Bundesliga
Bayern Munich were held to a third straight 1-1 draw in 2023 with Randal Kolo Muani cancelling out Leroy Sane’s opener and earning Eintracht Frankfurt a point at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern 1-1 Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Sane 34’ (assist: Müller), 1-1 Kolo Muani 69‘ (assist: Kamada)
After back-to-back draws to begin the new year, Bayern appeared in a hurry to get a first win, with Sane denied by Kevin Trapp early doors. Kolo Muani served warning that he requires the utmost consideration on a succession of breaks, with Yann Sommer lucky to be a yard outside his area when he halted one of the Frenchman’s runs forward, but it was Bayern continuing to ask the questions with Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller both finding black shirts launching themselves bravely between their shots and Trapp’s goal. Nothing could get between Sane and a sweeping shot from Müller’s intelligent cut-back, however, as Bayern took a deserved lead 10 minutes before the break.
Frankfurt had to change their approach in the second half and Mario Götze led them forward against his former side, as Bayern’s earlier dominance dwindled. With those consecutive 1-1 draws in the back of their minds, some nerves bubbled to the surface and Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner turned up the heat with Daichi Kamada and Rafael Borre sent on, and the former teed up Kolo Muani to level. The France international skipped past his compatriot Dayot Upamecano before hooking a low shot across Sommer into the far corner. Djibril Sow sent a low shot just wide of Sommer’s goal as Frankfurt indicated an intention to pursue all three points rather than settle for one, but they would have been more than happy to come away with a draw as Bayern's wait for their first win of 2023 continues. As things stand, the defending champions remain top of the table, but just one point ahead of Union Berlin, while Leipzig, Freiburg and Frankfurt are also hot on their heels.
>>> Get Kolo Muani for your Fantasy team!
Watch: Götze: "We fight for every point"
Bayern: Sommer – Stanisic (Sabitzer 90'), Upamecano, De Ligt, Davies – Kimmich – Sane (Gnabry 70'), Müller (c), Musiala, Coman (Gravenberch 70') – Choupo-Moting (Tel 79')
Unused subs: Ulreich, Pavard, Wanner, Blind, Ibrahimovic
Out: Goretzka (thigh), Hernandez (knee), Mane (leg), Mazraoui (heart), Neuer (leg), Sarr (knee)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Frankfurt: Trapp – Tuta, Hasebe, N'Dicka – Buta, Sow, Rode (c) (Kamada 64'), Knauff - Lindstrom (Borre 64'), Götze (Jakic 85') - Kolo Muani (Alidou 90'+4)
Unused subs: Ramaj, Smolcic, Alario, Chandler, Lenz
Out: Aaronson (international duty), Dina Ebimbe (ankle), Pellegrini (calf), Wenig (metatarsal)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
Watch: De Ligt: "We're still searching for our form"