Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich preview, team news and prediction

Bayern Munich travel to Deutsche Park to face seventh-place Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, as the Bavarians will hope to close the gap on surprise League leaders, Bayer Leverkusen. 

While Frankfurt maintain aspirations for a top-six finish this season, they are currently navigating a challenging phase in the Bundesliga. Commencing December with a 2:1 loss to Augsburg making it two successive losses following November’s 2:1 loss to Stuttgart.

Their return from November’s international break didn’t alleviate matters, suffering a 2-1 loss, and memories of a dismal 6-1 defeat to Bayern Munich 16 months ago still linger. Dino Toppmoller’s squad, once Europa League champions, now braces for a formidable test, especially considering recent back-to-back home losses.

In contrast, Bayern, led by Thomas Tuchel, is enjoying a remarkable run in the Bundesliga. Despite a recent unexpected 10-day break due to a postponed match against Union Berlin, Bayern aim to extend their impressive 13-game unbeaten streak across multiple seasons, a feat matched only by current leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

As they gear up to face Frankfurt on Saturday, Bayern seek to continue their positive league campaign and this clash promises to be an exciting encounter.

Here’s everything you need to know about the match including all the essential stats and facts

Heading into the latest Bundesliga round, Bayern, the reigning champions, stand in second place with 32 points. In their recent league match, Thomas Tuchel’s team secured a 1-0 victory at FC Cologne, stretching their winning streak to six games.

Acknowledged as a strong contender in the European scene for 2024, Bayern seek to underscore their dominance in the top flight. Accumulating 13 points in their last five outings across various competitions, they maintain an unblemished record in the Bundesliga, having not faced a defeat in their first 12 domestic showdowns. With victories in five of their last six away contests, the German champions sense a promising opportunity this weekend.

Harry Kane, making Bundesliga history with 18 goals after 12 matchdays, found the net in his last five league appearances, achieving a milestone in his career. This encounter marks his third meeting with Frankfurt after clashes in the previous Champions League season with Tottenham, contributing with both a goal and an assist.

Leroy Sane, well acquainted with this week’s opponents, holds the record for scoring the most Bundesliga goals against Frankfurt (four). Despite a goal drought in his last three Bundesliga outings, Sane played a pivotal role in creating four goals during this period. The Germany International is having an impeccable season, ranking in the top five across Europe’s premier seven leagues in metrics such as completed take-ons, assists, chances created, and big chances created.

Seventh-placed Eintracht Frankfurt aim to break into the top six with victory over the Bavarians, presenting a potential challenge to Bayern and setting the stage for an enticing showdown.

Match details

• Date: Saturday, December 9, 2023
• Kick-off time: 9:30 AM ET, 14:30 UTC
• Location: Frankfurt, Germany
• Venue: Deutsche Bank Park
• Tickets: Match going supporters may find it difficult to get hold of tickets through official channels as this game will be sold out. However, fans can buy sold-out Bayern Munich tickets via trusted reseller sites.

Match stats and head-to-head

• Deutsche Park have witnessed a flurry of goals in their last four games as three or more goals have been scored in each of Frankfurt’s last four home games.
• Six out of Bayern Munich’s 12 Bundesliga games this season featured at least four goals.
• Bayern Munich have consistently taken the lead, scoring the opening goal in their last five away games. In contrast, Frankfurt have struggled, conceding the first goal in their previous four matches.
• Die Adler’s home performance have been lackluster, with only one win in their last five Bundesliga games.
• Harry Kane is the first player in Bundesliga history to score 18 goals after 12 matchdays while also maintaining a scoring streak in his last five league appearances.
• Kane, heading into his third meeting with Frankfurt, is already familiar with Saturday’s opponent having recorded one goal and one assist against them in last season’s Champions League.
• Bayern Munich’s offensive prowess is evident, scoring 3.6 goals per match, securing the top spot in the Bundesliga. In contrast, Frankfurt’s defense concedes 1.2 goals per game, placing them fourth in the league.
• Bayern’s goal differential is impressive, standing at +34 and ranking first in the Bundesliga.
• Frankfurt, with a +4 goal differential, are placed seventh in the Bundesliga.
• Leroy Sane has scored more Bundesliga goals against Frankfurt than any other club (four).
• Frankfurt’s defense face an average of 4.6 shots per match (seventh in the league).
• Frankfurt’s shot differential is +6.3 per game, ranking 12th in the league.
• Thomas Tuchel’s squad are riding high with six consecutive league victories.
• Bayern Munich have secured two successive away wins against Frankfurt, including a 6-1 triumph last season.
• Despite playing one game less, Bayern lead the Bundesliga in shots with 234.
• The defending champions boast the best shot conversion rate in the division at 25%, resulting in the highest goal tally of 43.
• Bayern’s 6-1 win in August 2022 marked Frankfurt’s heaviest Bundesliga home defeat this millennium. It was a historic match as Eintracht conceded five first-half goals at home for the first time in Bundesliga history.
• Thomas Tuchle is one win away from matching his own record of a seven-game winning streak at the start of 2010/11 with Mainz.
• Bayern have dominated Frankfurt with 19 away wins in the Bundesliga, the highest by any visiting team to Germany’s financial capital.

Team News

As Bayern Munich anticipates the potential return of Jamal Musiala, recovering from a hamstring injury sustained last month, there’s optimism for his first Bundesliga appearance since November 4th. However, the defending champions will be devoid of Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, grappling with a long-term knee issue.

Harry Kane remains a formidable force for Bayern, having already etched his name in Bundesliga history with 18 goals in his initial 12 top-flight outings. His prowess is set to lead Tuchel’s attacking strategy once again, promising a dynamic presence at Deutsche Bank Park.

On the injury front, Frankfurt faces the absence of Timothy Chandler (calf), Jens Petter Hauge (back), Sebastian Rode (calf), and Ellyes Skhiri (thigh), each sidelined with their respective injuries.

For Bayern Munich, this weekend’s roster will be without the contributions of Tarek Buchmann (thigh), Matthijs de Ligt (knee), and Bouna Sarr (knee).

Predicted starting line-up

Eintracht Frankfurt predicted line-up: Trapp;  Buta, Tuta,  Pacho, Max, Aaronson, Koch, Larsson,  Ebimbe, Marmoush, Knauff.

Bayern Munich predicted line-up:  Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Mazraoui; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Choupo-Moting, Coman; Kane

Prediction

Eager to reclaim the summit of the Bundesliga table this Saturday afternoon, Bayern anticipate a promising visit to Frankfurt. Having maintained an unbeaten record in their initial 12 Bundesliga appearances this season, Tuchel’s squad approaches this weekend with confidence, especially considering their memorable recent visit to Deutsche Bank Park. The echoes of a resounding 6-1 victory during their last encounter with Die Adler in August 2022 still linger, setting the stage for a potentially similar outcome as the defending German champions seek another convincing performance.