Juventus look to rock Bayern’s boat

BERLIN: Bayern Munich take on Juventus on Wednesday in the Champions League last 16 return-leg clash eager to cut out mistakes and prevent a repeat of the Italians’ first-leg fight back.

Bayern host the Italian champions at the Allianz Arena looking to seal their fifth consecutive quarter- final appearance in the Champions League. The Germans were steaming towards the last eight when Thomas Mueller and Arjen Robben put them 2- 0 up in Turin before Juventus pounced on mistakes in Munich’s ranks with goals by Paulo Dybala and Stefano Sturaro. “We played well for the first 60 minutes, went 2-0 up and suddenly it was 2-2,” said Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski. “We have to be careful, because Juventus can defend well and wait for their chances.”

Juventus are unbeaten in their last 19 games, but suffered a set back on Monday when key players Claudio Marchisio and Dybala were ruled out with calf injuries. France winger Franck Ribery says the Italians are more than capable of pulling off an upset in Munich. “They defend very well and they don’t give you much room to play,” said Ribery.

Guardiola is set to field Joshua Kimmich and Medhi Benatia at centre- back, but he has the luxury problem of which stars to leave out with Germany’s World Cup winner Mario Goetze now back from a groin injury. Lewandowski (34) and Thomas Mueller (27) have scored 61 goals between them this season in all competition and they contributed three goals in Saturday’s 5-0 drubbing of Werder Bremen in Germany’s top flight.

Juventus’ last Champions League win in Munich was back in 2004, but history favours the Italians. Their record in twolegged ties against German sides is 13 wins and just three defeats, while Bayern have won four and lost six times to Italian opposition. Guardiola is under pressure to deliver silverware in his third and final season in Munich before taking over at Manchester City.

The Spanish super coach has won five titles in Munich, but is eager to sign off with the Champions League trophy which has so far eluded him after exiting the semi- finals for the last two seasons running with Bayern. “I know what’ll happen if we don’t win the Champions League,” said the Spaniard.