Patient Reds overcome Frankfurt

FC Bayern beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 on Saturday evening, sealing crucial three points. The German record champions were dominant throughout but had to wait for 70 minutes until sub Leroy Sané scored the match-winner.

The Bavarians started with with Sven Ulreich in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Niklas Süle and Lucas Hernández in defence. Joshua Kimmich and Marcel Sabitzer anchored a midfield featuring Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman, with Robert Lewandowski up front. Sané, Marc Roca and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting took over from Sabitzer, Musiala and Coman in the second half.

No goals

After a minute's silence for the people of Ukraine, Bayern dominated proceedings in an entertaining first half, Pavard miscuing and Musiala seeing an effort blocked. But Frankfurt were bold, and Kostic soon had only Ulreich to beat at the other end but fired wide. Musiala headed over before Kostic warmed Ulreich's gloves.

A Pavard square only just evaded Gnabry. Eintracht keeper Trapp made a fine save against Coman before Lewandowski headed inches wide. Trapp parried a Kimmich effort and stopped Coman's rebound with his face, and the contest was goalless at half-time.

Leroy breaks the deadlock

Bayern upped the ante after the restart, Kimmich testing Trapp from distance before a Pavard header was cleared. Trapp made another strong save to deny Lewandowski, N'Dicka heading over at the other end. Kimmich rifled over, but Bayern were rewarded for their dominance when Kimmich's pinpoint pass found Sané, who had just come on, and the 26-year-old kept his cool to beat Trapp.

Munich saw a number of shots blocked, and Trapp denied Lewandowski yet again. Eintracht went looking for an equaliser in the closing stages but Bayern were alert and intercepted numerous passes. Trapp proved equal to a Choupo-Moting effort, and match official Florian Badstübner blew for full-time.

The result means Bayern have 58 points from 24 matches, nine ahead of Dortmund, who take on Augsburg on Sunday. The Bavarians will be back in action next Saturday, when they entertain Bayer Leverkusen.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen