Bayern Munich moved to within six points of Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund by beating Niko Kovac's former club Eintracht Frankfurt.
2018/2019 Bundesliga
0-3
Match Events
Franck Ribery scored twice as Bayern Munich ended 2018 by moving into second place in the Bundesliga with a 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
35' GOAL! Frankfurt 0-1 Bayern (Ribery)
RIBERY GIVES BAYERN THE LEAD! 1-0! It comes from a defensive mishap at the back as Ndicka fails to head away a booming long cross, pushing it onto Muller instead. The winger squares it in to Lewandowski who draws out Trapp before putting a flat pass himself to Ribery in the centre of the box to simply roll home. The visitors have their noses in front!
79' GOAL! Frankfurt 0-2 Bayern (Ribery)
RIBERY BAGS A BRACE! 2-0! It's double trouble for Eintracht as Bayern take full control of this game with a second goal for their French winger. It's a scrappy effort as Ribery plays a one-two with Kimmich before scuffing his shot - but it takes a kind deflection off the left post to roll in behind Trapp and increase the visitors' lead.
89' GOAL! Frankfurt 0-3 Bayern (Rafinha)
RAFINHA MAKES IT THREE! 3-0! What a cheeky goal! The right-back coasts down the wing and lofts a chip from 25 yards out that catches Trapp off his line and sails in at the far post. Bayern add a little bit of gloss to this victory.
Match Report
On Niko Kovac's return to his former club, Bayern took the lead midway through the first half when Ribery swept in at the culmination of a slick counter-attack.
Bayern could have been ahead earlier on, had Kevin Trapp not pulled off a superb double save to deny Javi Martinez and Thomas Muller, who later hit the woodwork.
Robert Lewandowski should have wrapped up the win early in the second half, but his blushes were spared when Ribery scuffed in a second, with Rafinha's fortuitous effort adding further gloss to a victory that takes Bayern back to within six points of leaders Borussia Dortmund.
Line-ups
Frankfurt XI: G. Fernandes, K. Trapp, F. Kostić, Willems, Falette, Haller, Da Costa, Gacinovic, C. Salcedo, L. Jović, O. N'Dicka
Subs: Russ, De Guzmán, N.Müller, Tawatha, F. Rønnow, Hrgota, M. Stendera
Bayern XI: Ribéry, M. Neuer, Rafinha, J.Martínez, J. Boateng, Alaba, T. Müller, R. Lewandowski, Thiago Alcântara, N. Süle, J. Kimmich
Subs: Sven Ulreich, Wagner, Coman, M. Shabani, Lars Lukas Mai