Bayern Munich host Borussia Dortmund in DFB Cup action Wednesday. Here are four key players to keep your eye on in the high-profile clash.
Sven Ulreich
One of the biggest surprises of Bayern Munich’s season thus far has been the heroics of Sven Ulreich. The German goalkeeper has done an incredible job of replacing Manuel Neuer between the sticks.
After a few shaky performances, it seemed Ulreich was nowhere near an adequate replacement for Bayern’s sweeper-keeper. His demeanor was nervous at best; the pressure of filling in for the world’s best goalkeeper had clearly taken effect.
However, those performances are firmly behind Bayern Munich. The man who once made Bayern fans cringe anytime a shot was sent his way has become one of the Bundesliga’s most clutch goalkeepers.
He won Bayern Munich’s player of the month in November, then went on to prove the hero for his team this past weekend against Stuttgart. His penalty save in the final moments of the match ensured his team secured three points they nearly squandered.
Ulreich’s performance against Borussia Dortmund’s attack force on Wednesday could be the difference between a win and a loss. Fortunately, history is on his side.
The last time these two sides met, Ulreich gave an admirable performance, denying Andriy Yarmolenko and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on multiple occassions.
Similarly, Sven Ulreich was the hero in the SuperCup clash between the two sides at the beginning of the ’17-18 campaign. He made two huge penalty shoot-out saves to help secure his team’s first trophy of the season.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubtful for tomorrow’s clash and several others out with injury, Sven Ulreich should be supremely confident in winning the battle against Borussia Dortmund’s attack.