Preview: Bayern Munich vs Eintracht Frankfurt - prediction, team news, lineups

Hoping to extend their lead over their Bundesliga title rivals, Bayern Munich will welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

The Bavarians will be looking for their third league win on the bounce this weekend, while Die Adler are dreaming of earning back-to-back victories for the first time since November.

Match preview

Vincent Kompany's Bayern started the campaign in immense fashion, and even set a new record for the most points at the halfway point in a Bundesliga season, but after stumbling in recent weeks, the champions are looking over their shoulder.

In January, the Bavarians were downed 2-1 by Augsburg before a disappointing 2-2 draw with Hamburger SV, and dropping five points last month has seen the club's lead over second-placed Borussia Dortmund reduced to six.

Additionally, Kompany's side are set to face BVB at Signal Iduna Park on February 28 for a six-pointer in the title race, and the possibility of heading into that showdown within reach of Niko Kovac's men will increase the pressure on this weekend's contest.

Most recently, Bayern collected all three points in a professional 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen on the road, marking their fourth win in five games across all competitions, but they have triumphed in just two of their last four in the Bundesliga.

Notably, that latest win also marked Kompany's first clean sheet in the German top flight since a 4-0 hammering of Heidenheim on December 21, though FCB's remarkable attacking prowess saw them score an impressive 31 league goals between those wins.

Leaning on their team's offensive power, fans will head to the Allianz with optimism given the hosts have only failed to win twice on their own turf this season, drawing once and losing once, though the atmosphere could be tense with the crowd wary of Dortmund's looming presence.

Meanwhile, European hopefuls Frankfurt are seventh as things stand - six points behind Bayer Leverkusen in sixth - but they have made a promising start to life under new boss Albert Riera since parting ways with Dino Toppmoller.

The former Liverpool winger has only been in the hotseat for two games, but he is unbeaten so far after following up a 1-1 draw with Union Berlin on his dugout debut with an impressive 3-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Valentine's Day.

Die Adler fans have enjoyed what they have seen from their new manager, and they will even feel that the 43-year-old was unlucky not to have collected six points from six given that Union required a late penalty to level their clash on February 6.

Adding to the burgeoning resurgence at Deutsche Bank Park is the fact that Frankfurt's clean sheet against Gladbach was their first in 10 games, a stretch that goes back to their 1-0 win over Augsburg on December 13.

Turning their attention to this weekend's contest, supporters making the trip to Munich will be buoyed by their club's record against Bayern that has seen them emerge victorious over the champions four times since the start of 2019-20, more often than any other team.

It is also worth highlighting that no side has scored more goals against Bayern than Die Adler's 22 in 13 games during that period, and despite their strife this season, Riera's men will be confident of bolstering that tally.

On the other hand, the visitors have not won away from home since a narrow 4-3 success over FC Koln on November 22, losing four times and drawing on three occasions in their seven matches on the road since.

Bayern Munich Bundesliga form:

Bayern Munich form (all competitions):

Eintracht Frankfurt Bundesliga form:

Eintracht Frankfurt form (all competitions):

Team News

Bayern have a largely fit squad for this clash, but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is out with a calf injury, so expect to see Jonas Urbig line up between the sticks on Saturday, shielded by centre-backs Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano.

Elsewhere, the versatile yet injury-prone Raphael Guerreiro has been dealing with a muscle issue, and though he could return in some capacity this weekend, Alphonso Davies should be on hand to start at left-back, with Leon Goretzka joining Joshua Kimmich in midfield.

By contrast, Frankfurt's injury list is extensive, and the visitors will be without a number of attackers including strikers Michy Batshuayi (ankle), Younes Ebnoutalib (knee) and Arnaud Kalimuendo (shoulder), not to mention that Jonathan Burkardt is a doubt due to illness.

To make matters worse, attacking midfielders Ansgar Knauff (abdominals) and Can Uzun (thigh) are both out this weekend, while fellow central-third star Fares Chaibi (thigh) is a doubt.

However, after 21-year-old Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab repaid Riera for handing him his first start with a goal against Gladbach, the manager could set up with the young forward joining Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Mario Gotze in attack this time around.

At the opposite end of the pitch, centre-back Arthur Theate is sidelined with a knee injury, while right-back Rasmus Kristensen is out with an ankle problem, so the manager could opt for a defensive trio of Nnamdi Collins, Robin Koch and Aurele Amenda, flanked by Ritsu Doan and Nathaniel Brown at wing-back.

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:

Urbig; Laimer, Tah, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Gnabry, Diaz; Kane

Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:

Santos; Collins, Koch, Amenda; Doan, Hojlund, Gotze, Larsson, Brown; Amaimouni-Echghouyab, Bahoya

We say: Bayern Munich 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt

Bayern will be the favourites on Saturday, but given that they have struggled for Bundesliga clean sheets in recent weeks, they will need to rely upon their attacking potency once again.

Frankfurt have impressed under Riera so far, and they could take advantage of the Bavarians' defensive openness, though they are unlikely to hold out for a win.

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