Champions League semi-finals: Bayern scouting
Friday, April 20, 2018
Article summary
Can Jupp Heynckes' final coaching mission end in triumph in Kyiv?
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How they got here
P10 W8 D1 L1 F23 A8
Group B runners-up: W3-0 v Anderlecht (h), L3-0 v Paris (a), W3-0 v Celtic (h), W1-2 v Celtic (a), W1-2 v Anderlecht (a), W3-1 v Paris (h)
Round of 16: W8-1 v Beşiktaş – W5-0 (h), W1-3 (a)
Quarter-finals: W2-1 v Sevilla – W1-2 (a), D0-0 (h)
Possible starting XI
Ulreich; Kimmich, Hummels, Boateng, Alaba; Martínez, Thiago; Robben, Müller, Ribéry; Lewandowski
Style of play
With Javi Martínez acting as pivot between defence and midfield, and full-backs David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich pushing forward, Bayern overwhelm opponents. Robert Lewandowski is the target man, yet Bayern have goalscorers all over in Thomas Müller, James Rodríguez, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribéry and Thiago Alcántara.
Top Fantasy point scorers
Forward: Robert Lewandowski (44 points)
Midfielder: Joshua Kimmich (38 points)
Goalkeeper: Sven Ulreich (38 points)
The coach
Jupp Heynckes: The 72-year-old has reached the final in all three of his previous #UCL campaigns, winning twice (Real Madrid in 1998, Bayern in 2013) and losing once (Bayern in 2012). Lured out of retirement in October for one last season, he has won the league already and could yet sign off with a treble following the Kyiv final.
Why might they win it?
Bayern's squad bristles with world-class talent and they have a coach who knows how to succeed in knockout football. Having wrapped up the Bundesliga and booked their spot in the German Cup final, treble fever is rife in Munich. Positive momentum could take them all the way.
Room for improvement?
Bayern have been prone to defensive lapses of late, keeping clean sheets in just two of their last ten fixtures in all competitions. In a #UCL semi-final against Madrid, away goals could be crucial, so Heynckes' men will have to be on red alert to avoid conceding unnecessarily.
What you didn't know already
Heynckes can become the oldest coach to lift the European Cup, and – should he play in both semis – Müller could make his 100th #UCL appearance for the club in the final. Only two other Bayern men have got to three figures in Europe's top competition: Philipp Lahm (105) and Oliver Kahn (103).