Head coach Dino Toppmöller made three changes to the team that started the surprise 2-0 DFB Cup loss to 1. FC Saarbrücken in midweek, bringing Aurélio Buta, Hugo Larsson and Ansgar Knauff back in for Makoto Hasebe, Philipp Max and Niels Nkounkou, who all dropped to the bench. Despite doubts about his participation, Robin Koch took his place in the back three.
Dominant display
The Eagles made a stirring start against their in-form visitors at Deutsche Bank Park, threatening twice through Knauff and Eric Dina Ebimbe before taking the lead in the 12th minute. Farès Chaibi was first to react to a half-cleared cross from the lively Buta by scooping an effort onto the bar, but Omar Marmoush made no mistake on the rebound, controlling smartly on his chest and finishing impressively for his seventh Bundesliga goal of the season.
Bayern appeared shellshocked, and it took until the 25th minute for them to create a viable chance, Harry Kane shooting wide from a useful-looking position. They subsequently enjoyed a brief period of dominance, but Eintracht continued to threaten on the break, and they soon doubled their lead (31’): Knauff outmuscled Min-Jae Kim down the left and fed Dina Ebimbe, who escaped the attention of two defenders before forcing the ball past Manuel Neuer.
The home supporters were likely pinching themselves five minutes later, as Larsson put SGE 3-0 up. The talented young Swede showed great composure to collect Marmoush’s pass, skip past Dayot Upamecano and slot the ball into the net. Just before the interval, Joshua Kimmich fashioned a lifeline for the reigning champions (44’), sweeping the ball beyond Kevin Trapp from just outside the box, but the first half had belonged to Eintracht.
Famous (and familiar) scoreline
Bayern made two changes at the break, introducing Konrad Laimer and Raphaël Guerreiro, but it made little impact, and it was the home side who went further ahead in the 50th minute, Dina Ebimbe scoring for the second time after being neatly teed up by the excellent Chaibi.
Incredibly, the Eagles made it 5-1 on the hour mark, Knauff poking home for a goal that was initially ruled offside but validated via VAR. Somewhat understandably, the encounter then entered a lull, with Eintracht content to manage their sizeable lead and Bayern probing without truly creating anything of note against a determined and disciplined rearguard.
As the match drew to a close, substitute Niels Nkounkou might have increased the winning margin to five goals, but he twice fired powerfully over the bar. It had little effect on the unbridled joy exhibited by the home supporters, however, who celebrated their largest win over Bayern since an equally memorable 5-1 result in 2019.