Bayern ready to face Frankfurt with "positive development" and strong home form

Just three days after opening the defence of their Champions League crown with a 4-0 win at home to Atletico Madrid, Bayern are back in Bundesliga action when they host Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday (kick-off at 3.30pm CEST, coverage available via our live text updates and web radio). Find out all the important information before Hansi Flick’s side welcome the league’s fourth-placed team to the Allianz Arena.

Check out the best images from Friday’s final training session at Säbener Straße:

Situation for Bayern

The champions remain firmly on the heels of leaders RB Leipzig following their 4-1 win at promoted Arminia Bielefeld last weekend. The Frankfurt game is Bayern’s fourth in the space of 10 days and would see FCB go top again with a win, assuming Leipzig fail to beat Hertha Berlin at home at the same time. The Munich side now want to take the momentum from five straight victories in all competitions into the clash with Eintracht. “We put in an exceptional performance against Bielefeld. I can see a positive development,” said Flick, who believes his squad has the necessary depth for the current intense schedule. “I have huge confidence in everyone because I can see the quality is there in training.”

Opponents Frankfurt

Eintracht have had a decent start to the campaign with two wins and two draws, while their eight-match unbeaten run across multiple seasons is in fact the longest in the top flight right now. It means the Eagles arrive in Munich sitting fourth in the table, although they have usually left emptyhanded in recent years. In fact, the team from Germany’s financial hub have won just one of a possible 45 points from their last 15 Bundesliga visits to the Bavarian capital. That result was a 0-0 draw in November 2007. Still, the visitors are excited their trip south. “It’s probably always the biggest game of the year because we get to pit ourselves against the best. We’re looking forward to it, have started the season well and also want to claim points in Munich. You’ve often seen that a lot is possible when you go there with the right approach and don’t admit defeat beforehand,” said goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.

Hear what Hansi Flick had to say ahead of the game in his pre-match press conference:

Personnel

Flick has to plan without Corentin Tolisso for the Frankfurt game after the Frenchman was suspended for two Bundesliga matches for his red card at Bielefeld. Serge Gnabry is also unavailable following his positive COVID-19 test. However, there was good news regarding Leroy Sané. “Leroy is in the squad,” Flick revealed, but refused to state whether the winger would be fit to start. “He’s an option, which we’re pleased about.” The game comes too soon for Tanguy Nianzou, who remains in recovery training.

As for the visitors, head coach Adi Hütter remains without Filip Kostic (knee) and Ragnar Ache (thigh).

Coaches’ view

Hansi Flick: “Frankfurt have a lot of passion, run hard, get stuck in and always put the opposition under pressure. It’s important for us to be awake and focussed from the start, and carry out our game. They’re a team who defend well and aggressively. They do that very well. We have to use the space they leave. If we find gaps, I’ll be very pleased.”

Adi Hütter (Eintracht Frankfurt head coach): “I think Bayern are the best team in the world right now. Of all the top teams, they currently have the fewest problems and have already found their scoring boots. If you lead Atletico Madrid, one of the best teams at defending, 4-0 after 70 minutes and can then start resting players early, that underlines their class. We have respect for them but are still looking forward to the test. Our last defeat in the Bundesliga came in Munich. We know Bayern are favourites, but I still expect us to push on there from where we left off in our recent away games, playing bravely and looking to create chances.”

Check out some of the other most important facts on the Frankfurt game: