Status: 01/28/2023 8:28 p.m
FC Bayern Munich is still waiting for its first win of the new year in the Bundesliga. Even against Eintracht Frankfurt it was only enough for a draw.
The record champions drew 1-1 against Eintracht at the start of the second half of the Bundesliga season on Matchday 18 in front of 75,000 spectators. Leroy Sané put Bayern ahead in the 34th minute, Randal Kolo Muani (69th) equalized. Bayern remain leaders with 37 points, but are only one point ahead of pursuers Union Berlin. Frankfurt (32) slips to fifth place.
Bayern went into the top game tense. In the new year things hadn’t gone too well for Munich. There had only been a draw against RB Leipzig and 1. FC Köln on the pitch, and there was also trouble off the green. Manuel Neuer’s goalkeeper coach and best man Toni Tapalovic separated, and Serge Gnabry made a trip to Paris Fashion Week.
This and a poor performance against Cologne brought the national player a place on the bench. Leon Goretzka was absent due to muscular problems. Coach Julian Nagelsmann ordered Thomas Müller into the starting eleven, and Kingsley Coman and Josip Stanisic were also allowed to play from the start. At Eintracht, national goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was back in goal after recovering from a cold.
Frankfurt plays happily in Munich
From the start, Eintracht made no secret of wanting to play in Munich. Coach Oliver Glasner’s team was strong at the front, reliable in passing and self-confident, at the back they closed the gaps compactly and with good order. The Bavarians initially had a hard time against the disciplined defending Hessians, who courageously pushed up again and again.
After both teams had created some half-chances and degrees, there was at least one excitement in the 24th minute. After a long ball to Randal Kolo Muani, Bayern goalkeeper Yann Sommer rushed out of his box and not only caught the ball, but also the striker’s foot. Referee Sven Jablonski drew a yellow card for this.
Bayern puts pressure – and hits
A little later it became dangerous for the first time. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting shielded the ball from two opponents in the penalty area and put it on Müller, but Tuta’s leg was still in the way when he shot. Shortly thereafter, goalkeeper Trapp was also required, who first had to parry against Joshua Kimmich and then against Müller.
Bayern were suddenly there and turned up the heat, and it didn’t take Eintracht long to get out of joint. Because already in minute 34 the Munich team took the lead. Müller passed the ball low and hard from the right to Leroy Sané, who hit the left corner from eleven yards. After the effective hit, the Frankfurters were unsure what the Bavarians sensed. They took charge and dominated the game. But they couldn’t convert that into another goal before the break.
Frankfurt comes ice cold to equalize
At the beginning of the second half, Eintracht faced the question: when do we trust ourselves more and play for the equaliser? First they looked at what Bayern were doing and apart from continuing to determine the game, that wasn’t much at first.
It was only after about an hour that Bayern got another chance. After losing the ball and a good switching game, Eintracht was unsorted at the back. Jamal Musiala whirled in the penalty area, then only Choupo-Moting failed with a heel and Sané with the follow-up shot.
Then unity struck. Substitute Daichi Kamada released Kolo Muani in a quick attack, putting the ball past his opponent Dayot Upamecano and then past Sommer. Eintracht once again lived up to their reputation of using the few chances coldly. And Bayern have to accept the accusation that they didn’t do enough with their dominance.
Conventional Bayern lack speed and enthusiasm
Of course, after the equalizer, the guests retreated far into their own half and stayed behind the ball with nine players. The Munich team couldn’t think of much. The joy of playing was missing, there were no surprises, ideas, speed, everything looked a little staid in the master’s game. There was hardly a successful individual action to be seen, hardly even a one-two, the standards remained harmless.
Frankfurt kept putting pinpricks forward – like in the 84th minute. Upamecano was just able to block a shot by Djibril Sow from 14 meters in the penalty area. Even in stoppage time, Frankfurt still had chances: Rafael Borré pulled the ball past the far post. In the end it stayed at 1:1.
Bayern in the DFB Cup against Mainz
In the round of 16 of the DFB Cup, FC Bayern Munich is fighting for progress away from Mainz (Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 at 8:45 p.m.).
In the league, the record champions have to pass the in-form Wolfsburg a few days later (Sunday, February 5th, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.). Frankfurt receives relegation candidate Hertha BSC the day before (3.30 p.m.).
Source: sportschau.de