How Albert Riera's Eintracht Frankfurt can hurt Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich might be league leaders and in free-scoring form, but Eintracht Frankfurt’s new coach bounce and recent record in the fixture gives the Eagles cause for optimism. Here’s why Albert Riera can mastermind another win…
Although the 43-year-old is just two matches into his tenure after replacing Dino Toppmöller, the Hessen club are unbeaten but are unlucky not to have maximum points after conceding a late penalty against Union Berlin, which preceded last weekend’s emphatic 3-0 triumph over Borussia Mönchengladbach.
With Kauã Santos between the sticks and Robin Koch at the heart of defence, Saturday’s clean sheet was Eintracht’s first in 10 games across all competitions since their last victory, which came against Augsburg in mid-December 2025.
Frankfurt’s newfound defensive solidity is a stark improvement on how they entered 2026, despite what their shots-against metric suggests. Having conceded three goals in each of their first five fixtures of the calendar year, Die Adler have allowed 32 shots on their goal across Riera’s first two games in charge, conceding just one clear-cut chance - the successfully converted spot-kick in Berlin.
Watch: Frankfurt hit reset with Riera
Up against Harry Kane and Co., Frankfurt will face their biggest challenge yet, but can go into Saturday’s clash quietly confident. Since the start of 2019/20, no team has beaten Germany’s record champions more often than Eintracht (four times). In that same period, the Eagles have also scored the most goals of any side against the Munich outfit (22 in 13 matches).
Moreover, by successfully adopting Riera's preferred 4-1-4-1 formation - which he utilised at NK Celje - Frankfurt are able to marry defensive solidity with attacking freedom, leaving the Spaniard with several alternatives to the injured Jonathan Burkardt, Younes Ebnoutalib, Michy Batshuayi, Can Uzun and Ansgar Knauff.
January arrival Arnaud Kalimuendo - who already has two goals this year - was replaced by midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud at the weekend due to injury, a substitution that will keep Bayern counterpart Vincent Kompany guessing. Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, primarily a winger, has been utilised as a central attacker, while Ritsu Dōan also remains an option in the space often occupied by his club’s primary goal-getters.
Alternatively, there is up-and-coming forward Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab, who was handed his starting debut by Riera against Gladbach. The 21-year-old Moroccan repaid the former Liverpool winger’s faith shown in him with his team’s second of the game - a superb curling effort.
Indeed, the unpredictability of Frankfurt’s makeshift attack could prove problematic for Bayern’s defence, who have already dropped points in a 2-1 home loss to Augsburg and 2-2 draw at Hamburg in 2026.
“You notice what the coach is trying to impart,” said Amaimouni-Echghouyab of Riera's impact as coach. “I think every player in the team knows exactly what he has to do with and without the ball. We’ve needed that.”
Watch: Frankfurt 3-0 Gladbach - highlights
Riera is already laying the foundations and if his charges can capitalise on chances that will inevitably come their way, they have every chance of pulling off a memorable victory against Bayern as they look to narrow the gap to the European places.
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