Bayern Munich vs Eintracht Frankfurt - Kovac hopes Frankfurt's trip at Allianz is not painful - 7M sport

Bayern Munich vs Eintracht Frankfurt - Kovac hopes Frankfurt's trip at Allianz is not painful



Posted Friday, March 10, 2017 by PA

Eintracht Frankfurt manager Niko Kovac has likened playing at Bayern Munich to making a painful trip to the dentist ahead of the sides' meeting at the Allianz Arena.

Bundesliga leaders Bayern have not lost at home in the league for more than a year and appear unstoppable in their pursuit of a fifth successive title.

Kovac, who spent two years as a Bayern player, admits his sixth-placed team could face a torrid afternoon on Saturday, with their cause not helped by a squad depleted by injuries and suspensions.

"(It's like the) notorious visit to the dentist," the Croatian said at his pre-match press conference.

"You have to go once a year. Sometimes it doesn't hurt but most of the time it does.

"It remains to be seen if we can name 18 players on the team sheet. And I'm talking about senior players and youth-team players."

Unlike their opponents, Carlo Ancelotti's Bayern have an almost fully-fit squad, with defender Juan Bernat the only absentee.

The Bavarian club have scored 19 goals in their previous four league games, conceding just once, and sit seven points clear of second-placed RB Leipzig.

They also progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League in emphatic fashion during the week with a 10-2 aggregate demolition of Arsenal.

Head coach Ancelotti, who will be hoping to inflict a fifth consecutive league defeat on Frankfurt, believes his team are well prepared.

"The players are in great shape," he told Bayern's official website.

"They're fit and training well. We have to keep up the good work."

The match will be Bayern's first since experienced midfielder Xabi Alonso announced his intention to retire at the end of the season.

However, the Spaniard insists it is not the time for sentiment.

"This is a decision that I've been thinking about for a long time," Alonso told fcbayern.com.

"I always wanted to end my career at the highest level, and for me Bayern is the highest level.

"When I came here I wanted to learn everything - the language, the culture in Germany. I now know the spirit and the character of the people. My family and I are very happy and we want to thank the people here.

"However, now is not the time for early goodbyes.

"I still have a bit of time left to enjoy myself."



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