Bayern and Frankfurt fired up for top-of-the-table clash

FC Bayern have another packed week of football ahead, and it kicks off with a real cracker! On Saturday (live text and webradio commentary from 15:30 CET on fcbayern.com), the reigning German champions travel to Eintracht Frankfurt. In his press conference on Friday, Hansi Flick was looking forward to the clash between first and third, saying: "This is the kind of game you play football for!" Check out our preview for everything you need to know about the standout fixture of Matchday 22.

Enjoy the best images from Bayern's final training session before leaving for Frankfurt in our gallery:

The situation for FC Bayern

On Monday, FCB turned around a two-goal deficit in the second half against Bielefeld to earn a draw, and Flick paid tribute to his players: "We showed an impressive mentality. I praised the team because the way they play is not commonplace." This means that the men from Munich have now gone eight games without defeat in the league and continue to lead the field by five points over Leipzig. Now Bayern can pull away again and increase the pressure, as the Saxons don't play until Sunday at Hertha Berlin.

Find out here about the other important games being played on Matchday 22:

The opponents: Eintracht Frankfurt

Frankfurt are the only team still unbeaten in the Bundesliga in 2021, and that has helped them to move up to third place. "We're doing really well. Football-wise, this is now the best team I've ever played in," enthused veteran and captain Makoto Hasebe. With ten straight wins, the Eagles' run is even longer than that of the Reds'. "I think it would be a bit of an exaggeration to say we're on an equal footing," said head coach Adi Hütter, putting the brakes on any tendency towards euphoria. But of course his players are going into the clash with a large slice of self-confidence. "We have the ambition to want to win the game and we know that we're capable of doing so," affirmed keeper Kevin Trapp.

Team news, tactics and more: You can watch Hansi Flick's pre-match press conference before the match at Frankfurt (with English translation) here:

Team news for Frankfurt vs. Bayern

"There are some players who won't be travelling with us," said Flick, referring to the long list of absentees: Corentin Tolisso (ruptured tendon), Benjamin Pavard, Thomas Müller (both self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19), Serge Gnabry (rehabilitative training following a torn muscle), Alexander Nübel (rehabilitative training following an ankle ligament injury), Tanguy Nianzou (rehabilitative training following a torn thigh muscle) and Douglas Costa (hairline fracture of the right metatarsal) are not available The good news, however, is that Javi Martínez, Leon Goretzka and Jérôme Boateng will in all likelihood return to the squad.

In contrast, Eintracht are concerned about their top scorer being fit for the game against FCB. André Silva, who with 18 goals is the league's second-best forward behind Robert Lewandowski (25 goals), was forced to pull out of training on Wednesday due to back problems. "We'll do everything we can to get him fit again," said Hütter, not willing to give up hope just yet.

We put the two top strikers under the microscope:

What the coaches say

Hansi Flick: "The Frankfurt team has been really well put together and has developed very well. They play an aggressive style of football and are good at pressing. They're very good defensively. They have a strong team that can also hurt their opponents. Frankfurt are on a very good run and have the biggest points haul of 2021. It'll all depend on our attitude and how we go into the game."

Adi Hütter (Eintracht Frankfurt): "Bayern Munich have won six titles in the space of a year, and they're clear leaders in the table. But we can get a good result. We'll need a perfect day, and for Bayern to not have such a perfect one. Then we'll have a chance to win."

If you want to know more about the away game at Frankfurt, check out our facts and stats: