Bayern Munich did what they needed to do in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sevilla, drawing 0-0 at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.
But it was not the kind of performance that will worry their fellow semi finalists, and they certainly will need to improve if they are to lift a first European crown in five years. Sevilla’s Joaquin Correa was sent off late for an awful challenge on Javi Martinez.
Here are four talking points from workmanlike performance from the German giants.
It was a frustrating night for Robert Lewandowski – and it showed
From the off, Robert Lewandowski was on a mission. Kept quiet in the first leg and rested at the weekend, the 35-goal striker was clearly relishing stealing the show for Bayern. Yet, again, it just wasn’t his night; he was pulled from pillar to post by the Sevilla defence and rarely played in by those around him; understandably, he found it tough to hide his frustration.
It all started just two minutes in when, played in by Thomas Müller from the right, he bared down on goal, but had his feet taken from under him by Gabriel Mercado, who was promptly booked by Scottish referee Willie Collum. Steven N’Zonzi, the former Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City midfielder, was also shown yellow in the first half for standing on Lewandowski’s foot.
His sights of goal were few and far between, and he was struggling to connect with the minimal service from his teammates. A header that hit the side netting was the best he could muster, and he was certainly not afraid to voice his opinion to the likes of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. Most worryingly for Jupp Heynckes, he was substituted after feeling his achilles and replaced by Sandro Wagner.
Sevilla played with no fear and took the game to Bayern
On a night that saw Bayern’s first home game since securing a sixth-straight Bundesliga title at Augsburg last weekend, and Sevilla’s first since losing 4-0 at Celta Vigo, it would have been understandable for Vincenzo Montella’s side to play within themselves. Instead of being overwhelmed by what should have been an electric atmosphere in Bavaria, the visitors found their feet straight away and set about quietening the home crowd. Just as they did last week, and in the second leg of the last 16 tie at Manchester United Sevilla passed the ball around with confidence and created a few chances, taking advantage of Bayern’s decision not to press high; Correa and Pablo Sarabia were again linking up well and causing all sorts of problems.
Both sides showed their ability in defence, too. Rafinha, in at fullback for David Alaba, stopped Sarabia from grabbing a crucial away goal after some brilliant linkup with Correa and Wissam Ben Yedder, but Javi Martinez’s poor distribution almost cost the hosts. As the half went on, though, Bayern began to flex their muscles; Ribery forced David Soria into a good save, while Jesus Navas and Sergio Escudero, who also went close at the other end, put their bodies on the line. They went closest in the second half, too, with Correa’s header from Ever Banega’s free kick striking the crossbar.
Rafinha and Jesus Navas were the stars under the radar
Bayern’s starting lineup, containing the likes of Lewandowski, Ribery and James Rodriguez, may have struck fear into Sevilla hearts, but given the absence of Alaba, they may have looked at the wide areas as a way to get at the home side. Joshua Kimmich’s performance was typically brilliant all round, but Rafinha, Bayern’s 32-year-old Brazilian at left-back, deserved the headlines despite possibly being seen as a weak link. He repeated his first half heroics against Sarabia, from which it looked as though he may have seriously damaged his shoulder, after the break with another brilliant slide tackle. Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng played it safe for much of the evening, but their unfashionable teammate played out of his skin.
Unlucky to score an own goal in the first leg, Navas had a point to prove, and he definitely did that with a superb all round display. Throughout his career, the Spanish World Cup winner built his reputation as a winger with devastating pace; it took a long time for him to get a big move, in part because of his homesickness and love for Sevilla, but it never really worked out in the Premier League with Manchester City. This season, the 32-year-old has completely reinvented himself as a fullback and he definitely didn’t look out of place; his starring moment was the clearance from a Müller cross, but he didn’t put a foot wrong all evening.
Bayern’s experience trumped Sevilla’s lack of belief
As good as Sevilla were at times during the game, they didn’t go for the jugular at any point. It was easy to see Montella’s plan, stay in the game and pounce at the right moment just like at Old Trafford, but they couldn’t break through Bayern’s professional organisation.
Bayern must improve if they are to go much further in the competition this season, but given the drama involving the other sides in the quarter final mix, they will be happy to have gotten through with minimal fuss. Heynckes’ impact has been clear this season, and you cannot rule out more success before the end of the season.
