Bayern Munich will be keen to close the gap to league leaders Bayer Leverkusen when they travel to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Defending champions Bayern Munich will be aiming to secure a seventh win in a row when they travel to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Saturday night.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are currently three points behind early leaders Bayer Leverkusen but have a game in hand. A win this weekend will see them go top on goal difference, at least until Leverkusen play VfB Stuttgart on Sunday night.
The home side are currently in a poor run of form, having fallen off the pace following the most recent international break. Bayern, on the other hand soldier on and will be hopeful of taking top spot before the league takes a break for the winter.
Bayern saw their game against Union Berlin last weekend postponed but had enough reasons to cheer as Leverkusen dropped points to Borussia Dortmund. Given their superior goal difference, Tuchel and co. hold the edge as things stand in the tight Bundesliga title race.
Eintracht Frankfurt have dropped out of the European spots given their recent poor form and will be keen to stem the tide. There should be no shortage of competitive spirit when both sides take to the field on Saturday night. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how these two sides will line up and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Eintracht Frankfurt
Dino Toppmoller’s side were stunned by Saarbrucken in the DFB Pokal and will now turn their attentions to the Bundesliga. Eintracht Frankfurt will be without the injured trio of Mehdi Loune, Sebastian Rode and Timothy Chandler. Ellyes Skhiri is also not fully fit and will be a doubt for the match.
A 5-4-1 formation appears to be the way forward as the home side try to use numbers in the middle of the park to their advantage. The home side’s defence has lacked conviction of late and they could not have asked for a worse opposition than Bayern given their offensive prowess.
Kevin Trapp should start in goal behind the back five of Aurelio Buta, Tuta, Robin Koch, Willian Pacho and Philipp Max. Buta and Max will be entrusted with providing the width when in possession.
Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe and Hugo Larsson should hold the fort in central midfield, with Fares Chaibi and Ansgar Knauff flanking them. Omar Marmoush should lead the line and will hope to catch Dayot Upamecano off guard.
Probable Lineup (5-4-1): Trapp; Buta, Tuta, Koch, Pacho, Max; Chaibi, Dina Ebimbe, Larsson, Knauff; Marmoush
Bayern Munich
The away side find themselves in the unfamiliar second spot and are now having to chase down Xabi Alonso’s sensational Bayer Leverkusen unit. However, with the latter now dropping points, Bayern are primed to seize the advantage and make themselves the masters of their own destiny.
Die Roten will be without the injured Bouna Sarr, while Matthijs De Ligt is also not fully fit. Thomas Tuchel has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from for the trip to the Deutsche Bank Park.
Tuchel is unlikely to deviate from his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation with Manuel Neuer in goal. The German veteran should be protected by the back four of Noussair Mazrouai, Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae and Alphonso Davies.
⚡️ Matchday = 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠…#MiaSanMia https://t.co/ln1sYaqjSF pic.twitter.com/wIwNgUMLJj
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) December 7, 2023
Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka should act as the double pivot with the trio of Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman providing the attacking impetus. Harry Kane is a shoo-in for the number nine’s role and will present Bayern’s biggest goalscoring threat on the night.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Mazraoui, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Kane
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich have lost 23 Bundesliga away games to Eintracht Frankfurt so far, a tally that is dwarved by only their 24 losses to Borussia Monchengladbach.
- Eintracht Frankfurt have lost 19 home games to Bayern Munich, more than any other side in the German top flight. Bayern became the first side to put five past Frankfurt in a single half last season in the corresponding fixture.
- A loss on Saturday will see Frankfurt lose three games in a row in the Bundesliga for the first time since February 2022. On the other hand, Bayern Munich are currently on a six-game winning streak in the Bundesliga, their longest such run since 2020 when Hansi Flick was in charge.
- Bayern Munich average 19.9 shots per game in the Bundesliga this season, more than any other side in the German top flight.
- Eintracht Frankfurt average 11 shots per game in the Bundesliga this season, the second least of any side in the German top flight.
Player to Watch
Harry Kane
The 30-year-old has scored 18 goals in 12 Bundesliga matches so far and is the best goalscorer in the German top flight. Kane has scored in 11 of his games for Bayern in the league so far, with the lone exception coming all the way back in September against Borussia Monchengladbach.
The Englishman will once again be the biggest goalscoring threat in Bayer’s armoury. Given Frankfurt’s defensive struggles, the Bayer ace could be in for another memorable night.
Prediction
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-4 Bayern Munich
With Eintracht Frankfurt reeling, Bayern Munich go into the game as overwhelming favourites. Despite Die Roten having a sketchy record away to their opponents, Thomas Tuchel’s men can smell blood in the water and should see the game out with minimal fuss. The Hard Tackle predicts a comfortable 4-0 win for the Bavarian giants.
