Bayern Munich will aim to put their UEFA Champions League loss behind them when they travel to face Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
Bayern Munich will be aiming to recover from their midweek UEFA Champions League disappointment when they visit Eintracht Frankfurt at Deutsche Bank Park for a crucial Bundesliga encounter on Sunday. With both teams in the top two spots of the Bundesliga table, this promises to be an exciting clash.
The hosts, Eintracht Frankfurt, have been in fine form in recent weeks, accumulating 12 points from their first five league matches to sit second in the table. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich are narrowly ahead of them by one point, but they come into this match on the back of a disappointing 1-0 loss to Aston Villa in the Champions League.
Eintracht Frankfurt opened their Bundesliga campaign with a 2-0 loss against Borussia Dortmund but have bounced back impressively with four consecutive wins. Their most recent domestic outing was a thrilling 4-2 victory against Holstein Kiel, a game where the Eagles showed their resilience, coming from a 2-2 deadlock early in the second half to secure all three points.
In their Europa League fixture on Thursday, Frankfurt displayed their offensive strength, overcoming Besiktas 3-1 with a dominant display. Dino Toppmoller’s side have won five of their last six matches across all competitions, and although their home form has been mixed over the last 12 matches (four wins, six draws, and two losses), their recent displays suggest they are a team with momentum.
Despite having one of the lowest possession rates in the Bundesliga (42% on average), Eintracht Frankfurt have created the second most big chances in the league, showcasing their direct, attacking style.
For Bayern Munich, the defeat against Aston Villa marked their first loss of the season, and it came in frustrating circumstances. After being held to a 1-1 draw by Bayer Leverkusen in their previous league fixture, Bayern were undone by an excellent pass from Pau Torres that allowed Jhon Duran to seal a 1-0 win for Aston Villa in the Champions League.
Bayern’s response to that setback will be crucial as they return to Bundesliga action. Despite the European loss, Vincent Kompany’s men have been dominant domestically. With 17 goals scored and only four conceded in five Bundesliga games, they remain the best attacking team in the division. Their defensive record is also among the best, with only two other teams conceding fewer goals.
Kompany will be looking for a reaction from his team, particularly from Harry Kane, who has voiced his concerns over the lack of service in the final third during the Aston Villa defeat. Bayern have enjoyed an excellent run of form away from home this season, winning four of their five road games.
However, the visitors will need to be sharper in front of goal to maintain their position at the top of the Bundesliga. The Hard Tackle delves into the potential elevens and tactics for this highly-anticipated clash.
Team News & Tactics
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt are expected to set up in a 4-4-2 formation for this clash. Kaua Santos is likely to continue as the starting goalkeeper in place of Kevin Trapp, who remains a doubt with a hip injury. In defence, Rasmus Kristensen is anticipated to occupy the right-back position, while Arthur Theate should start at left-back.
Tuta and Robin Koch will form the centre-back pairing tasked with keeping Bayern’s potent attack at bay. In midfield, Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe will play on the right wing, with Fares Chaibi stepping in for the injured Mario Gotze on the left. Ellyes Shkiri and Hugo Larsson will marshal the central midfield area, supporting forwards Hugo Ekitike and Omar Marmoush upfront.
Regarding unavailable players, Eintracht Frankfurt will be without midfielders Mehdi Loune, who is sidelined until late October, and Oscar Hojlund, who is not expected back until late December. Kevin Trapp’s availability remains uncertain due to a hip issue, and Mario Gotze might also miss the game after being substituted at half-time in their Europa League clash against Besiktas due to a knock.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Santos; Kristensen, Tuta, Koch, Theate; Ebimbe, Shkiri, Larsson, Chaibi; Ekitike, Marmoush
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich are expected to field a 4-2-3-1 formation on Sunday. In goal, Manuel Neuer will return to his starting role after a challenging outing for his side in their last game. Raphael Guerreiro is set to start at right-back, while Dayot Upamecano is expected to retain his place at centre-back despite criticism of his recent performance, partnering Kim Min-jae at the heart of the defence.
Alphonso Davies will occupy the left-back position, providing his usual pace and energy along the flank. In midfield, Joshua Kimmich will pair up with Aleksandar Pavlovic in a double pivot, shielding the defence and distributing play. Thomas Muller is expected to start in the number 10 role, flanked by Michael Olise on the right and Serge Gnabry on the left, with the veteran playmaker will orchestrate play behind star striker Harry Kane.
Unavailable for this match, Sven Ulreich has been suspended following controversial remarks and will not feature. Sacha Boey is still sidelined until December due to a knee injury, and both Josip Stanisic and Jamal Musiala are not expected to return until late November and October, respectively. Hiroki Ito is a doubt for this game but is expected to be back soon.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Guerreiro, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Muller, Gnabry; Kane
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich have not lost away to any other side more often in professional football than at Eintracht Frankfurt, suffering 24 defeats, the same as at Borussia Monchengladbach. Notably, they have endured four-goal losses to Eintracht twice this century, including a 5-1 defeat in 2019 and a 5-0 loss in December 2023.
- Bayern Munich head into this clash as the league leaders, and they have not lost any of their last 17 Bundesliga matches against Eintracht Frankfurt while sitting at the top of the table (W11 D6). The last time these teams met in the Bundesliga while both were in the top two was in April 1994.
- With 12 points from their first five games, Eintracht Frankfurt are enjoying their second-best start to a Bundesliga season since the introduction of three points for a win. They last achieved a better start in the 2012/13 season, when they were a promoted side with 13 points.
- Eintracht Frankfurt are currently on a four-match winning streak in the Bundesliga, equaling a run last seen in January/February 2021 under Adi Hutter. This season, they have already matched the number of wins they secured in the entire second half of last season (four wins).
- Bayern Munich have secured nine points and boast a +11 goal difference after their first three away games, their best away record in Bundesliga history after three matches. This record matches their historic best set in 1993/94, when they also had nine points and a +10 goal difference after their first three away matches.
Player to Watch
Harry Kane
Harry Kane has quickly established himself as a key player for Bayern Munich, adapting seamlessly to life in the Bundesliga. With his exceptional finishing ability, sharp footballing intelligence, and leadership qualities, Kane is always a major threat in front of goal.
Already contributing significantly with goals and assists this season, his link-up play and movement off the ball make him one of the most dangerous forwards in Europe. Against Eintracht Frankfurt, Kane will look to add to his goal tally and play a crucial role in leading Bayern’s attack as they aim to bounce back from their UEFA Champions League defeat.
The Englishman’s clinical finishing and knack for turning up in big games make him the player to watch in this highly anticipated fixture. Having garnered criticism for his lack of cutting defence over the last couple of games the England skipper will be keen to silence his detractors on the night.
Prediction
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 Bayern Munich
This is set to be a closely fought battle between two of the Bundesliga’s top sides. Eintracht Frankfurt have shown they are capable of challenging even the biggest teams this season, and their attacking potential makes them a threat.
However, Bayern Munich will be eager to bounce back from their midweek loss, and with the firepower at their disposal, they should have enough to edge out a victory. Expect Frankfurt to push the Bavarians hard. But Bayern’s experience and quality in key moments could prove the difference.