Saarbrücken and Toppmöller as a common denominator

Saturday afternoon’s match against FC Bayern is a very special one for Dino Toppmöller. The son of former coaching legend Klaus Toppmöller celebrated his greatest career success in the service of Munich. As assistant to Julian Nagelsmann, the 43-year-old former professional was also able to celebrate the German championship in 2022. Dino is now head coach of Eintracht Frankfurt and is facing his first real test of maturity in several respects. The Hessians’ form curve is pointing straight downwards and now the Bundesliga match against the record champions awaits

Unsurprisingly, the betting providers with PayPal as a deposit option are therefore very skeptical about the chances of the eagle bearers, who were knocked out of the cup on Wednesday evening at third-division club Saarbrücken. In this respect, SGE will face a fellow sufferer at the weekend as part of the 14th BL matchday, as Tuchel’s eleven also famously lost to the surprise team from Saarland. However, none of this will matter much on Saturday, as both teams logically have no points to give away at league level. Nevertheless, betting on an away win between Frankfurt and Bayern offers the significantly lower odds

This assessment is primarily based on recent impressions, because in addition to the embarrassing cup exit, the Black-Red-Whites have also been lacking a lot in the Bundesliga recently. The visitors from the snow-covered Free State, on the other hand, are eager to finally get back into the action after last weekend’s match was called off. You didn’t get to see more than funny social media videos from the Munich professionals last week. It is currently not known whether the front gardens of all FCB players have been completely cleared of snow. The Frankfurt vs. Bayern prediction of a three-goal win for the current runners-up in the table seems much more certain:

Frankfurt – Statistics & current form

After the painful loss of several key players who could not be adequately replaced on the transfer market in the short space of time, the word “transitional season” was quickly bandied about in the Main metropolis. For both coach Dino Toppmöller and the many promising new talents, the initial aim was to acclimatize to the German top flight and gradually raise their level.

It therefore came as quite a surprise that SGE made a very solid start to the season, finishing seventh in the league after the tenth matchday, staying in direct contact with the international ranks and also looking promising in the Conference League and the DFB Cup. In recent weeks, however, things have taken a turn for the worse for the 2022 Europa League winners. The interim high in form has given way to a crisis in results and performance. The performances of the youngsters are suddenly subject to unwanted fluctuations and even the relatively inexperienced coach Dino Toppmöller cannot absolve himself of all criticism

Will Larsson and Koch also be out alongside Skhiri?

This means that the Eagles have lost all of their last four competitive matches. At European level, the all-important group win was lost in a 2-1 defeat to PAOK Saloniki, Eintracht deservedly lost in the DFB Cup at third-division side Saarbrücken and the Black & Reds are also in danger of losing touch in the league after picking up just one point from three matches. In view of their poor form, it would therefore be a big surprise if the odds on the hosts to win a point were to go through in the Frankfurt v Bayern clash

A further aggravating factor is that the home strength has also been lost. With a record of two wins, three draws and one defeat, SGE are currently only in twelfth place in the separate home table. It should also be mentioned that the personnel situation could hardly be more tense. Above all, the absence of the injured Skhiri in central midfield weighs heavily and is virtually impossible to compensate for. In addition, defender Robin Koch and top discovery Hugo Larsson are at risk of being ruled out for Saturday. We therefore believe it is quite unlikely that an unsettled, understrength Eintracht team with a lack of substitutes will cause problems for the record champions.

Predicted Frankfurt line-up:

Bayern – Statistics & current form

Since last weekend, FC Bayern are back in what feels like pole position in the championship race in Germany. And that’s despite the fact that Munich were not even allowed to play their home game against Union Berlin due to the severe onset of winter. However, as leaders Leverkusen dropped points at home against BVB, a three-pointer in the catch-up match against the Iron League side, which is scheduled for the end of January, would give the serial champions the chance to regain their place in the Bundesliga table.

The same applies to next Saturday, as a triumph of their own in Frankfurt’s Stadtwald would see coach Thomas Tuchel’s team back where they see themselves for at least one night. However, the coach of all people could turn out to be a risk in this clash, at least if a curious statistic is consulted. Tuchel has actually not conceded more away defeats at any other club in the German top flight than at Eintracht Frankfurt (five). His only win as coach in the financial capital came in November 2012, when he was still in the service of FSV Mainz 05.

Kane chases another personal record

Admittedly, that was it for arguments against FCB. After all, the southern Germans are playing the third-best season in their Bundesliga history, have won six league games in a row and, at 19.9 shots per game, also have the most shots on target. By comparison, Eintracht Frankfurt are in 17th place in this ranking.

Another positive aspect to highlight is that the defending champions and CL round of 16 finalists have usually taken control of matches in the first 45 minutes this season. In eight out of twelve Bundesliga matches, Munich were already leading at the break. The 17 goals they have scored are their best tally, as are the only five goals they have conceded. In eight of the ten wins this season, the bet on the double result HT Bayern/FT Bayern would have gone through, which is why we consider a corresponding approach to be extremely expedient this time too. The top odds are 1.90.

Finally, no FCB paragraph ends without a tribute to Harry Kane, who now has 18 goals in twelve Bundesliga games and could score at least one goal in six consecutive league games for the first time in his long career this weekend

Predicted Bayern line-up:

Frankfurt – Bayern Direct comparison / H2H balance

The last home game against the industry leaders will not be one that Eintracht supporters will remember fondly. In August 2022, the Munich side won 6:1 in the Stadtwald. The visitors from the Isar were already 5:0 up at half-time, although only Borussia Mönchengladbach (24) have suffered more defeats in their club history than SGE (23). The eagles have won two of their last four home games against FCB.

It is also interesting to note that six of the last seven Bavarian victories against the Hessians have been by at least two goals to one. As a rule, the victories were even higher, which is why a prediction of a handicap victory for the favorite between Frankfurt and Bayern also brings value

Frankfurt – Bayern betting tip

From July 2021 to March 2023, Dino Toppmöller was still on the pitch in FCB training gear at Säbener Straße. As a former assistant to Julian Nagelsmann, he knows all the Munich professionals personally and still maintains good contact with Kimmich, Goretzka, Müller and co. However, it remains to be seen whether this will help him to devise a match plan that will put an inferior Eintracht side in a position to give the record champions a run for their money.

At the moment, however, there is not much to suggest that the odds on a surprise coup for the Hessians between Frankfurt and Bayern will come true. SGE have recently lost four in a row in all competitions, conceding two goals each time and failing to make the desired impact offensively. The cup defeat on a deep pitch in Saarbrücken on Wednesday evening is likely to have taken an additional toll – both mentally and physically. Meanwhile, the star ensemble from the Isar will travel to the Main fully rested and full of energy

We are therefore of the clear opinion that in the duel between cup losers Frankfurt and Bayern, the betting tip must definitely go in favor of the visitors. The handicap -1 is a good bet here, especially as Tuchel’s side have won eight of their ten league wins this season by at least two goals, as well as six of their last seven victories against Eintracht. The absence of key players on the home side should also play into the hands of Kane and Co.