Juventus Club Focus: Just how can Bayern Munich be stopped?

Date: 16th December 2015 at 9:00am
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It’s fair to say that once Juventus gained qualification to the next round of the Champions League, it was obvious no easy ties would be next.

The Bianconeri ending in second place in their group only made matters worse, with the other top seven European clubs in the pot to face the Italians.

Following the draw on Monday, the only situation that would have been more of a nightmare would be a clash with current champions Barcelona.

Instead, Massimiliano Allegri faces Bayern Munich on February 23 and March 16.

bayern munich

The Serie A champions appear to have an impossible task at first glance, and there is good reason for that worry.

The likes of Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller are a threatening presence in attack.

Arjen Robben, Xabi Alonso, Arturo Vidal and Mario Gotze all possess midfield, with Robben and Gotze also having strong attacking ability.

The captain of the German national team and backbone of Bayern Munich in Philipp Lahm patrols defence along with Jerome Boateng and David Alaba, while the best goalkeeper in the world in Manuel Neuer is in between the sticks.

On paper, there is no route through for the Old Lady to find and advance to the quarter-finals.

The middle of the park is probably the area most difficult to dominate, with so many world class players wearing a shirt for Die Roten.

Vidal Bayern

Even if Paul Pogba was to be on world class form, a one-man team won’t beat the sophisticated community of the German powerhouse.

Therefore, Allegri must look elsewhere to crack them.

Lewandowski must be stopped, otherwise the defence have little chance of stopping several goals flying past them.

Giorgio Chiellini’s determination and passionate attitude could potentially contain him, with Leonardo Bonucci holding back should he escape.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has to play to the best of his ability and use his experience to guide them through, while the attack has to work well up front, too.

Juventus Barcelona Buffon goal

One thing that could work in favour for the Italians is the date of the fixture.

The first-leg takes place in February at the Juventus Stadium, but before that there is a month of players of switching teams.

The January transfer market could either work in favour of Allegri or against him, but a certainty is that he must not lose his attack.

Mario Mandzukic has recently been on sparkling form, Paulo Dybala is always just inches from scoring and Alvaro Morata proved himself to be capable in Europe last season and can do the same this term.

An interesting factor to look out for come March, should the teams have little change in January, will be the returns of Kingsley Coman and Arturo Vidal to Turin.

Especially in the case of the Chilean international, as he has been placed with a third of the blame by critics for the club’s dip in form this year, along with the departures of Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez.

The game could be a way to show the difference between the Old Lady of last season and this season.

 

2 responses to “Juventus Club Focus: Just how can Bayern Munich be stopped?”

  1. FERBAN says:

    Bayern are not unbeatable but they are damn close, unfortunately.
    After Barcelona this was the worst tie for Juve. Such a shame they lost to Sevilla, which has put them in this spot.

    However, they would have to play them eventually to win it so maybe they can catch Bayern out, who knows?

    And the likes of Morata are going to have to take their chances a lot better than they have been this season to have any chance.

  2. Mikkel says:

    GET OSCAR OR ISCO FOR WHATEVER IT TAKES.