Bayer Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt preview: Post-break reset for the champions

Bayer Leverkusen

Whilst Leverkusen no longer face the pressure of maintaining an unbeaten Bundesliga run after losing at home to RB Leipzig in game week two, their status as defending champions has inevitably raised expectations. 

Xabi Alonso’s side sits three points behind Bayern München, the team they dethroned last season, but their performances over the first six rounds have been inconsistent.

Defensive frailties concern Alonso, with his side conceding 12 goals so far, a worrying figure entering the international break. The team's inability to hold onto leads has been evident, especially in their 2-2 draw with newly promoted Holstein Kiel, where they squandered a 2-0 advantage, echoing their 3-2 loss to Leipzig in late August after being two goals up.

Eight of these goals have come at home, and with a clash against a high-scoring Frankfurt this weekend, another goal-heavy encounter could well be on the cards.

Team News

Starman Florian Wirtz is a doubt for Saturday's match after suffering a suspected ankle injury in Germany's 1-0 win over the Netherlands. 

And with Wirtz likely to miss out, Alonso will look to Victor Boniface, who has already scored two match-winning Bundesliga goals this season, to step up despite Boniface experiencing a challenging international break with Nigeria in Libya.

Leverkusen carry no other fresh injury concerns heading into the weekend.

Eintracht Frankfurt

Among the top five Bundesliga teams, only Bayer Leverkusen have conceded more goals (12) than their third-placed opponents this weekend, Eintracht Frankfurt, who have let in nine. 

Dino Toppmöller's side has managed just one clean sheet in their six Bundesliga games, a 2-0 victory against Borussia Mönchengladbach in matchweek three. 

Frankfurt have since gone four consecutive matches in all competitions without keeping another, including 3-3 draws with Viktoria Plzen and Bayern München before the recent break.

Although the Europa League result felt like a missed opportunity after squandering a 3-1 lead, the 3-3 draw against Bayern seemed like a point saved, thanks to Omar Marmoush's stoppage-time equaliser to snatch victory from the hands of the league leaders.

Frankfurt have scored in every game since their 2-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund on opening day, and Toppmöller's men will aim to maintain that scoring streak on Saturday. Only Bayern München (20) and Leverkusen (16) have scored more goals than Frankfurt, who have 14. 

Team News

In terms of injury concerns, the visitors enter the clash with only one concern regarding Oscar Højlund, who is expected to be absent due to an ankle problem.