Jupp Heynckes has chance to burnish his impressive Bayern Munich legacy

Aditya Devavrat 22:02 02/04/2018
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  • Jupp Heynckes was the last manager to win the Champions League with Bayern.

    Bayern Munich would have considered themselves lucky when the draw for the Champions League quarterfinals came out, having avoided all of the big guns.

    But Sevilla‘s victory over Manchester United in the previous round served notice that they are not to be trifled with, and they will head into this tie in confident mood despite the calibre of their opposition. Vincenzo Montella’s side have an intense, physical style that could catch Bayern out.

    Jupp Heynckes will have his hands full to make sure that doesn’t happen as he looks to reverse the Bundesliga leaders’ recent fortunes in Europe. Given their imperious domestic form, Bayern will enter Tuesday’s first leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan with a certain swagger.

    Here are three talking points ahead of the fixture.

    ARE BAYERN AT SAME LEVEL AS MADRID, BARCA?

    Every season Bayern begin as one of the favourites for the Champions League title, but since their 2013 triumph a pattern has emerged. They get into latter stages before coming up against a Spanish side, who dump them out. Admittedly putting Sevilla at the same level as the Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid sides which have accounted for Bayern in the last four seasons is a stretch, but it’s not hard to see the parallels.

    The difference this season is in the dugout. Heynckes was the last man to take Bayern past the quarters and semis, in that 2013 winning campaign. Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti failed to get the Bundesliga side over the hump in subsequent seasons, so it’s up to Heynckes to come back and show everyone how it’s done.

    Yet the task in front of him is far from easy. Sevilla may be sixth in La Liga but they will be a tough out. Their home ground is a fortress, and they showed in the previous round against United that they can get crucial away results.

    Bayern Munich have a chance to lay down a marker against Sevilla.

    Bayern Munich have a chance to lay down a marker against Sevilla.

    DO SEVILLA HAVE ANOTHER SURPRISE IN THEM?

    Speaking of that result at Old Trafford. As a standalone result it would be a fitting crowning glory for Sevilla’s season, but it would be even better if the 2-1 win were a mere stepping stone.

    Sevilla have endured an up-and-down season, stumbling to sixth in La Liga and out of the running for a top four finish. They’ve made a run to the Copa del Rey final but on the domestic front the campaign has largely been a disappointment. Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Barcelona was a microcosm of their season in many ways, as they played well enough to earn their 2-0 lead but didn’t have the resolve to hold onto it.

    But in the Champions League, Sevilla have been a different side. The 2-1 win over Manchester United came after they famously fought back from 3-0 down against Liverpool to earn a draw in the group stages, having twice come from behind in a 2-2 draw against the same side in the reverse fixture.

    They play with typical intensity, and that ferocity can still take fancied opponents like Bayern by surprise – even after the results they’ve pulled off in this campaign.

    Sevilla have it in them to pull off another shock result.

    Sevilla have it in them to pull off another shock result.

    HEYNCKES LEAVING WITH HEAD HELD HIGH AGAIN

    It’s safe to wonder what Bayern could have achieved in the last four seasons if they hadn’t been so keen to usher Heynckes out the door in order to land Guardiola. The German made sure to leave a legacy that would be unmatchable, winning the Treble in the last season of his previous spell and setting a mark that Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti could not possibly top.

    Instead, while four more league titles have followed, there has been an overall sense of disappointment because of their European misadventures. It was fitting that Bayern turned to their former hero immediately after suffering their worst defeat in the Champions League group stages in 21 years.

    Since then, Bayern have returned to the all-conquering machine they’ve been since the start of what was meant to be Heynckes’ farewell season.

    The 72-year-old will leave at the end of the season again, with another Treble a distinct possibility. If he manages to pull that off, it would top the 2012-13 season, given the strength of the competition this year in Europe. But even if he doesn’t, he will yet again leave with his head held high.

    Heynckes' rescue job with Bayern this year has only burnished his legacy.

    Heynckes’ rescue job with Bayern this year has only burnished his legacy.

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