Bayern Munich vs. Eintracht Frankfurt: Winners and Losers from Bundesliga
Bayern Munich edged Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, earning a 1-0 Bundesliga win at the Allianz Arena in their first fixture following the recent international break.
Franck Ribery's stunning overhead volley in the first half put Bayern ahead, and it proved to be enough to lift the Bavarians to victory. The result ensured that the Bavarians' lead in the table would not be decreased from the five-point edge they held prior to the internationals and put pressure on Borussia Dortmund ahead of their match against Werder Bremen.
Following Bayern's win against Frankfurt, B/R takes a look at the players who ended up better and worse off at full time. Click "Begin Slideshow" for our picks.
Winner: Franck Ribery
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Franck Ribery started on the left wing on Saturday, probably because Douglas Costa was tired on account of a long trip back to Europe following the international break and with it being more important for the Brazilian to be fit and ready for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Benfica.
Ribery isn't the first choice at this point. But he also isn't yet finished. The Frenchman, who turns 33 later this month, ran the show from an early stage and showed some vintage form playmaking from the wing. Timothy Chandler was in his pocket throughout the match. Ribery's crowning achievement of the match, though, was a stunning opener from an overhead volley that caught Lukas Hradecky off his line.
Winner: Javi Martinez
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The Bayern defense got a big boost on Saturday as Javi Martinez returned to action for the first time since suffering a knee injury in January. Serdar Tasci was drafted in, apparently to be his replacement for the short term, yet Pep Guardiola seemed to prefer Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba as his central defenders. Classical interior defenders Tasci and Medhi Benatia seem to have plummeted out of favor.
With Martinez healthy again, however, the Spaniard was preferred. So perhaps for the remainder of the season, provided he is fit, he might remain in the Bayern first team. Where other qualified defenders have failed, Martinez seems to have succeeded in winning Guardiola's favor.
Winner: Mario Gotze
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After a top-class performance for Germany in their recent win against Italy, Mario Gotze earned a rare start for Bayern. The 23-year-old looked up to the occasion and, although not the match-winner, took a positive step forward. He took several attempts on goal, one of which forced the save that left Lukas Hradecky off his line for Ribery to volley in the winner. The Frenchman deserves full credit for his wonder goal, but Gotze's involvement shouldn't be overlooked.
As well, Gotze put in a yeoman's effort to silence any critics doubting his commitment. Per the official Bundesliga live ticker, the playmaker made more fast runs (90) than anyone else and covered more ground (11.17 km) than any of his teammates prior to his 85th-minute substitution. Gotze has a long way to go, but Saturday was a stepping stone.
Loser: Luc Castaignos
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When you face Bayern, you have to be cool enough to take any chance you manage to get. It may be the only chance you have for the whole game. In fact, it may be the only chance your team has over 90 minutes. It's a simple rule—and a cruel one—but that's football.
Luc Castaignos came off the bench with just over half an hour left to play, and with Bayern's lead still amounting to just one goal, he had a chance to draw his side level. But when the opportunity presented itself, the Dutchman fired badly wide. He appealed for a corner, but his shot was actually that wayward. It's a shame, as the point they would have earned with a draw would have brought Frankfurt out of the relegation zone.
Winner: Xabi Alonso
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Following the international break, Bayern needed some big performances from the players who had actually taken a break—not those who had played a couple of extra matches for their respective national teams and had traveled over long distances. They got such a performance from not only Ribery but Xabi Alonso as well.
The Spaniard produced some vintage form on the day, pulling the strings in midfield with aplomb (the Bundesliga live ticker recorded his ball touches at 107 and his completed passes at 93) whilst tackling well. He also rattled the woodwork with a gorgeous effort from distance and was unlucky not to score. Not bad for a 34-year-old.
