Are Frankfurt Bayern's new bogey side?

It's a special day for any club when Bayern come to town, although expectations beforehand are usually that the visitors will take all the points on offer. But Frankfurt are a different story. The Eagles have in fact started to prey on their Bavarian rivals in recent years. And given this Sunday's match pits the table‘s top two sides against each other, Eintracht are heading into the game in particularly bullish mood.

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"We're really looking forward to Istanbul [Besiktas in the UEFA Europa League] and then the game against Bayern. Those are great games. And if top spot is up for grabs, then it's even more awesome," enthused defender Robin Koch after Frankfurt's 4-2 win in Kiel last weekend. It was the fourth Bundesliga win in a row for the Eagles, who are now in second place, with Bayern a single point ahead in top spot. 

Watch: High-Flying Eagles - Fantastic Frankfurt

Two 5-1 wins

This will be the fifth time that Frankfurt take on Bayern when the sides occupy the top two positions in the table, but the first time since Matchday 30 of the 1993/94 season. From the previous four such fixtures between the two clubs, the Munich side boast a 100 percent record. But that doesn't mean things will go the same way again on Sunday, especially if you focus on the recent past.

Both clubs have an even record from their last seven Bundesliga meetings, with three wins each, plus one draw. And Bayern have conceded their two heaviest Bundesliga defeats in the last 15 years to Frankfurt. Eintracht won 5-1 in November 2019 and then again in December 2023. Both matches were played in Frankfurt.

Watch: Highlights from Frankfurt's 5-1 win last season

Frankfurt fearless at home

Home-ground advantage gives Dino Toppmöller's team additional encouragement. Frankfurt have recorded 21 of their 25 Bundesliga victories against Bayern in their own stadium, and their overall record at home to the Bavarians is also in Eintracht's favour: 21 wins, 16 draws, 16 defeats.

Bayern, for their part, have only suffered more Bundesliga defeats away to Borussia Mönchengladbach (23), and Frankfurt have won three of their last five home games against the record champions.

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The fact that Eintracht goal machine Omar Marmoush is currently one length ahead of Bayern's Harry Kane in the scorers' chart with six goals is an additional motivator in a fixture that already has top spot in the table up for grabs.

So, it's no wonder that hardly anyone in Frankfurt is expecting a defeat when Bayern visit Deutsche Bank Park again on Sunday.