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( votes)Bayern Munich v Juventus Champions League Match Preview, Prediction & Head to Head
It looks set to be a dramatic night at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday as Bayern host Juventus in their last 16 second-leg tie. After a 2-2 draw in Turin both teams will still feel they can reach the quarter-finals.
BAYERN THROW TWO-GOAL LEAD AWAY IN TURIN TO SET UP NERVY SECOND-LEG
It was all going so well for Pep Guardiola’s Bayern team at the J Stadium three-weeks ago, when goals from Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben put the Bavarians into a commanding position in the tie. A frenetic last quarter however, saw the Italians draw level and whilst the five-time champions of Europe will remain favourites to progress to the last eight, they will write Juventus off at their peril. After two matches without a win, Guardiola’s side got back to winning ways domestically on Saturday, easily despatching Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena to put their title defence back on track. Now comes an all-together different test against last season’s finalists where the Bavarians will be looking to continue their devastating Champions League form at home, having scored 14 and only conceded one in the group phase.
JUVE BREAKING RECORDS AT HOME AS ATTENTIONS TURN TO MUNICH
Last Friday’s 1-0 win over Sassuolo was Juve’s 18th in their last 19 league outings and with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon not having been beaten for 10 matches domestically, a fifth straight title now seems imminent. The Champions League is a different matter however, and coach Massimo Allegri, whilst not becoming obsessed with going one better than runner-up last season, knows that this is the competition where his team’s strength will be truly assessed. History tells us that the Old Lady can upset the odds on Wednesday evening; having only failed to win one of their seven European ties where they have drawn the first-leg at home. In striker Mario Mandzukic, they also have a player desperate to put in a top level display on his old stamping ground. The best football betting sites quote odds of *3.40 for him to be an anytime scorer in 90 minutes.
TEAM NEWS
For Bayern, defender Holger Badstuber is out for the season with an ankle injury, with defensive partner Jerome Boateng also side-lined until April. Spanish midfielder Javi Martinez is back in training but will not figure on Wednesday. Mario Goetze scored on his return to the side on Saturday and is available for selection for the visit of the Italians.
For the visitors, midfielder Claudio Marchisio is out with a calf strain. Captain and defender Giorgio Chiellini will be given every opportunity by Allegri to start on Wednesday, after his recent injury lay-off. Midfielder Stefano Sturaro, who scored the late equaliser in Turin, is just one booking away from missing the first-leg of the quarter-final should his team make it.
THE SQUADS FOR THE ALLIANZ ARENA
Bayern Munich (from) Neuer, Starke, Ulreich, Rossi, Hundertmark, Rafinha, Bernat, Lahm, Alaba, Friedl, Scholl, Alcantara, Ribery, Costa, Xabi Alonso, Rode, Vidal, Coman, Dorsch, Kimmich, Weihrauch, Green, Benko, Lewandowski, Robben, Muller, Goetze, Steeven, Ribéry, Pantovic
Juventus (from) Buffon, Neto, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Rugani, Evra, Lichtsteiner, Khedira, Pogba, Hernanes, Asamoah, Sturaro, Pereyra, Zaza, Dybala, Mandzukic, Morata, Cuadrado
HEAD TO HEAD
The two teams have met nine times previously in this competition with Bayern holding the upper hand by four wins to three. Their last meeting prior to three-weeks ago, was in 2013 at the quarter-final stage, with the German side winning both legs 2-0 before going onto to lift the trophy. If punters fancy a 2-0 home win again on Wednesday, the betting exchanges are giving odds of *7.50. Juve’s record against German opposition reads **P50 W25 D10 L15, whilst Bayern’s overall summary against Italian sides reads** P40 W16 D9 L15.
*MATCH BETTING
Bayern Munich 1.44 Draw 4.20 Juventus 7.00
*odds courtesy of Paddy Power
By: Steve Mitchell
