Bayern Munich: Three things to watch in trip to Frankfurt
By Daniel Garza
Bayern Munich will travel north to face Eintracht Frankfurt in a top-of-the-table clash on Matchday 22 of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season. Frankfurt has surged up the table in recent weeks as they enter this match occupying third place in the German top flight.
After Bayern won the first meeting of the season by a final score of 5-0, the hosts will be looking to avoid a second shutout defeat to the league leaders. Here are three things to watch for ahead of Saturday’s fixture.
Battle of the top two strikers
This match will feature the two top players in the race for the Torjägerkanone. Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski leads the Bundesliga in goals scored with 25 and Frankfurt’s Andre Silva has registered 18 goals. They both are entering this fixture in terrific form.
Silva has scored nine goals since returning from the brief Bundesliga winter break while Lewandowski has scored eight. Whoever ends up having the bigger impact on the match should be able to tip the balance in terms of the final result. Lewandowski recorded a hat-trick the last time these two clubs met and Silva was unable to find the back of the net.
With a report from Kicker stating Silva is dealing with a back injury, it’s possible the striker will not be available for selection for this match. This will likely open the door for Luka Jovic to be the main threat for Frankfurt. The Serbian forward recently returned to Frankfurt on loan and will have the potential to cause Bayern trouble. Jovic has scored three goals in six appearances since returning to the Bundesliga.
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Who will fill in at right-back?
Benjamin Pavard has tested positive for the Coronavirus which means he will not be in the lineup for Bayern against Frankfurt. This will give Hansi Flick a decision to make about what to do at right-back. Bouna Sarr started against Arminia Bielefeld but Niklas Sule and Joshua Kimmich have also appeared this season at the position.
After conceding three goals against Arminia Bielefeld, Flick could give either Sule or Kimmich the right-back role against Frankfurt. If Sule is drafted in to play this role, then Alphonso Davies will have the license to venture forward.
Frankfurt put an unbeaten run of form to the test
Frankfurt has not lost a Bundesliga match since Matchday 11 when they fell 2-1 to Wolfsburg. Since then, they have won eight of their last 10 league fixtures. It’s been an incredible run of form that has them in a position to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League competition.
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Die Roten will be the ultimate test for their recent run of good form. If they can take away all three points against the current league leaders then it will further signal that they are legitimate contenders to finish in the top four this season.