Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich

Deutsche Bank Park forms the backdrop for a top-table Bundesliga six-pointer between Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern Munich.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s seamless recovery from a 2-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund on the opening Bundesliga weekend has seen them rack up a four-game winning league streak as they start this round in second, only two points adrift of early pacesetters Bayern Munich. A victory would propel ‘Die Adler’ to the table’s summit if only they can replicate last season’s emphatic performance in this corresponding fixture, which saw them thump the Bavarians 5-1. Achieving that feat would result in Frankfurt sitting at the top of the Bundesliga standings for the first time since matchday two of the 1999/2000 season, highlighting just how highly motivated they’ll take the field. Dino Toppmoller’s side can draw further inspiration from a 3-1 beating of Besiktas in midweek Europa League action.

By contrast, Bayern Munich’s continental duties produced Vincent Kompany’s first defeat in charge of the Bavarians as Aston Villa squeaked past his charges 1-0 in the Champions League, knocking them down from a near-flawless eight-game start in all competitions (W7, D1). The visitors are still in command in the Bundesliga despite a 1-1 home draw against defending champions Bayer Leverkusen last weekend. They now head to Frankfurt, where they’ve lost the club’s joint-most 24 away matches but perhaps buoyed by all three away league wins under Kompany by an aggregate score of 14-3. Traditionally dominant following a Champions League fixture, the record-time Bundesliga champions have managed ten wins from their last 13 league outings after European duty (L3).