Bayern Munich v Juventus – Preview: Bianconeri fight to keep in Italy in the competition

Date: 14th March 2016 at 5:00pm
Written by:

Sturaro Bayern Munich JuventusJuventus will travel to Germany to face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night in the second leg of their last 16 Champions League tie.

In the first leg the two sides played out a 2-2 draw in Turin and although the Germans went 2-0 up through Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller, the Bianconeri showed their ability to overturn a deficit with goals from Paulo Dybala and Stefano Sturaro.

In their domestic leagues, both teams registered wins on the weekend with Die Roten thrashing Werder Bremen 5-0 in the Bundesliga and the Bianconeri earning a 1-0 victory against Sassuolo.

After Roma were eliminated by Real Madrid, Juventus are now Italy’s remaining representatives in the Champions League and they need to win or obtain a high-scoring draw to advance to the quarter-finals.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side will be creating history if they win at the Allianz Arena. Juventus have not beaten Bayern since the 2005-06 Champions League campaign, when they won 2-1 in their Group A encounter in Turin while the Bianconeri last beat Die Roten in Germany back in November 2004, securing a 1-0 victory at the Olympiastadion, Bayern’s former home ground.

At this stage last season, Juventus knocked out German opposition when they played against Borussia Dortmund and the Italians reached the quarter-finals by winning 5-1 on aggregate, which included a 3-0 win for Juve in Dortmund.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola still, like in the first leg, has a weakened back line and he will be missing defenders Holger Badstuber, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez with injuries to their ankle, groin and knee respectively.

Martin Caceres will be missing for Juve with a long-term injury while Giorgio Chiellini is still a doubt with a muscular injury. Alex Sandro had missed the first leg with a muscle injury but he will be at Allegri’s disposal this time.

Form Guide: Bayern Munich (D-W-L-D-W) Juventus (D-W-L-W-W)

Expected Starting XIs

Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Kimmich, Benatia, Alaba; Alonso; Douglas Costa, Robben, Vidal, Ribery; Lewandowski

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Rugani; Cuadrado, Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba, Alex Sandro; Dybala, Morata

 

Comments are closed.