Meier sinks Cologne

Eintracht Frankfurt 6-2 Cologne
(Meier 4', 23', 87', Castaignos 14', 30', Seferovic 73' - Modeste 28', Heintz 81')

Alexander Meier returned from injury to score a hat-trick in a 6-2 win over Cologne and send Eintracht Frankfurt into the Bundesliga's top-four positions.

Two years after Armin Veh took Frankfurt to sixth, his side were aggressive and sharp throughout. Meier scored three of the goals - his last league goal for the Eagles came in March against Paderborn. Castaignos bagged his second brace of the season, while Seferovic added the other. Anthony Modeste scored his third of the campaign and Dominique Heintz netted, but it was a mere footnote in a Frankfurt demolition job.

Meier returned to the side as one of three changes by Armin Veh and last season's top scorer needed just four minutes to open his account for the new campaign. Converted wing-back Aleksandar Ignjovski tabled a cross for the run of the center-forward who got above two defenders in white and headed into the bottom corner.

Frankfurt's speed in the transition to attack was devastating. But they were aided by some careless defending from Cologne new-boys Heintz and Frederik Sorensen. The pair consistently found themselves separated and out-of-position as Dutchman Castaignos ran clear of the former and buried his third of the season.

After scoring four versus Stuttgart last week, Veh's men were in a rich vein of form. The confidence was oozing out of the front-three when Meier added the final touch to a wonderful counterattack on 23 minutes. Haris Seferovic led the charge, drifting out to the right before delivering an outstanding cross to Meier, the ball perfectly weighted for the striker to score from close-range.

Bundesliga finds its crazy streak

At 3-0, you would expect Peter Stöger's men to have caved in. To their credit, though, there were signs of resilience as Leonardo Bittencourt missed a good chance minutes later. Before the half-hour mark, Simon Zoller combined well with Modeste, the Frenchman heading in his fourth of the season since his move from Hoffenheim.

80 seconds later, the three-goal lead was restored. Makoto Hasebe picked out the flying Castaignos who edged away from his marker and finished for the second time.

Frankfurt had earned the reputation of being one of the most entertaining sides in the league last season under Thomas Schaaf, but Veh has brought an additional dimension to the side; the goals and work rate are matched by improved defensive stability.

On 73 minutes, Castaignos turned creator for Frankfurt's fifth goal of the evening. The former Twente front man led the charge, finding strike partner Seferovic in the inside-right channel and the Swiss international curled home with his left foot.

Frankfurt was never in any danger of losing the three points, even if Heintz headed in a late consolation for the Billy Goats with 10 minutes on the clock. There was time for 32-year-old Meier to seal his hat-trick though, heading in Johannes Flum's in-swinging cross from the penalty spot.