MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 00:39:02| >> :120:6701:6701:
[monks data]
Attendance: 51,500
Eintracht Frankfurt logo
Bundesliga | Gameweek 17
Dec 22, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
Bayern logo

0-3

FT(HT: 0-1)
Ribery (35', 79'), Rafinha (89')

Bayern boss Kovac looking to exploit top-two clash

Bayern boss Kovac looking to exploit top-two clash
© Reuters
The Croatian returns to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

Niko Kovac is demanding his players capitalise on any slip-ups by the Bundesliga leaders when his Bayern Munich side travel to Eintracht Frankfurt for their final game before the winter break.

Currently in third place, with the top two sides Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach playing each other on Friday evening, Bayern have the opportunity to reduce the gap.

The Bayern head coach said: "If the others make dents in each other, we can catch up quickly."

Kovac knows the challenge offered by Frankfurt, having managed them until the summer, and will have to face his former side without a number of key players.

Arjen Robben remains unavailable with a hamstring injury, and is joined by James Rodriguez (outer ligament knee tear), Corentin Tolisso (cruciate ligament rupture) and Serge Gnabry (hamstring).

Renato Sanches is also suspended following his red card for a second bookable offence during Bayern's hard-fought victory over RB Leipzig, but the side could be boosted by the return of Kingsley Coman.

On the opponents, Kovac warned: "Frankfurt are a team who have a lot of pace, defending aggressively while going forward and looking to pounce on mistakes. We have to be prepared for that."

Captain Manuel Neuer spoke of his respect for the Hesse, saying: "They have played a good first half (of the season). It will be very difficult."

Frankfurt currently sit fifth in the Bundesliga, five points behind third-placed Bayern, but have scored one more goal than the Bavarian outfit.

Coach Adi Hutter said: "We have to go back to our borders or maybe even beyond to survive against Bayern.

"They are favourites, but we have an outside chance."

Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp insists the team are up for the game, saying: "We have shown in recent months that we can achieve a lot at home. This is a nice ending just before Christmas, also for the spectators."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'db6737b8-da30-43fb-8bf4-097f34d31fed');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Bayern boss Kovac looking to exploit top-two clash'});

ID:344842: cacheID:344842:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4676:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Sebastien Haller in action for Eintracht Frankfurt in October 2017
Read Next:
Frankfurt star Haller a target for Spurs?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayern MunichBayern14103142123033
2Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen1485132201229
3Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt1383233181527
4RB Leipzig137332114724
5Freiburg147342019124
6Mainz 05Mainz146442519622
7Werder Bremen146442224-222
8Wolfsburg146353125621
9Borussia DortmundDortmund136342420421
10Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach146352319421
11Stuttgart135532623320
12Union BerlinUnion Berlin144551315-217
13Augsburg144461627-1116
14Hoffenheim133461825-713
15St Pauli143291119-811
16Heidenheim133191728-1110
17Holstein Kiel1412111437-235
18VfL BochumVfL Bochum1403111135-243


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!