Bayern fully focussed on Frankfurt

Bayern’s last four results read 8-0, 3-0, 3-0 and 5-1. Four wins, 19 goals scored and only one conceded. Most recently the Reds celebrated a 5-1 victory at Arsenal, and they want to build on that on Saturday (15:30 CET, live ticker and Webradio commentary). “The players are in great shape. They’re fit and training well. We have to keep up the good work,” said Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the home game against Eintracht Frankfurt.

“Tomorrow’s game is very important. We need the points in the league,” said Franck Ribéry. Looking at the current and previous season, there’s every reason for Bayern to be confident as they haven’t lost a single league game following a Champions League match. Moreover, Carlo Ancelotti has an almost full squad at his disposal.

Bernat the only absentee

Juan Bernat is the only player who’s unavailable to face Frankfurt. “He has a minor problem and won’t play tomorrow, but the rest are fit,” revealed the FCB head coach. That includes Manuel Neuer, who has been struggling with a back problem recently. “He’ll play tomorrow,” confirmed Ancelotti. In addition, Jérôme Boateng could make his comeback after three and a half months out. “He won’t start tomorrow but I want to give him some minutes on the pitch,” said Ancelotti, who’s not planning “any great rotation.”

The situation is quite different for Eintracht. “It remains to be seen if we can name 18 players on the teamsheet. And I’m talking about senior players and youth team players,” said coach Niko Kovac. The former Bayern player will be without ten suspended or injured players on his return to Munich, while Alexander Meier and Michael Hector are both doubts due to illness.

Like going to the dentist

Kovac compared playing in Munich to the “notorious visit to the dentist. You have to go once a year. Sometimes it doesn’t hurt but most of the time it does.” But Bayern know they must take sixth-placed Frankfurt seriously, not least because of the reverse fixture this season when Eintracht held the champions to a 2-2 draw. “They’re a good team with a good coach. We need to concentrate on ourselves,” warned Ribéry.