Eintracht Frankfurt are enjoying their best Bundesliga season in decades but know that only a near-perfect performance will give them a chance to upset league leaders Bayern Munich on Sunday.
With 22 matches played in the Bundesliga campaign, Frankfurt sit third, on course for their first top-four finish since 1992-93. Their 2022 Europa League triumph secured their first-ever Champions League appearance, and another top-four finish this season would be a testament to Dino Toppmöller’s impressive work despite losing star forward Omar Marmoush to Manchester City.
Next up is a tough trip to Bayern, who hold an eight-point lead over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen and look set to reclaim the Bundesliga title.
Frankfurt’s Challenge Against Bayern
Despite being underdogs, Frankfurt have recently troubled Bayern, including a 3-3 draw in October, making them one of only four teams—alongside Leverkusen, Mainz, and Borussia Dortmund—to take points off the league leaders this season.
Bayern have won only one of their past four meetings with Frankfurt, but Eagles captain Kevin Trapp remains cautious.
“We are third and Bayern are 13 points ahead of us, that speaks volumes.”
Trapp acknowledged that his side would need to be close to perfect to get anything from the game, especially as Bayern will be determined to avoid a dip in form after two consecutive draws.
Bayern may also be without Harry Kane, who was substituted at half-time during their 1-1 draw with Celtic on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Frankfurt face their own injury concerns, with Robin Koch ruled out and Mario Götze doubtful due to illness.
Frankfurt head coach Toppmöller admitted on Friday that his side will need “a good plan, a top performance, and a bit of luck.” He also called for mental resilience, urging his players to show “a high tolerance for frustration.”
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga
- Leverkusen visit last-placed Holstein Kiel, hoping to keep their slim title chances alive. Xabi Alonso remains realistic about catching Bayern, but insists, “Everything can happen. There are still many games.”
- Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens has not scored in nine games, struggling to maintain his early-season form alongside Serhou Guirassy. Coach Niko Kovac urged patience, saying, “Jamie has developed really well… but dips in form happen.”
Key Stats
- 1,980 – Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich has played every minute of the league season so far—the only player from the league leaders to do so.
- 12 in 21 – Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike has scored 12 goals in 21 league matches this season.
- 0 in 13 – Borussia Dortmund have never drawn against Union Berlin, winning nine and losing four of their 13 encounters in all competitions.
With Frankfurt aiming for a historic finish and Bayern eager to maintain their dominance, Sunday’s clash promises to be a crucial moment in the Bundesliga title race.
