"We found out why Real lost 5-2" – Toppmöller admits Atletico were "on a higher level"

After an impressive 5-1 win over Galatasaray in their Champions League opener, Eintracht Frankfurt were beaten by the exact same scoreline by Atlético Madrid on Tuesday in their second outing in Europe’s premier club competition.

Coming off a 5-2 win over city rivals Real Madrid, Atlético showed no mercy against Frankfurt, who struggled to keep up with the Champions League veterans.

“We found out in no uncertain terms why Real came here last weekend and lost 5-2, and we were shown just how impressive a team Atlético have got,” said Eintracht Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller in a post-match interview.

“We maybe showed them a little too much respect. They were very good value for their win – they showed intensity in the one-on-ones and the quality they have was clear for all to see.

“At the end of the day, matches like these are the ones that can really help us to grow as a group. We knew that we were very much the underdogs, and while we were all hoping for a different outcome, we need to take it on the chin. We were pushed to our limits, and the opposition were simply on a higher level.”

Toppmöller and Eintracht now face another tough challenge when they take on Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga on Saturday.