carrasso to come out and save.
Just one minute has been indicated at the end of the half...
HALF-TIME: Frankfurt 2-0 Bordeaux
So Frankfurt deservedly lead at the break. They have been helped by some absolutely woeful defending from their French opponents, but it's so far, so good for the hosts. The atmosphere has been fantastic and Frankfurt have responded.
After the second goal went in Bordeaux finally started playing some football and they have certainly created enough to suggest that this is not over. However, Frankfurt looked dangerous on the break on a couple of occasions as the half wore and that will become more of a theme the more the visitors come forward.
Both sides are now playing an attacking style, which makes me fairly confident that we have not seen all the goals. I can't see it going to Bordeaux, however, and Frankfurt will probably wrap it up with another one.
SUBSTITUTIONS: The players are coming back out and we'll be back underway shortly. There's a new face for both sides as Flum comes on for the hosts and Chalme for the visitors. I'll confirm who has made way shortly.
KICKOFF: The action is back. Time for Bordeaux to go for this.
The players who came off are Inui and Faubert. The Inui one is surprising, but perhaps he had taken a knock.
Another effort on goal there from Henrique, but his header from a corner is right at Trapp. The goalkeeper did not need to move, but might have been in trouble if it was either side of him.
Frankfurt are defending really well at the start of this half. They can afford to get numbers back and as Rolan looks for Jussie the latter is crowded out by about four red and black shirts.
GOAL! Frankfurt 3-0 Bordeaux (Djakpa)
That is surely that now. I really question the set up of the wall and keeper from the free kick, but the left-back did his part and curled it into the bottom corner. Carrasso for some reason was standing behind his wall and left a whole half of the net to aim at.
Bordeaux now are less keen to get forward. They feel it's lost now, which is probably fair, so there's not much reason to go all out attack.
BOOKING: Russ goes into the book, which is the first card of the match. He obstructed Sertic around the middle of the park, and it seems a little harsh but it was an unnecessary foul.
RED CARD! Brechet is off! He's the last man as Aigner gets in behind him. He has to go really, those are the rules.
From the free kick Djakpa again goes for goal, but that one is over the target. He has been fantastic all game. Bordeaux ready a change to replace the sent off centre-back.
BORDEAUX SUB: Here is the change and it's Poundje on. Can he make all the difference for his side? Somehow I doubt it...
Flum has not been involved too much since he has come on and he decides to go for goal from silly distance. As you might expect, it flies high into the stands.
FRANKFURT SUB: Stefano Celozzi is on for the injured Rode. The visitors also make a sub with Poko making way for Khalfallah.
Frankfurt still have all the momentum. Bordeaux cannot even get out of their own half as the hosts are pressing so high up the pitch. Carrasso does well to gather a cross down low from Djakpa.
Armin Veh still does not look happy, but I'm sure deep down he is. His side is still going forward as Kadlec gets himself in behind but his cut-back is blocked clear.
Unlucky Frankfurt! A superbly worked move on the edge of the box ends with Kadlec playing through for Aigner, but the striker was just offside before collecting the ball.
Frankfurt have yet another corner and Barnetta's ball in was really good. It's headed away to Djakpa who strikes it form way out - his effort is blocked. Lakic comes on for Kadlec, who has played well.
It's an absolute comedy at the other end as Poundje and Khalfalla both swing at air instead of hitting the ball. The latter wins a free kick right on the edge of the box, however.
BOOKING: Rolan is booked for putting the ball in the wrong place! He wouldn't move it when asked and now gets a yellow. That's ridiculous.
The Frankfurt fans are absolutely loving this, and that is understandable. They have been on top in every area and fully deserve their win.
Bordeaux still are creating chances, if just not many of them. Rolan has probably his first effort at goal in the box all evening, but heads over.
There will be three more minutes as the fourth official indicates stoppage time.
Frankfurt are now just passing the ball around to see the clock down. They've done their job very efficiently and can relax for the last couple.
FULL TIME: Frankfurt 3-0 Bordeaux
Well, Frankfurt take a deserved win here. That's all I have from this one as I'm switching to Freiburg very shortly. Look out for that one! Goodbye from here.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
