Heynckes wary of Fortuna´s aerial threat

Bayern Munich head coach Jupp Heynckes has claimed Fortuna Dusseldorf will be hard to handle in the air at Allianz Arena on Saturday.

While Fortuna sit 12th ahead of their visit to Munich, 35 points behind Bundesliga-leaders Bayern, Heynckes has talked up the Dusseldorf-based side’s ability to score from aerial crosses.

Fortuna have just one win from eight games against the top six in the Bundesliga this season but Heynckes remains wary, comparing Norbert Meier’s team to some of the physical Werder Bremen teams of the past.

“Maybe the older people might remember that Werder Bremen always used to have six or seven outstanding ‘headers of the ball’ and that helped them to win the league,” Heynckes said.

“This is the same in Dusseldorf.”

Fortuna have not defeated Bayern in Munich since 1991 and look unlikely to break that streak on Saturday as Heynckes’ team have only lost one game at the Allianz Arena this season.

If Bayern defeat Fortuna and second-placed Borussia Dortmund slip up in the Revierderby against Schalke, who sit in sixth position on the Bundesliga table, Heynckes’ side will open up a 20-point lead at the top of the standings.