Frankfurt held by Freiburg ahead of Liverpool clash

Eintracht Frankfurt were pegged back by a clever 87th-minute Vincenzo Grifo free-kick in a 2-2 draw at Freiburg on Sunday, days out from their Champions League clash against Liverpool.

On Wednesday, Frankfurt will welcome back former striker Hugo Ekitike, who made a big-money move to Anfield in the summer -- for a reported £69 million ($92 million).

The 2022 Europa League winners will be playing in the Champions League for just the second time.

But this draw again highlighted Frankfurt's inconsistency this season.

Frustrated Frankfurt defender Rasmus Kristensen told reporters that the draw would be extra motivation against Liverpool.

"We were pretty much in control in an away game and the three points were in our grasp today, but unfortunately we didn't get them," he said.

"That's why we'll need to step it up on Wednesday. We'll get in there with great confidence and give our best."

Freiburg went ahead after just two minutes thanks to Derry Scherhant but Jonathan Burkardt scored twice before halftime to put Frankfurt in control.

With the clock winding down, set piece specialist Grifo caught Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos napping, curling his free kick around the wall and in at the near post.

The Eagles have scored more goals (19) than anyone except league leaders Bayern Munich (27) but have conceded the most (18) in the Bundesliga this campaign.

Frankfurt had conceded 16 goals in their past four matches and the visitors may have feared another long afternoon when Freiburg's Scherhant put the hosts in front two minutes in.

Frankfurt found their feet after a quarter of an hour, however, and Burkardt had them level shortly afterwards, his shot finding the bottom right corner from a fortunate deflection.

Turkish teenager Can Uzun was a creative menace in attacking midfield and helped Frankfurt take the lead before halftime.

He won the ball near the Freiburg goal and fed Fares Chaibi, who laid it off for Burkhardt to score his seventh goal in nine matches in all competitions since moving to Frankfurt in the summer.

The visitors tried to maintain control of the match after the break, bringing on World Cup winner Mario Gotze midway through the second half to see out the result.

But Freiburg had other ideas and Italy midfielder Grifo snatched a share of the spoils.

In Sunday's final game, Hoffenheim climbed to eighth with a 3-0 away thumping at St Pauli.