Eintracht Frankfurt finished last season ninth in the table. Accordingly, much was expected of coach Friedhelm Funkel's side this time around.
Those expectations have so far been confounded, however. Two games in, Frankfurt find themselves 15th in the table, having followed up an opening day 2-0 defeat at home to Hertha BSC with a draw at 1. FC Köln.
In the latter game, things only started to look up for Eintracht following the introduction of Brazilian midfielder Caio.bundesliga.de takes an analytical look at the club's form so far.
Reasons for Frankfurt's poor start to the season:
Finishing! Eintracht have had 27 attempts on goal, but only two of these have been on target - a league low! Last season, 44 percent of all efforts not blocked wre on target.
Passing! Only four of the above efforts were set up by a teammate. With all the rest, the ball came courtesy of the opposition.
Goalgetter wanted! 6.7 percent of overall chances converted - that's barely more than half the figure for last season.
Wide game! Over the first two matchdays, Frankfurt managed a total of 29 crosses into the box - the third-lowest number in the league.
Dodgy defending! Three of the six shots on their own goal have ended up in the net - a 50 percent ratio. Last season, Frankfurt's keepers kept out 70 percent of all balls they had to deal with.
Do they perhaps have to “toughen up”? Funkel's men committed an average of 17 fouls per game last season. The early figure for this campaign is down to 13.
Caio enlivens proceedings:
Put it away please! Caio came on after 62 minutes at Cologne. Up to that point, Frankfurt had managed four shots on goal. Within 15 minutes, the Brazilian midfielder had equalled that tally himself!
Efficiency! Eintracht's ninth and final pot at goal in the RheinEnergieStadion was the one that counted. Martin Fenin's 81st-minute goal gave them their firast point of the season. It was also the only shot they had on target in the entire match.
Skill on the ball! Caio won eight of the nine man-on-man situations he was involved in. A strikingly high quota, and an excellent level of commitment given that he was on for less than half an hour.
15 goals for Frankfurt
Eintracht hold Real Madrid
Emphatic win for Eintracht