Eintracht 3-3 Bayern: Bavarians try to bounce back, but get an avoidable draw
October 6, 2024 This article written by Rainer Pompermayer
The Belgian coach sent a pretty similar first eleven as in the recent weeks, just with Thomas Müller and Guerreiro being “unfamiliar first eleven faces”. With that, a similar view of the last two games with total Bavarian control in the first 20 minutes, and Frankfurt trying to counterattack without much success. Until a great assist from Thomas Müller for Kim’s goal in a corner opened the scoresheet.
However, in Frankfurt’s first successful counterattack, the home team scored, and a few minutes later they even turned the game around in a similar play. However Bayern struck back via a corner before halftime, with a goal from Upamecano in a good play by Gnabry.
In the beginning of the second half, Olise put Bayern in front again in a nice collective play. After that, Bayern continued to dominate the ball but without many good scoring chances and with Frankfurt always being dangerous on the counter. Until the 94th minute, after a couple last minute changes from Kompany, the Eagles once again got an “easy” counter attack and scored in one of the last moments of the match, to the delight of the home fans.
THINGS WE NOTICED
It’s time for change in the midfield
Ok, we all think that Kimmich and Pavlovic are the most technical midfielders in the team, but that it’s time for a change in the midfield against this type of opponent.
As displayed against Leverkusen and Aston Villa, time and time again the opposition players didn’t have any trouble in advancing through the midfield and finding one-on-one situations against our center backs. Be it with Palhinha in place of Pavlovic, or with a three man midfield or with Kimmich as a ball playing right back, we need more stability and more defensive cover.
We all know that Upamecano and Kim aren’t the most comfortable CBs to play in such a high line, adding this to a right and left back always being up the pitch, and Neuer clearly slowing down, we need more defensive stability in the midfield against these more dangerous opponents. And talking about Neuer…
Slow Manu…
Neuer is the GOAT, we know that and that’s probably why it is so hard to see the German get the ball out of the back of the net time and time again especially when he probably could have done a bit better against the shots.
I don’t think that he is the biggest problem at the Bayern squad, far from it, but be it today or against Aston Villa, the greatest goalkeeper showed a bit lack of intensity and, especially, speed. Be it his reflexes or when sweeping the ball is needed. Let’s hope that a week without matches and time to recover more from the fall against Zagreb, we can see our good old Manu back at it again.
…And Silent Harry
Another game, another silent night for Kane. Don’t get me wrong, his assist was superb, but in these bigger, more difficult, matches we need our nine to also act as a nine and be a direct threat against the opponent defense.
Against Leverkusen, zero shots on goal, in Birmingham one short in a free kick and one blocked in the 96’ minute, today no shots on target. We all know Harry’s qualities with the ball and setting up teammates, but one assist and 2 shots on target in the three biggest matches of the season so far, is too little for Harry.
Almost two weeks for Kompany rethink a couple things
The international break couldn’t come at a better time for Bayern and Kompany, now the Belgium coach will have almost two weeks to analyze the last results and rethink a couple things. The high line and hard press, especially in injury time when his team is winning away from home, or the lack of rotation for midfielders and center backs, or not utilizing players like Palhinha and Müller as much as we need to.
Today was pretty clear that Palhinha, Dier and Laimer were sent cold and without much match sharpness in the 90th minute, with Frankfurt being really aggressive for the equalizer, and this was impactful on the final result. So maybe he needs to give other players in the squad more playing time.
The goal feasts against Kiel and Zagreb are fun and good to watch, but if the team continues to show this inconsistent behavior with ball dominance and silly lapses, the important next two matches against Stuttgart and Barcelona will be hard to watch.
LINE UPS AND GOALS:
Eintracht Frankfurt: Santos – Kristensen, Tuta, Koch, Theate – Knauff (75’ Bahoya), Skhir (46’ Dahoud)i, Larsson (75’ Götze), Chaïbi (80’ Uzun) – Ekitiké (66’ Ebimbe), Marmoush
FC Bayern: Neuer – Guerreiro, Upamecano (90’ Dier), Kim, Davies – Kimmich, Pavlović (90’ Palhinha) – Olise (90’ Laimer), Müller, Gnabry (67’ Coman) – Kane (72’ Tel)
Goals: 0:1 Kim (15′), 1:1 Marmoush (22′), 2:1 Ekitiké (35′), 2:2 Upamecano (38′), 2:3 Olise (53′), Marmoush (94’)
Yellow cards: Müller (43’)
