Algerian international Farès Chaibi played a pivotal role in Eintracht Frankfurt’s dramatic 2–2 draw with FC St. Pauli, coming off the bench to provide a crucial assist and nearly setting up a late winner in an electrifying Bundesliga clash.
The match burst into life from the first whistle, with a flurry of goals inside the opening 15 minutes. Frankfurt stunned the visitors with an early breakthrough, as Kristensen found the net just 23 seconds after kick-off.
But the joy was short-lived for the home side, as FC St. Pauli quickly responded with a moment of brilliance. Saliakas delivered a stunning lob to level the score, and by the 14th minute, the Hamburg-based side had taken the lead.
Trailing 2–1 for much of the contest, Eintracht Frankfurt struggled to find a way through a resilient St. Pauli defence. It wasn’t until the 71st minute that the breakthrough came—and it was the recently introduced Chaibi who made the difference.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who had only just entered the match, showed composure and vision to thread a perfect pass through to Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi, who calmly slotted home the equaliser.
Chaibi’s impact did not end there. In the 85th minute, he appeared to have set up the winner with a pinpoint cross to Batshuayi once again, who converted for what would have been his second goal of the evening.
However, jubilation quickly turned to disappointment as the referee ruled the goal out for a handball by the striker in the build-up.
It was a frustrating moment for Chaibi, who had turned the game on its head with his creativity and sharp decision-making.
His short time on the pitch showcased his growing influence in the Frankfurt squad, and underlined his credentials as one of the Bundesliga’s emerging playmakers.
St. Pauli, for their part, nearly snatched a winner late in the match. Carlo Boukhalfa delivered a well-timed pass to a teammate in a promising position, only for the final shot to stray just wide of the post—missing what would have been a memorable upset on the road.
Despite the missed opportunities and the disallowed goal, the draw sees Eintracht Frankfurt maintain their position in third place in the Bundesliga standings.
With only a handful of matches remaining, the club is on the brink of securing a coveted spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
For Chaibi, the performance will be viewed as a strong statement. While he may not have officially registered two assists due to the VAR decision, his involvement in both of Frankfurt’s most dangerous second-half moments did not go unnoticed.
The Algerian international continues to grow in confidence and importance as the season enters its final stretch.
With Frankfurt chasing European football and Chaibi pushing for a regular starting role, both player and club will look to build on this momentum in the coming weeks.
