Alaba back in business
Munich - GOAL! The Bundesliga Magazine is the DFL's weekly TV programme, offering a global audience a unique perspective on Germany's top flight throughout the season. We have in-depth previews of the upcoming league action, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes reports, the best goals from the weekend and much more besides.
Spotlight
Among the highlights in this week's edition of GOAL! The Bundesliga Magazine:
Having missed FC Bayern's blistering start to the campaign with a stress fracture, David Alaba is back and once more making waves down the left flank for the record champions. Still only 20, Alaba has come on in leaps and bounds since becoming the youngest player to represent Bayern in a competitive outing as a 17-year-old. After a successful loan spell at 1899 Hoffenheim, the Austrian international returned to Bavaria with a point to prove, .
Top game
Next on the agenda for runaway Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern is an intriguing home meeting with this season's surprise package, Eintracht Frankfurt. The Eagles travel to Munich sitting third in the standings, with only goal difference separating them and second-placed Schalke 04. Armin Veh has seen his side wobble of late but, despite losing away to Stuttgart and drawing at home with Fürth, is unlikely to adopt a park-the-bus approach at the Allianz Arena. Bayern will, however, be confident of unpicking the Frankfurt lock, having bounced back from their first defeat of the season at home to Bayer Leverkusen with their tenth win of the campaign, at Hamburger SV.
Three minutes with...
... Eintracht Frankfurt chairman Heribert Bruchhagen. A veteran behind the scenes of German football, having previously held managerial posts at Schalke 04, Hamburger SV and Arminia Bielefeld, the 64-year-old is a true advocate of operating within your means. After the Eagles' relegation to Bundesliga 2 two seasons ago and their immediate return to the top flight, Bruchhagen has high hopes that the current Eintracht crop are laying the foundations for a future worthy of the club's huge fan base and deep-rooted tradition.
In focus
The only side to beat Bayern Munich in the league this season, Bayer 04 Leverkusen are on a roll that has taken them up to fourth in the standings. Integral to their recent run has been Andre Schürrle, who has been carving out more than four scoring chances per game on average for his teammates and chipped in with two goals of his own. Now in his second year at Leverkusen, Schürrle, who turns 22 this week, has already established himself as a mainstay at the BayArena and is beginning to make a similar impression on the national team.
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