FCB primed for ‘tough task’ against Frankfurt

Those with long memories still recall September 1999, when full-back Michael Tarnat spent 28 courageous minutes keeping goal for Bayern following injuries to keepers Oliver Kahn and Bernd Dreher. Or April 1995, when Giovanni Trapattoni mistakenly brought on a prohibited fourth amateur player by using substitute Dietmar Hamann. Or August 1989, when Klaus Augenthaler scored what would later be voted Goal of the Season and Goal of the Decade from the halfway line. Or August 1965, and Bayern’s maiden victory in the Bundesliga. All these events happened in games between FCB and Eintracht Frankfurt. The 83rd meeting between the clubs, which takes place on Saturday (Live in English from 3.30 pm CET on FCB.tv Web Radio), is also the biggest match on the weekend league programme.

The promoted side visit the Allianz Arena as the third best team in the land. Eintracht have already beaten Leverkusen, Hanover and Hamburg, and held Dortmund to a draw. The Bayern camp is suitably wary. “We'd be well advised to take them seriously," advised Uli Hoeneß. Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “We respect Eintracht Frankfurt. They're having a wonderful, first-class season."