'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A spirited first-half effort from hosts Eintracht Frankfurt saw them get the better of league leaders Bayern Munich in a Saturday-evening Bundesliga fixture.
The win meant the hosts stayed in fourth place as they target a return into Europe's elite.
On the other hand, despite the result, the Bavarians continue to occupy the top spot. But a win for second-placed RB Leipzig could potentially reduce that lead to just two points.
Heading into the game, Frankfurt's coach made three changes as star forward Luka Jovic made a much-deserved return to the starting line-up.
Bayern coach Hansi Flick made three changes too as Joshua Kimmich and Jerome Boateng were reinstated following the dramatic 3-3 draw at home to relegation threatened Arminia Bielefeld.
Trending
Most of the hype surrounding this match was built on what happened the previous year. The European Champions recieved a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Frankfurt which led to the ouster of manager Niko Kovac.
And given how this game began, most fans would have been bracing for a repeat.
Bayern held a slight edge in terms of gameplay, but it was Frankfurt banging in the goals as the scoreline read 2-0 in their favour at halftime.
Daichi Kamada was causing havoc off the counter – he opened the scoring and then set up teammate Amin Younus.
Kevin Trapp made some fine saves later on to round off a near-perfect half for the hosts.
The second half saw a marked improvement from Bayern Munich, as they piled on the pressure while the hosts tried to keep their shape.
The new-found tempo finally gave way as Robert Lewandowski met Leroy Sane's cross with a classic tap-in finish.
The visitors finally had something to build on in the hope of an epic comeback, but it was the hosts who had the last laugh. Frankfurt were quite clinical, solid and organised to prevent any further damage.
On that note, we take a look at five talking points from the game.
#5 Bayern's defensive fratalities
In the two matches they've played post the Club World Cup triumph, Bayern Munich have shipped in five goals.
While this may seem shocking for a side of such pedigree, the reality is far from that. An experienced but ageing centre-back pairing of Jerome Boateng and David Alaba is their first choice.
To follow that up are Niklas Sule and Lucas Hernandez, who are not really amongst the young brigade anymore.
Add in an inconsistent Benjamin Pavard and newbie Bouna Sarr, and that is a recipe for disaster.
While a stellar Manuel Neuer has had some good showings and Alphonso Davies is one exception to this on a whole, it is evident that coach Hansi Flick needs to sort the conundrum in defence out.
#4 Luka Jovic isn't finished just yet
Known more nowadays for his terrible year-and-a-half-long stint at Real Madrid than his heroics in the 2019/20 season, the Serbian striker certainl seems to have some unfinished business.
And the results are there to see, with Frankfurt presently on a seven-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga ever since his arrival.
Although since scoring twice on his return against Schalke, Jovic hasn't added to the count. But that is no reason to overlook the team player in him as the likes of Andre Silva, Amin Younus, Evan N'Dicka and Daichi Kamada have benefitted immensely.
A collision in the 66th minute meant that Jovic was taken off, with fans still awaiting an official word from the club at the time of writing.
The 23-year old is certainly making up for lost time at the Bernabeu as his side sit fourth in the Bundesliga standings and are poised to make a return to the Champions League.
#3 Leon Goretzka makes an impact
Leon Goretzka was out of action over the past few weeks after having tested positive for Covid-19.
Making a formal return to the side, coach Hansi Flick decided to keep him on the bench and handed a start to youngster Marc Roca.
The decision failed to work out well, as the 24-year old Roca was overrun in the middle of the park and was taken off at halftime.
In came Goretzka, and he made an immediate statement with his box-to-box attribute, showing the public what his side had missed in the game.
Bayern started to dominate in midfield and managed to improve on possession.
They even scored a goal ten minutes into the second half, and if not for the mammoth effort from Frankfurt, the Bavarians could just as easily have run away with the contest.
The presence of Leon Goretzka added so much tooth in the Bayern midfield, hence making his entry a talking point from the game.
#2 Bayern's sloppyness was thoroughly exposed
In the absence of regular starters like Thomas Muller and Serge Gnabry, Bayern Munich were mundane and uninspiring going forwards. And their defensive woes came to the fore with Manuel Neuer & co. guilty of making errors that cost them badly.
In the process of keeping Jovic quiet, Kamada and Younes were allowed acres of space to make runs.
While Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp had one of his best games to give his side all three points, it was largely down to the opposition not testing him enough.
The likes of N'Dicka and Almamy Toure were hardly threatened by Bayern's midfield as a low tempo throughout hardly warranted any kind of pressing effort.
With Champions League action returning midweek, the defending champions need to get back to their groove. Such sloppy play won't do them any favours.
#1 Daichi Kamada was the player of the match
Japanese medio Daichi Kamada absolutely bossed the statistics on the night, making him the player of the match.
58 touches, six tackles, three chances created, a goal, and an assist to cap off a special evening for the 24-year old.
Going just by the numbers, his part in the victory was clearly evident.
Kamada made a speedy run into the Bayern box, which went unnoticed as he poked home Filip Kostic's cross to account for his third goal of the ongoing season.
His next contribution was an assist to Younes with a well-threaded ball.
What followed were some highlights-worthy efforts as he kept coming at the Bayern defence hard.
He could have had a second goal in the dying moments of the game, only for Manuel Neuer to make a fine save.
