Eintracht Frankfurt could move within two points of the league leaders if they secure a win over Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich will aim for their first victory in 2023 when they host an in-form Eintracht Frankfurt side at the Allianz Arena. The hosts have only managed two draws post the World Cup break when the Bundesliga resumed after unconvincing results against RB Leipzig and 1. FC Koln.
On both occasions, they finished the game with a 1-1 scoreline while coming close to losing the clash to Koln on Tuesday. Joshua Kimmich was on hand to score a late equaliser, but that result will be seen more as two points dropped than a point gained.
This angle of Josh's wonder strike 🤯🌩️#MiaSanMia #FCBKOE pic.twitter.com/WysDVitUnM
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) January 27, 2023
Julian Nagelsmann will hope to see some pre-World Cup form when Bayern went on a ten-game winning spree. Their relentless run of games back then got them into a solid position. But their lead may be cut to two points if Eintracht Frankfurt manage a victory at the Allianz Arena.
Frankfurt are on course to play their first-ever UEFA Champions League knockout clash against Serie A leaders Napoli next month. The Bundesliga outfit have seen their form improve in the league and are inside the top four for now.
Goal difference keeps them ahead of Borussia Dortmund and SC Freiburg in the standings. The duo can overtake Eintracht Frankfurt with positive results in their respective clashes. During this matchday, the visitors would hope for one themselves.
Playing against Bayern is difficult, but Die Adler have shown they can match their Bavarian counterparts on the pitch. Eintracht Frankfurt will aim to close the gap on Nagelsmann’s side and turn the Bundesliga standings on their head.
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
Julian Nagelsmann has plenty of injury-related absentees in his side, with Bayern Munich missing at least five first-team players. Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Neuer are out for the remainder of the campaign with serious injuries. Sadio Mane is getting closer to a return, while Bouna Sarr is also unavailable.
📸 Preparing for #FCBSGE 👊#MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/Q9jSUCwIaj
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) January 27, 2023
Noussair Mazraoui is out with a heart issue and may not return for a while. Other than that, Nagelsmann will have the rest of his players available for the clash, and he will go with his usual shape of two midfielders sitting between attack and defence.
Ryan Gravenberch could come in for Leon Goretzka, who looked jaded in the previous games. Joshua Kimmich is expected to remain in the side and don the captain’s armband. With Mane still absent, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will continue leading the line for the Bavarians.
Behind him, Jamal Musiala will stitch the attacking setup, with Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane on either side. At the back, Matthijs de Ligt and Dayot Upamecano will hold the central defence together, with Alphonso Davies and Benjamin Pavard as full-backs.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Pavard, de Ligt, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Gravenberch; Coman, Musiala, Sane; Choupo-Moting
Eintracht Frankfurt
Oliver Glasner has a few injury-related absentees on his side ahead of the trip to Munich. Eintracht Frankfurt remain without key wing-backs Eric Dina Ebimbe and Luca Pellegrini for this clash, with the duo suffering from ankle and calf injuries, respectively.
🎙️Oliver Glasner's pre-match presser:
"We have to be compact and exploit the spaces afforded to us by winning our running duels and developing a goal threat."#SGE I #FCBSGE pic.twitter.com/FYSvJyOr2b
— Eintracht Frankfurt (@eintracht_eng) January 27, 2023
Youngsters Marcel Wenig and Paxten Aaronson are also reportedly unavailable for the clash. Kevin Trapp, however, is in line to return from an illness and take his place between the posts for this crucial game. Tuta is also fit after recovering from an ankle problem.
Despite the absence of their key wing-backs, Eintracht Frankfurt are not expected to change their shape as Glasner will use Ansgar Knauff and Christopher Lenz on either flank. Djibril Sow and Daichi Kamada will make up the central midfield for Frankfurt.
Randal Kolo Muani will lead the line for the visitors, with Jesper Lindstrom and Mario Gotze behind him in the attacking setup. At the back, the returning Tuta will partner Hrvoje Smolcic and the in-demand Evan Ndicka at the heart of the Eintracht Frankfurt defence.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Trapp; Tuta, Smolcic, Ndicka; Knauff, Kamada, Sow, Lenz; Gotze, Kolo Muani, Lindstrom
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich are undefeated in their last ten matches in the Bundesliga.
- There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Bayern Munich’s last three games in the Bundesliga.
- Bayern Munich have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 8 home matches against Eintracht Frankfurt in all competitions.
- Eintracht Frankfurt are undefeated in their last five matches in the Bundesliga.
- Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala (15; 9 goals, 6 assists) and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani (16; 6 goals, 10 assists) have been involved in more Bundesliga goals than any other player this season. Sebastien Haller in 2018/19 is the only Eintracht Frankfurt player to have had a hand in more goals during the first half of a top-flight campaign since detailed data collection began in 2004/05 (17).
Player to Watch
Joshua Kimmich
Bayern Munich are missing many of their leaders with injuries. And as some expected, they have faltered with getting results on board since the World Cup. Their squad looks fine in terms of quality, but the two draws exposed their problems.
A player like Kimmich showed how to deal with a difficult situation with his late equaliser against 1. FC Koln. He will come under the spotlight again when Bayern test themselves against the might of Eintracht Frankfurt. Here, his leadership skills are key for the Bavarians to stand a chance and get a crucial win in the context of the title race.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Julian Nagelsmann will push his side like he has done in big games this season. Despite the many injuries plaguing the Bavarians, they still have immense quality depth in the side that can hurt any team in the continent, let alone in Germany.
Eintracht Frankfurt come into this game in good form and also have the quality to hurt a team like Bayern. But away from home, they may fall a bit short. Nagelsmann will have his team pumped up for this clash, and they might get all three points to record their first win of 2023.
