It is a round-of-16 match that deserves to be the final: Today, Bayern München are expecting to face a large hurdle on their journey to their much longed-for treble. In the first knock-out round, the first leg will take place in Turin. Khedira and his teammates will play host to Neuer and co. in the ninth meeting between these two European heavyweights, which will also see Germany internationals and World Champions go head to head in the Champions League.
The man who lifted the World Cup trophy, Philipp Lahm, is expecting “one of the most difficult matches” when he faces last year’s losing finalists because “Juve possess great quality”. Bayern’s leader will celebrate a special milestone in Turin as he makes his 100th Champions League appearance. Two of those in particular hold great memories for him: the two 2-0 wins in the quarter finals against Juventus in 2013 – the season they lifted the trophy.
Now 32, Lahm admits that there were “several difficult games” that campaign, but the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, which Bayern won 2-1 at Wembley, was “extremely difficult”. Lahm recalls that the pressure was enormous. This time against Juventus, the expectations are marginally lower. “We have big targets and want to be as successful as possible to give the coach the best send-off we can,” said Lahm in reference to coach Pep Guardiola’s upcoming departure to Manchester City.
Guardiola: "Many forget that Juve are also a good side"
Italy’s record champions, with Sami Khedira amongst their ranks, have been in imperious form in recent months – last weekend’s 0-0 at Bologna was their first dropped points following 15 consecutive league wins. The side from Turin rested some key players such as Khedira in that game ahead of the Champions League tie with Bayern. “This would normally be a semi-final tie, or even the final,” said Pep Guardiola. “Some people think: We are Bayern, we are so good. But they forget that Juve are also a good side. It will be a very, very difficult tie, and they will be two amazing games.”
Bayern’s biggest concern is the injuries to their defensive players. In the absence of Germany internationals Jerome Boateng and Holger Badstuber, as well as Javi Martinez, they will have to deploy more vertically-challenged players at centre back, such as Philipp Lahm (1.70m) and Juan Bernat (1.70m), or more likely David Alaba (1.80m) and Joshua Kimmich (1.76m).
High balls to Juve’s strikers Alvaro Morata or former Bayern man Mario Mandzukic should be prevented at all costs where possible. “What should we do?” asked Guardiola rhetorically, before answering himself, “we have to attack intelligently and prevent counters and set pieces from Juve. They are perhaps the best team in Europe with dead balls.”
Bayern rely on their goal machines Müller and Lewandowski
Bayern’s most important aim is to keep Juventus as far away from their own goal as possible and to play the game in the Italians’ half so they can play to their own strengths: their attack. World Champion Thomas Müller and strike partner Robert Lewandowski have been in great form in recent weeks and have both scored three goals in their last two outings, bringing their tallies for the season to 17 and 22 league goals respectively. “It would be nice if they could score again,” said chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. But “good service to them” will be what decides the result.
In attack, Guardiola once again has an embarrassment of riches. As well as Douglas Costa, Arjen Robben and Kingsley Coman, who joined from Juventus in the summer, Frank Ribery and World Champion Mario Götze are again fit and ready to play. Ribery made his comeback in the 3-1 win over Darmstadt at the weekend, and Götze was back in the squad for the first time since his long injury layoff. “We have to be tricky to play against,” declared Müller, who described the opposition as “very clever and very strong”.
Robben: "We are used to hell"
Juventus are also strong going forward. Paulo Dybala is seen as the rising star of the campaign over in Italy, and the 22-year-old Argentine has already been involved in 21 goals this season for the Old Lady – 13 goals for himself, as well as eight assists. Either Alvaro Morata or Mario Mandzukic will be the recipient of passes from Dybala and superstar Paul Pogba. Following a long injury layoff, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says that the Croatian is “in a good condition”. Like Khedira, Mandzukic has “trained well and will feature in the match”.
In the last meeting between Germany and Italy’s respective record champions in the 2012/13 Champions League, Mandzukic wore Bayern colours and was outstanding as his goal and assist helped the German side into the semi-finals with 2-0 wins both home and away. Since the Bayern last visited Turin, Juventus have gone 16 European home games without losing.
Allegri believes his side are now better than in 2013: “Bayern are one of the favourites to win this trophy, but we are ready to put in a top performance. We have a good chance to progress.” Spaniard Morata has warned Bayern to prepare for “hell” in front of their 41,000 fans at the Juventus Stadium. That prompted Dutchman Arjen Robben to reply, “We are used to hell”. Things are clear for Bayern: Turin is just one stop on their journey to the final in Milan’s San Siro on 28th May.
[mmc/clm]
It is a round-of-16 match that deserves to be the final: Today, Bayern München are expecting to face a large hurdle on their journey to their much longed-for treble. In the first knock-out round, the first leg will take place in Turin. Khedira and his teammates will play host to Neuer and co. in the ninth meeting between these two European heavyweights, which will also see Germany internationals and World Champions go head to head in the Champions League.
The man who lifted the World Cup trophy, Philipp Lahm, is expecting “one of the most difficult matches” when he faces last year’s losing finalists because “Juve possess great quality”. Bayern’s leader will celebrate a special milestone in Turin as he makes his 100th Champions League appearance. Two of those in particular hold great memories for him: the two 2-0 wins in the quarter finals against Juventus in 2013 – the season they lifted the trophy.
Now 32, Lahm admits that there were “several difficult games” that campaign, but the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, which Bayern won 2-1 at Wembley, was “extremely difficult”. Lahm recalls that the pressure was enormous. This time against Juventus, the expectations are marginally lower. “We have big targets and want to be as successful as possible to give the coach the best send-off we can,” said Lahm in reference to coach Pep Guardiola’s upcoming departure to Manchester City.
Guardiola: "Many forget that Juve are also a good side"
Italy’s record champions, with Sami Khedira amongst their ranks, have been in imperious form in recent months – last weekend’s 0-0 at Bologna was their first dropped points following 15 consecutive league wins. The side from Turin rested some key players such as Khedira in that game ahead of the Champions League tie with Bayern. “This would normally be a semi-final tie, or even the final,” said Pep Guardiola. “Some people think: We are Bayern, we are so good. But they forget that Juve are also a good side. It will be a very, very difficult tie, and they will be two amazing games.”
Bayern’s biggest concern is the injuries to their defensive players. In the absence of Germany internationals Jerome Boateng and Holger Badstuber, as well as Javi Martinez, they will have to deploy more vertically-challenged players at centre back, such as Philipp Lahm (1.70m) and Juan Bernat (1.70m), or more likely David Alaba (1.80m) and Joshua Kimmich (1.76m).
High balls to Juve’s strikers Alvaro Morata or former Bayern man Mario Mandzukic should be prevented at all costs where possible. “What should we do?” asked Guardiola rhetorically, before answering himself, “we have to attack intelligently and prevent counters and set pieces from Juve. They are perhaps the best team in Europe with dead balls.”
Bayern rely on their goal machines Müller and Lewandowski
Bayern’s most important aim is to keep Juventus as far away from their own goal as possible and to play the game in the Italians’ half so they can play to their own strengths: their attack. World Champion Thomas Müller and strike partner Robert Lewandowski have been in great form in recent weeks and have both scored three goals in their last two outings, bringing their tallies for the season to 17 and 22 league goals respectively. “It would be nice if they could score again,” said chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. But “good service to them” will be what decides the result.
In attack, Guardiola once again has an embarrassment of riches. As well as Douglas Costa, Arjen Robben and Kingsley Coman, who joined from Juventus in the summer, Frank Ribery and World Champion Mario Götze are again fit and ready to play. Ribery made his comeback in the 3-1 win over Darmstadt at the weekend, and Götze was back in the squad for the first time since his long injury layoff. “We have to be tricky to play against,” declared Müller, who described the opposition as “very clever and very strong”.
Robben: "We are used to hell"
Juventus are also strong going forward. Paulo Dybala is seen as the rising star of the campaign over in Italy, and the 22-year-old Argentine has already been involved in 21 goals this season for the Old Lady – 13 goals for himself, as well as eight assists. Either Alvaro Morata or Mario Mandzukic will be the recipient of passes from Dybala and superstar Paul Pogba. Following a long injury layoff, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says that the Croatian is “in a good condition”. Like Khedira, Mandzukic has “trained well and will feature in the match”.
In the last meeting between Germany and Italy’s respective record champions in the 2012/13 Champions League, Mandzukic wore Bayern colours and was outstanding as his goal and assist helped the German side into the semi-finals with 2-0 wins both home and away. Since the Bayern last visited Turin, Juventus have gone 16 European home games without losing.
Allegri believes his side are now better than in 2013: “Bayern are one of the favourites to win this trophy, but we are ready to put in a top performance. We have a good chance to progress.” Spaniard Morata has warned Bayern to prepare for “hell” in front of their 41,000 fans at the Juventus Stadium. That prompted Dutchman Arjen Robben to reply, “We are used to hell”. Things are clear for Bayern: Turin is just one stop on their journey to the final in Milan’s San Siro on 28th May.
