Donny van de Beek delivered a commendable performance in a substitute role for Eintracht Frankfurt, contributing to their convincing 3-1 victory over Hoffenheim yesterday. Despite a lackluster loan spell thus far, the Dutch midfielder, aged 26, has yet to register a goal or an assist.
Initially featuring in the starting lineup for the Bundesliga club, van de Beek failed to make a notable impression, resulting in his relegation to the bench. Disappointing displays have prompted criticism from Frankfurt’s local media, with doubts cast on the likelihood of the loan becoming permanent in the summer.
In the recent match, Hoffenheim secured an early lead six minutes into the game, but goals from Robin Koch, Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe, and Mario Götze propelled Frankfurt into a commanding position before van de Beek’s introduction as a substitute in the 72nd minute.
Remarkably, the former Ajax player made a positive impact during his brief appearance, earning a respectable rating of 7.0 from Sofascore in just 18 minutes of play. Engaged in the game, van de Beek made 19 touches and maintained a passing accuracy of 76%, completing 13 of his 17 passes.
Critics have frequently highlighted van de Beek’s inability to influence matches since joining Manchester United, as well as during his loan spells at Everton and Frankfurt. However, despite entering the game with a comfortable lead and facing a fatigued defense, he managed to leave his mark.
The Manchester United loanee aims for an extended playing time to demonstrate his capability of making an impact at the highest level when Frankfurt faces Borussia Dortmund, featuring Jadon Sancho, next Sunday.