Bayern vs Sevilla – Wednesday, April 11, 19:45BST/20:45CEST – Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany With Bayern having wrapped up their sixth Bundesli
Bayern vs Sevilla – Wednesday, April 11, 19:45BST/20:45CEST – Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
Bayern vs Sevilla will take place at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Wednesday (Photo by Lennart Preiss/Bongarts/Getty Images)
With Bayern having wrapped up their sixth Bundesliga title in a row, and their 28th German championship overall, the Bavarians are now going to shift their focus to the UEFA Champions League and another treble. The first step to their sixth Champions League title will be the return leg against Sevilla on Wednesday.
Carrying a 2-1 lead from the away leg Bayern will now be firm favourites to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League where it is likely that Real Madrid, Barcelona or Liverpool will be awaiting the Rekordmeister. At the same time, Bayern should not underestimate Sevilla again.
The Spaniards took the game to Bayern in the first half of the match and should have perhaps won the match based on chances alone. But up-front Sevilla lacked consequence and, in the back, where unlucky with an own goal equalising the lead as well as a defensive lapse giving away Bayern’s winning goal.
Without consequence, up-front and defensive lapses in the back sums up Sevilla’s season overall. This weekend against Celta Vigo Sevilla lost 4-0 dropping to seventh place in the league. With that performance in mind, it is hard to see Sevilla withstanding the onslaught that is going to expect them away at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern vs Sevilla – Players to look out for:
Frank Ribéry #7 – Bayern München
Frank Ribéry and Arjen Robben were singled out by Jupp Heynckes following Bayern’s German championship victory. Heynckes pointed out that both had been at the club for over ten years and identify themselves with the club. Ribéry has also been a key player in recent weeks. Despite showing signs of slowing down the Frenchman brings an element of surprise to the side, which was in particular evident two weeks ago against Dortmund where Ribéry scored a goal and gave an assist and was one of the best players on the pitch.
Frank Ribéry was the man of the match in the first leg. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Luis Muriel #20 – Sevilla
Leaving out Luis Muriel in the first leg was in retrospect seen as a mistake. The Colombian holds the ball better then Wissem Ben Yedder but Montella was swayed by public opinion that saw Ben Yedder as the better solution due to his goal scoring heroics against Manchester United. Without Muriel, however, Sevilla lacked a proper outlet up front who could hold the ball and distribute it to the fast wingers that Sevilla have in the squad. Now in the return leg Montella is unlikely to make the same mistake twice and Muriel is expected to start ahead of Ben Yedder.
Leaving out Luis Muriel in the first leg may have been a tactical mistake. (CURTO DE LA TORRE/AFP/Getty Images)
Bayern vs Sevilla – Match Stats
- Sevilla’s only previous European Cup quarter-final came in their debut European season, 1957/58, when they lost 10-2 on aggregate to Real Madrid (0-8 away, 2-2 home).
- Bayern are in the quarter-finals for a club-record seventh successive season. Before losing to Real Madrid 12 months ago, they had won six last-eight ties in a row.
- Bayern are appearing in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the 17th time, more than any other club. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are next in line on 16 apiece.
- Bayern have lost one of the 24 UEFA ties in which they won the away first leg, going out to Inter Milan in the 2010/11 Champions League round of 16 (1-0 away, 2-3 home).
- Sevilla have a strong record in Germany with five wins from nine visits (three defeats one draw)
Futbolgrad Network Prediction: Bayern vs Sevilla – 2-0
Bayern vs Sevilla – Lineups
Bayern München:
Formation: 4-3-3
Ulreich – Kimmich, Boateng, Hummels, Rafinha – Thiago, Javi Martínez, Müller – Robben, Lewandowski, Ribéry
Head Coach: Jupp Heynckes
Sevilla:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Soria – Escudero, Lenglet, Daniel Carrico, Jesus Navas – N’Zonzi, Banega – Correa, Vázquez, Sarabia – Muriel
Head Coach: Vincenzo Montella
Manuel Veth is the owner and Editor in Chief of the Futbolgrad Network. He also works as a freelance journalist and among others works for the Bundesliga and Pro Soccer USA. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in History from King’s College London, and his thesis is titled: “Selling the People’s Game: Football’s transition from Communism to Capitalism in the Soviet Union and its Successor States,” which is available HERE. Originally from Munich, Manuel has lived in Amsterdam, Kyiv, Moscow, Tbilisi, London, and currently is located in Victoria BC, Canada. Follow Manuel on Twitter @ManuelVeth. Or contact him via email: manuelveth@futbolgrad.com.
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