BERLIN: A goal and an assist from Hugo Ekitilce took Eintracht Franl(furt to a 3-0 home win over lowly Heidenheim on Sunday, keeping the Eagles on track for the Champions League.

Days out from hosting Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final after the London opener finished 1-1, Frankfurt were in control against their struggling opponents.

Ekitike created Frankfurt`s first after 11 minutes, slicing the ball on the counter to Fares Chalbi, who cut through a crowded penalty area for Jean-Matteo Bahoya to tap home.

With 43 minutes gone, Ekitike showed great control to latch onto an Arthur Theate pass and knocl< it into the path of Germany centreback Robin Koch, who smaclced it into the bottom right.

Germany`s 2014 World Cup final hero Mario Gotze was subbed on in the 70th minute and sealed theresult a minute later.

Gotze controlled an Elcitike pass and found Chaibi, who in turn passed to a wide Nathaniel Brown. Brown guided the ball laterally across the face of goal for Ekitike, who tapped in from close range.

The 22-year-old El(itike now has 21 goals and nine assists in all competitions, having picked up the slack after Omar Marmoush`s departure to Manchester City.

The victory took Frankfurt to outright third, five points clear of fifth-placed RB Leipzig.

Just months after facing Chelsea in the Europa Conference League, Heidenheim`s defeat leaves the minnows in the relegation playoff spot, seven points from safety with five games remaining.

Earlier on Sunday, Scotland international Oliver Burke scored a 90th-minute winner as Werder Bremen came from a goal down to win away at a 10-man VfB Stuttgart 2-1.In the first half, Burke`s 32ndminute goal cancelled out Leonidas Stergiou`s 19th-minute strike, leaving things level at the break.

Former Bremen striker Nick Woltemade, who has pushed himself into the Germany conversation since moving to Stuttgart in pre-season, picl(ed up a second yellow af ter 65 minutes.

With Stuttgart holding on in hope of a first home point since January, Leonardo Bittencourt slipped a pass to Burke, who hammered home as the clock ticked towards injury time.

The loss, Stuttgart`s fifth home defeat in a row, leaves last season`s league runners-up in 11th, eight points off the Champions League placings.

Bremen have now won four of their past five games to go three points behind the European placings in their bid to return to continental competition for the first time since 2011.-AFP