Preview: Bayern Munich vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
Bayern Munich will be aiming to win their first competitive match of 2023 when they host Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga’s Saturday night game.
Frankfurt, meanwhile, would move two points behind the league leaders with an away victory.
Having won 10 straight games prior to the World Cup in Qatar, Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann must be ruing the timing of the tournament having seen his side draw both league games since returning to action.
Indeed, after enduring a winless run of four league games earlier in the season, the reigning champions seemed to have shaken off their slump with a period of relentless form before the break, which culminated in them returning to the top of the Bundesliga as well as progressing into the Champions League knockout stages with maximum points.
However, after securing a creditable 1-1 draw away to RB Leipzig last week, the Bavarians dropped two points at home to FC Koln in another 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening.
Midfielder Joshua Kimmich spared his side’s blushes with a last-minute equaliser after Ellyes Skhiri looked to have handed the visitors a memorable victory through his fourth-minute strike, but there was no getting away from the fact that Nagelsmann’s side had dropped two points more than they had gained one.
With the likes of Leipzig and their forthcoming opponents Frankfurt breathing down their necks at the top of the table, Nagelsmann will be determined to return to winning ways at the Allianz Arena this weekend.
Frankfurt, meanwhile, remain on course for a hugely successful season after claiming a respectable 1-1 draw away to Freiburg on Wednesday evening.
Randal Kolo Muani, who starred for World Cup finalists France in Qatar, provided Oliver Glasner’s side with a marginal half-time lead, but Matthias Ginter equalised just two minutes after the break, with the match fizzling out to result in a share of the spoils.
Avoiding defeat ensured that Frankfurt remain inside the Champions League qualification places heading into the weekend’s action, with Borussia Dortmund and Freiburg both directly below them on goal difference.
However, with both Freiburg and Wolfsburg able to overtake them with positive results against Augsburg and Werder Bremen respectively on Saturday afternoon, Die Adler could find themselves kicking-off in Bavaria down in fifth or sixth position in the table.
Regardless, a five-match unbeaten run in the Bundesliga suggests that last season’s Europa League winners – who are set to face Napoli in their first ever Champions League knockout tie next month – are more than capable of upsetting Bayern on current form.
Bayern Munich Bundesliga form:
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Bayern Munich form (all competitions):
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Eintracht Frankfurt Bundesliga form:
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Eintracht Frankfurt form (all competitions):
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We say: Bayern Munich 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Bayern will require a much better performance than the one that they delivered on home turf when drawing against Koln on Tuesday if they are to beat Frankfurt, with the visitors unbeaten in their last five league matches and aiming to qualify for the Champions League once again.
However, Nagelsmann’s side should be fired up after a couple of disappointing results, as they look to win their first match of the calendar year. We expect them to just about get over the line on Saturday.