Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich: The Bundesliga Rise Continues For the Bavarians!

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich are back in the Bundesliga title race, but they can’t afford to slow down as they try to cut Borussia Dortmund’s lead and make it to second before the winter break.

The Bavarians didn’t have a good start to the year and found themselves off the pace for the top spot. They struggled to buy into Niko Kovac’s football and even failed to win three straight league games at one point.

However, everything seems to have been restored in the Bayern paradise. The reigning German champions are rolling and are now just six points behind arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Eintracht Frankfurt are expected to provide a stern test to Bayern, especially that they are playing at home. But with the confidence Kovac and his charges have built, the Eagles know they have to be the more aggressive side if they want to win.

Talking Points

Bayern are up and still rising

A few weeks ago, the Bavarians were rotting at sixth place and their eventual demise seemed inevitable. Nonetheless, they found their groove just at the right time and are back in the chase again, seemingly ready to stake their claim as Germany’s best.

Bayern Munich have now won four straight league games, scoring 10 goals and keeping three clean sheets in the process. They looked the Bayern of the old, brimming with confidence and wearing that aura of invincibility like the versions that have won the past six Bundesliga titles.

Kovac’s men beat RB Leipzig the last time out. While the scoreline is only 1-0, it’s still a great win for the club as they closed in with BVB who suffered a stunning loss to Fortuna Dusseldorf.

“We used Dortmund’s assist to close in,” Kovac told reporters, via Reuters UK. “We showed a will to win against Leipzig. Now we must again use all our power on Saturday and get the three points in (Eintracht) Frankfurt.”

Lewy on fire but injuries pile up

Behind Bayern’s resurgence is no other than Pole striker Robert Lewandowski who has been on a tear offensively.

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski ready for their bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt — Robert Lewandowski in action for Bayern Munich against Fortuna Duesseldorf

Last season’s top scorer experienced a drought for some spells during the past few months, but he is undoubtedly well over that now and looks dead serious in contending for the kicker Torjagerkanone.

Lewy has scored 10 goals so far, good for joint-second in the Bundesliga. He has found the back of the net three times in their last three games as well, making him the biggest threat to Frankfurt heading to this game.

If there’s one problem for Bayern amid their rise, it’s their injury woes. Kingsley Coman and second-leading scorer Serge Gnabry picked up injuries against Leipzig, so they are now doubtful to feature against the Eagles.

Moreover, defender Jerome Boateng remains sidelined with a back issue while Arjen Robben is already confirmed to be out for the remainder of 2018.

Frankfurt hungry to prove Kovac wrong

Perhaps the biggest storyline that will grab the Bundesliga 2018 news headlines is the return of Kovac to Commerzbank Arena—the stadium which he called home for almost two years.

Kovac led Frankfurt to an upset of Munich in the DFB-Pokal last year. However, the Croatian manager chose not to continue what he started in Frankfurt and exchanged it for the limelight and, maybe, for the opportunity to win more silverware in Munich.

Sure enough, the Eagles will be motivated to show their former manager what he missed when he made his choice. Frankfurt, under new boss Audi Hutter, are currently fifth in the German top-flight.

Frankfurt have only won twice in their last five, drawing one and losing the other two. Nevertheless, it should be noted that they are the third best scoring team right now, only behind the top two teams Dortmund and Monchengladbach.

Not to mention that Hutter’s side has only lost twice at home this campaign.

History

Bayern won both league fixtures against Frankfurt last year. Remarkably, the Bavarians scored a total of five goals in those two games.

As mentioned, Frankfurt denied Bayern a record-extending DFB-Pokal title in 2018-19, winning 1-3 in the final at Berlin. Bayern have since avenged that loss, though, taking down the Eagles in the German Super Cup last August.

One interesting stat here: Frankfurt have never won a league game against Bayern since March 2010!

Betting Tip

	Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich	First Half 1X2 Draw @ 2.44
	December 23, 01:30 (GMT+8)

It’s quite difficult to predict this game, as I expect an intense affair considering the connections between the two proud clubs.

Of course, as what the Bundesliga 2018 odds at SBOBET suggest, the easy money is on Bayern to continue their winning streak. And while I don’t disagree, I doubt that it will be lopsided at all.

I expect Frankfurt to buckle up defensively and make life hard for Bayern—they know the offensive threat that the Bavarians boast. With that said, I have a strong feeling that the opening frame will be close and will end up all square.