FC Bayern begin the second half of the Bundesliga season with a big match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday evening (kick-off 18:30 CET). Find out which strong runs Julian Nagelsmann's team will be looking to build on in their clash with the Europa League winners and where the midway champions will also be aiming to take the lead in the second half of the season in the facts and figures for the game:
1. Rare SGE success in last home clash
Despite Leon Goretzka’s goal, Bayern lost to Frankfurt in their last meeting at the Allianz Arena – that should be put right on Saturday.
Bayern have enjoyed more home wins against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga than against any other club. To be precise, 41 of their 51 meetings in Munich have gone the way of the home side (D6 L4). However, the Hessians did come away with three points on their last visit to the Allianz Arena in October 2021 to end a run of 12 straight wins for FCB. Now it should be the turn of Nagelsmann’s side again, though, as Bayern have never suffered consecutive Bundesliga home defeats to Frankfurt.
2. Impressive Bayern runs
Although Bayern haven’t made an ideal start to 2023 with two 1-1 draws against RB Leipzig and Köln, FCB were still able to maintain three impressive runs. The Bavarians are now unbeaten in 10 Bundesliga outings (W7 D7) – their longest run of this kind during Nagelsmann’s reign. On home turf, the Reds are undefeated in 15 league matches (W10 D5) since the 2-1 reverse against Borussia Mönchengladbach just over a year ago. FCB have also kept up their goalscoring run at the Allianz Arena, scoring at least once in 64 consecutive home games in all competitions since the 0-0 draw against Leipzig on 9 February 2020 (211 goals in total).
3. Long-range Kimmich goals begin and end Hinrunde
Joshua Kimmich scored the opening goal of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season with a cheeky free kick in the reverse fixture.
In the opening match of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season in early August, Joshua Kimmich netted the first of Bayern’s six goals against Frankfurt with a direct free kick. The 27-year-old was also responsible for the German record champions’ final goal of the first half of the campaign with his last-minute equaliser against Köln from around 30 metres. Kimmich thus has two long-distance goals to his name already this term, which is only bettered in the league by Daichi Kamada (three) of opponents Eintracht. Overall, Bayern have scored 10 goals from outside the box, a league high.
4. Top goal contributors face off
This game pits the two players with the most goal involvements in the Bundesliga this season against each other, in Jamal Musiala (nine goals, six assists) and Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani (six goals, 10 assists). If the 19-year-old can replicate his performance from the reverse fixture, there’s a good chance he’ll add to his tally. The German international netted a brace against SGE on Matchday 1, and has also scored more goals against the Eagles (three) than against any other Bundesliga team.
Jamal Musiala scored twice in the 6-1 win in Frankfurt on Matchday 1.
5. Frankfurt in form
Eintracht ended the first half of the Bundesliga season on 31 points, a club record since three points were awarded for a win. If converted, the last time SGE had more points after 17 BL matches was in the 1993/94 season (34). Bayern, meanwhile, secured first place at the midway point of the campaign for the 10th time in the last 12 years with 36 points.
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