In the third Bundesliga game of the year, FC Bayern cannot win for the third time. In the home game against Eintracht Frankfurt, the leaders and record champions take the lead, but then don't follow suit. And can be countered with serious consequences.
Third game, third draw: FC Bayern is without a win in the new year. Against Eintracht Frankfurt, the German record champions only managed a 1-1 (1-0) win at the start of the second half of the season, despite their superiority. The Munich team is only one point ahead of Union Berlin in the table. The Frankfurters, who have not been defeated for six Bundesliga games, are five points behind the leaders.
Accordingly, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann made an urgent appeal to his team. "In order to be able to play big games, you also have to play the small ones in such a way that your psychology is in good shape," he said on Sky, adding with a view to the Champions League round of 16 against Paris St. Germain: " We don't have too much time before the big game to get into that run, so we have to start at some point - the first step is always the hardest."
The spoilsport of the hosts this time was Randal Kolo Muani, who completed one of the few attacks by the always courageous guests after a well-played counterattack to equalize (69'). After a tough initial phase, the sometimes overwhelmingly superior Bayern had previously scored the deserved lead through Leroy Sané on the assist of the conspicuous Thomas Müller (34th). However, the team then failed to score a second goal.
Nagelsmann had chosen a very offensive line-up. He sent Müller onto the field from the start, who was flanked by Kingsley Coman and Sané. Jamal Musiala moved back a little. Glasner made three changes, including bringing up Makoto Hasebe in defense, making the 39-year-old Japanese the oldest field player in Eintracht's Bundesliga history.
The Munich team initially struggled despite their almost permanent presence in half of the Frankfurt team. Eintracht skillfully shifted their row of five and four in front of the recovered Kevin Trapp. Only a lob by Joshua Kimmich brought danger, but addressee Sané couldn't process the ball fast enough (10'). Otherwise, the Munich team played back and forth in front of the penalty area, looking for a gap.
Defensively, Bayern revealed some gaps and coordination problems, which forced goalkeeper Yann Sommer to risk a tackle outside the penalty area against Kolo Muani long before the goal was conceded - the Swiss saw yellow for the action, which was classified as a foul (25th). The guests were not really dangerous. But the Munich team increased the pace, and the chances quickly increased.
Trapp was able to thwart Bayern's first good chances of scoring, he saved against shots from Kimmich and Müller (31st), but was then powerless when Sané pulled away from the turn. Müller had provided the template with a great overview - he also made an effort from the start to convey the Munich structure to the game and to guide his teammates. It was Müller's first starting eleven since the Champions League game at Viktoria Pilsen on October 12.
Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner showed a good touch in the 64th minute when he replaced Daichi Kamada. The Japanese immediately pushed Eintracht's game with determination and soon found Kolo Muani, who was not closely marked. The Frenchman outplayed his compatriot Dayot Upamecano and hit the far post.
