Bayern keep treble dream alive
MUNICH: Jupp Heynckes expressed his delight at Bayern Munich’s ability to keep their composure despite a frustrating 0-0 draw against 10-man Sevilla as they qualified for the Champions League semi-finals.
Bayern progressed to the last four on Wednesday for the seventh time in nine seasons, prevailing 2-1 on aggregate following their first-leg victory in Spain last week.
Franck Ribery had Bayern’s best chance in the Munich home leg, but he fired at Sevilla goalkeeper David Soria in the first half at the Allianz Arena.
Sevilla’s Joaquin Correa hit the Bayern crossbar with a header on the hour mark before being sent off just before the final whistle for a foul on Javi Martinez.
Heynckes was pleased his side ground out the result despite their inability to breach a determined Sevilla defence.
“You can’t always play brilliantly and put the opponent to the wall, sometimes you have to just keep them scoreless,” Heynckes said.
Heynckes praised the discipline exhibited by his players.
Top scorer Robert Lewandowski, in addition to Ribery, Jerome Boateng and Joshua Kimmich, had been a yellow card away from suspension but the quartet emerged unscathed.
After Barcelona and Manchester City — the runaway leaders in Spain and England respectively — crashed out on Tuesday, Bayern are the only team left in Europe who can still win the treble.
They wrapped up a sixth straight Bundesliga title last Saturday and are into the semi-finals of the German Cup.
Liverpool, defending champions Real Madrid and Roma, who knocked out Barcelona, are also in Friday’s draw for the semi-finals, but Heynckes has no preference.