On-song Reds down Frankfurt

FC Bayern beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-2 on Saturday evening, consolidating their lead in the table and enjoying a successful dress rehearsal ahead of Tuesday's top clash away to Borussia Dortmund. Leon Goretzka and Thomas Müller scored in the first half, Robert Lewandowski extending their lead shortly after half-time. But the game sprang to life now, Frankfurt's Martin Hinteregger bagging a brace before Alphonso Davies found the net and Hinteregger unluckily put through his own goal.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Jérôme Boateng, David Alaba and Davies in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Goretzka featured in a twin holding role behind Kingsley Coman, Müller and Ivan Perišić, with hitman Lewandowski up front. Serge Gnabry, Lucas Hernández, Joshua Zirkzee and Michaël Cuisance took over from Perišić, Boateng, Coman and Kimmich in the second half.

Two up at half-time

After a minute's silence for the victims of the coronavirus, Frankfurt sprang a surprise, pressing high up the field, but they failed to create any chances while it made them vulnerable on the break, but Coman slipped during a counter. Bayern soon asserted their authority and created a string of chances, Lewandowski hitting the bar, Perišić and Pavard testing netminder Kevin Trapp. But the hosts deservedly took the lead when Müller charged down the right and cut back to Goretzka, who thumped past Trapp.

Perišić drew a comfortable save from Trapp before Alaba saw an effort from distance saved and Lewandowski headed wide. Bayern doubled the lead when a Davies cross found Müller, who beat Trapp before half-time.

Entertaining second half

After the restart an impressive Lewandowski header found the net following a Coman cross. The game seemed over but the men from Hesse bounced back. Hinteregger bagged a brace within three minutes, dispatching a loose ball before heading past Neuer, and Bayern were on tenterhooks. The champions were more cautious now but took their chance when it came, Davies finding himself dispossessed in the box before he got hold of the ball again and beat Trapp.

Bayern soon had Neuer to thank for preserving the two-goal advantage when he made a strong save against Mijat Gaćinović, but Bayern put the game to bed once and for all when Hinteregger tried to block a Gnabry effort but put through his own goal. Filip Kostić hit the post before Neuer denied Djibril Sow, and match official Marco Fritz blew for full-time.

The result takes Bayern onto 61 points from 27 matches, four clear of Tuesday's opponents Dortmund.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen