Juventus Season 2015-2016

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

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Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Why Attack Will Be the Best Tactic
for Bayern Munich vs. Juventus

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2624089-why-attack-will-be-the-best-tactic-for-bayern-munich-vs-juventus?

Mar 14, 2016

Bayern Munich head into the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie with Juventus on Wednesday with a big advantage.

Although they may have been disappointed to have blown a 2-0 lead in Turin in the first leg, the fact they scored two away goals in a 2-2 draw leaves them in the better position as the home leg approaches.

In order to advance, Bayern will not need to win: A scoreless or 1-1 draw will suffice. Only in the event of a rather high-scoring 2-2 draw will their progress be put in doubt by extra time, while only an extremely rare home defeat or similarly uncommon draw in which they concede three or more goals will be enough to automatically eliminate Pep Guardiola and company.

From the point of kick-off, the clock will begin to tick down until Bayern advance; the impetus will be on Juve to change that.

Many teams would see that the 2-2 draw in Turin is enough and simply sit back and defend the lead. But as tempting as it might be, this Bayern team aren't quite equipped to drop back and defend outside their penalty box; with Joshua Kimmich, Philipp Lahm and Juan Bernat all 1.76 meters tall or less, their back line is far too short.

This does not mean Bayern cannot defend, but they may approach the game differently from their usual, aggressive style.

We caught a bit of a preview of the Juve game just over a week ago when Bayern visited Borussia Dortmund. Holding a five-point lead in the table and knowing that only a defeat would give the hosts any chance of winning the Bundesliga, Guardiola had his team play a more balanced game than usual.

He typically fields an extremely aggressive lineup and approaches every game like he is desperate to win, but in that away match, he decided to pull back just a bit.

Bayern played a kind of containment game, somewhat reminiscent of Jupp Heynckes' treble-winning side. Their attack was extremely dangerous, yet it was built upon the foundation of a strong and well-organized defense.

Kimmich and David Alaba's susceptibility to crosses was not exploited primarily because Dortmund hardly had chances to cross the ball. Bayern were patient and held possession when they needed to but always showed just enough venom in moving the ball up the pitch to stop BVB from throwing players forward.

In that match, Bayern's defense held firm, and the Bundesliga leaders secured a scoreless draw. But despite only needing the score they were given at kick-off, they attacked. And the threat they posed terrified their opponents, who were ultimately fortunate not to have conceded: On balance, Bayern had earned the better chances to score.

Facing off against Juve on Wednesday, Bayern would be wise to adopt a similar approach. They should attack, if not all-out. A containment game in which they hold the ball and control the tempo with good positional play is the best way.

And when Juve let their guard down or become frustrated from failed attacks, Bayern can show their attacking might.

Conceding first could change everything from Bayern's perspective, which is another reason why thinking to attack might be wiser than not. Sitting deep will give Juve chances to use their enormous height advantage, and conceding first to a team as defensively strong as the Italian giants would force Bayern to open themselves and become very vulnerable on the counterattack.

Better instead to play for the midfield territory and, on occasion, attack to scare the visitors off. With Bayern's wide range of supremely talented attacking threats, they are bound to get a goal sooner or later, and only one could well kill off the tie.

For Bayern, the best defense against Juve will be a good offense.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Setting out a Plan for Juventus to Shut Down
Bayern Munich's Douglas Costa

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2624112-setting-out-a-plan-for-juventus-to-shut-down-bayern-munichs-douglas-costa?

Mar 14, 2016

There is little doubt how impressive Juventus have been domestically, winning 18 of their last 19 Serie A fixtures and reclaiming top spot in the league table, while simultaneously earning a place in the Coppa Italia final for the second consecutive season.

Just as it did last term, their strong form has also carried over into the Champions League, registering home and away victories over Manchester City in the group stage before recording a credible 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich.

OptaPaolo ✔ ‎@OptaPaolo
10 - Juventus have conceded no goal in their last 10 league’s games, a record in the Serie A history. Wall.

That first leg of their knockout tie showed both how superb this version of the Bianconeri can be, while also highlighting a few of their weaknesses—particularly as the Bavarian giants carved them open repeatedly during the opening 45 minutes.

Key to that was the performance of Douglas Costa, the winger showing just why the German club paid €21 million to sign him from Shakhtar Donestsk, per BBC Sport. Largely operating on the left flank, his constant probing of the Juventus defence eventually opened up the space elsewhere that led to Bayern’s two goals.

As the graphic in the tweet below highlights, the Brazilian took one shot, completed 30 of his 37 pass attempts (81 percent) and created one clear scoring opportunity in an eye-catching 83-minute performance.

Adam Digby ‎@Adz77
Douglas Costa vs Juventus: 1 shot, 30/37 passes (81%), 1 key pass, 2/7 take-ons completed (via @StatsZone)

However, as can be seen from the fact he completed just two of his seven take-on attempts, opposition head coach Massimiliano Allegri was well aware of the threat posed by Costa and took measures to nullify his impact.

Countering it with a trio of markers, it is perhaps here where some adjustments could help the Bianconeri in the second leg at the Allianz Arena. In Turin, right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner and winger Juan Cuadrado often doubled up on the 25-year-old, with Sami Khedira providing extra cover from his role on the right of midfield.

Yet when the Germany international was replaced by Stefano Sturaro in the 68th minute, there was little doubt that Juventus looked much more solid, while the substitute also snatched the vital equalising goal.

The 23-year-old's ability without the ball and limitless energy brought an extra dimension to the Juventus effort, something that Allegri would do well to consider before naming his starting XI on Wednesday.

Sturaro has already proved to be a valuable member of the squad and is now arguably the club’s fourth-choice midfielder behind Khedira, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba, averaging an impressive 2.1 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game in his 21 appearances this season, according to WhoScored.com.

His inclusion during the second leg would mirror the bold choice Allegri made last term, starting Sturaro in the semi-final against Real Madrid. In Germany, the coach will need even greater balance, however, and sacrificing a striker to bring in Alex Sandro may well be key to that aim.

A four-man defence of Lichtsteiner, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Patrice Evra would provide a stable base, with Cuadrado and Sandro adding cover as well as attacking intent ahead of them.

That point combined with the inclusion of Sturaro—would surely help Juventus overcome Pep Guardiola’s men, with Allegri seemingly well aware of what is required.

“Bayern’s strength is the way in which they control the ball,” the coach said at a recent press conference. “We need to stand firm in these moments and defend doggedly, while obviously hurting them when we’ve opportunities to exploit their weaknesses.”

Stopping Costa will be integral to that, while starting their own threats on the wing would help when Juventus win possession—all essential ingredients if they are to beat the Bundesliga champions.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Eriksson for Bayern-Juventus

http://www.football-italia.net/81296/eriksson-bayern-juventus?

Mar 14, 2016

Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson will be in charge of Juventus’ trip to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

The tie is poised at 2-2 after the first leg in Turin, with the Bianconeri coming back from two goals down to level things on the night.

However, the advantage lies with the Bavarian side, as their two away goals mean they’d progress with a goalless draw or 1-1, with the Italian champions needing a win or a high-scoring draw to advance.

Eriksson has taken charge of Juve already this season, overseeing a 2-0 win for Max Allegri’s side against Sevilla in the group stages.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Muller: ‘Juventus will defend’

http://www.football-italia.net/81298/muller-%E2%80%98juventus-will-defend%E2%80%99?

Mar 14, 2016

Bayern Munich forward Thomas Müller expects Juventus to “play defensively” on Wednesday night.

The Bianconeri travel to Germany for the second leg of their Champions League Last 16 tie, following a 2-2 draw in Turin.

“I'm sure they'll play defensively again,” Müller told Bayern’s official website.

“We aim to play well and be dominant from the beginning with the support of our fans and make use of our chances early on.

“I'm confident, but we've been warned as Juve scored twice despite having very few chances in the first leg.

“They have great quality in their team. We have to watch out. It's going to be a lively battle, which is just what you want in the Champions League.

“It's quite a heavyweight encounter for a last sixteen tie, but that's the way it is. It's going to be exciting.”

A goalless draw would see Pep Guardiola’s side progress, might they focus on not conceding?

“No, we’re not a 0-0 team. But if it's the final result we'll gladly accept it.”

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

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Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Alex Sandro: ‘At Bayern to win’

http://www.football-italia.net/81304/alex-sandro-%E2%80%98-bayern-win%E2%80%99?

Mar 14, 2016

Juventus full-back Alex Sandro looks ahead to Bayern Munich - “we’ll go there to win”.

The Champions League Last 16 tie is finely poised at 2-2 after the first leg in Turin, with the second clash at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

“We’re excited, and we’ll be even more determined than in the first leg,” Alex Sandro told Globoesporte in his native Brazil.

“We’ll go there to win and prove ourselves, because we have experienced players, internationals, and a winning mentality.

The former Porto man also discussed life with the Bianconeri, having joined from Porto in the summer.

“Juventus are a great club, and I’m delighted that they believed in me. I also like living in Turin, where I’ve been welcomed with open arms.

“What immediately struck me was the winning mentality. It’s like you get a chip put in your head when you come here, you know right away that you have to win.

“There’s great communication at Juve and a close-knit environment. From my teammates to the Coach and his staff, everyone has helped me blend in quickly.

“There’s a lot of talk and constant dialogue, which is essential to grow. We’re a different team today than we were six months ago, we know each other better on and off the pitch.

“I feel like I’m growing every day, not just as player, but as a man.”

Finally, the Brazilian discussed two of his young teammates, Paulo Dybala and Paul Pogba.

“Dybala and Pogba are two champions,” Sandro said.

“They’d fit into any team in the world and they can definitely compete for the Ballon d’Or.

“I’m always rooting for [compatriot] Neymar, and I’m happy he’s doing so well at Barcelona. Many people said he’d flop in Europe, but he’s proving he’s an exceptional player.

“One day Dybala and Pogba could compete [with him] for the Ballon d’Or.”

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

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Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Andrea Barzagli promises more attacking display

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2829365/barzagli-promises-more-attacking-football-from-juventus

Mar 14, 2016

Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli has promised a more attack-minded performance from the Bianconeri in the Champions League on Wednesday when they face a Bayern Munich side who "crushed" the Italians in Turin.

The Italians fought back from a two-goal deficit to snatch a 2-2 draw in the first leg, having spent much of that game under more pressure than Barzagli had even imagined.

"It was formidable the way Bayern crushed us with their quality for almost an hour," he told Germany's kicker magazine.

"I'd never expected such an ultra-attacking attitude. You've got to be honest and, given the way they were playing, the goals were just a matter of time in coming."

It will be a different story at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, though, with Juve learning their lesson from that monologue on their own soil and keen to carry on from where they left off in that game, by playing Bayern at their own game.

A goalless draw would only suit the Bavarians, giving Juve little option but to attack.

"We're going to be far more courageous than we were in Turin," said the 34 year-old who won the Bundesliga title with Wolfsburg in 2008.

"Building a wall for 90 minutes obviously won't help us -- we've got to play to win.

"We've got to do that without neglecting our defensive duties, though, otherwise we could get a rude awakening with all the quality they've got in their attack."

It will be a difficult balance to strike, and Bayern will still be expected by the majority to go through, not least thanks to their two away goals.

"We're not favourites, but that doesn't mean we have lost already," added Barzagli, whose side beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 away from home last season on their way to the final.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

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Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Lahm: ‘Juventus are dangerous’

http://www.football-italia.net/81308/lahm-%E2%80%98juventus-are-dangerous%E2%80%99?

Mar 14, 2016

Bayern Munich captain Phillip Lahm warns Juventus “are a dangerous team” ahead of the Champions League second leg.

The Bianconeri face the German champions on Wednesday after a 2-2 draw in the first match in Turin, and the Bavarian side’s captain is taking nothing for granted.

“Juve wouldn’t have a problem going into the final stages of the game at 0-0,” Lahm warned, as reported by Bild.

“The Bianconeri are a dangerous team, not all teams can sit in and wait for their opponents to make a mistake, but they have all the calm and experience necessary to do so.”

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Dybala: ‘Juventus can progress’

http://www.football-italia.net/81309/dybala-%E2%80%98juventus-can-progress%E2%80%99?

Mar 14, 2016

Paulo Dybala predicts a difficult game at Bayern Munich but Juventus “can go through if we play as we know we can”.

The Bianconeri travel to Germany for the second leg of their Champions League Last 16 tie this week, following a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Turin.

“It’ll be a tough test in Munich,” Dybala acknowledged in an interview with Sky.

“But if we play the way we know we can, we can go through.”

Dybala was also asked about his goal against Sassuolo on Friday, curling the ball into the top corner for a ‘Gol alla Del Piero’.

“I think it’s the shot that you do in training, so you work on it during the week and then obviously try to bring it into the match on Sunday.

“It’s a shot I like, if I get it on my right then I always try to get it back onto my left foot and kick it to the far post, further away from the goalkeeper.

“Now I’ve said that the goalkeepers will go the other way and I’ll have to stop that shot!”

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Bayern Munich V Juventus – Preview: Bianconeri
Fight To Keep In Italy In The Competition

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/03/bayern-munich-v-juventus-preview-bianconeri-fight-to-keep-in-italy-in-the-competition/?

Mar 14, 2016

Juventus 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

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Dybala: ‘Bayern leave gaps’

http://www.football-italia.net/81315/dybala-%E2%80%98bayern-leave-gaps%E2%80%99?

Mar 14, 2016

Paulo Dybala predicts Bayern Munich will “concede a bit of space” against Juventus in the Champions League.

The Bianconeri face the second leg of their Last 16 tie in Germany on Wednesday, and will probably have to win to progress, following a 2-2 draw in Turin.

“I think it’ll be the Juve you saw in the last 30 minutes of the first leg,” Dybala explained to Sky.

“We have to be aggressive and not leave gaps for their players, because they’re too good [to allow them space].

“So we have to try and play our game, as well as defending because logically they have a beautiful style. So it’ll be hard, but we have to take advantage of the chances we get.

“They’re a team which practically plays with four strikers, so they’ll concede a bit of space to us, and we’ll have to try and exploit those gaps when we have the ball.

“We’ll have to try and hit on the counter-attack and create more chances.”

Mario Mandzukic has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, as he’s yet to find the back of the net in 2016.

“Mario is a player who sacrifices a lot for the team, so he helps the team a lot when we’re defending.

“The Coach [Massimiliano] Allegri always asks us to stay close and help the team with our movement.

“It definitely helps that he takes away one or two men, and generally I’m in the centre. Then I have to be there and try to get the ball in behind the central midfielders so I can find more space.

“But we move as the Coach asks us to.”

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

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Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Chiellini likely to miss Bayern

http://www.football-italia.net/81317/chiellini-likely-miss-bayern?

Mar 14, 2016

Juventus are likely to go with a back-four against Bayern Munich, as Giorgio Chiellini will almost certainly not be fit.

The defender has been battling back from a calf injury, with the hope he’d be fit for the second leg of the Champions League Last 16 tie.

The centre-back returned to the Bianconeri starting XI against Inter in Week 27, but broke down again and went off after 35 minutes.

Chiellini trained apart from his teammates at Vinovo today, meaning he is almost certain to miss Wednesday’s game.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri is unlikely to risk 21-year-old Daniele Rugani against the German champions, so Mediaset reports that Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli will play in a back-four.

In addition, experienced left-back Patrice Evra is expected to play instead of Brazilian Alex Sandro.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

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Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Matthaus: ‘Bayern will go through’

http://www.football-italia.net/81318/matthaus-%E2%80%98bayern-will-go-through%E2%80%99?

Mar 14, 2016

Lothar Matthäus warns “Juventus are a strong team” but still expects Bayern Munich to progress.

The pair meet in the second leg of their Champions League Last 16 tie, having fought-out a 2-2 draw in the first game in Turin.

Speaking on Sky Germany, the former Inter man gave his predictions for the rest of the tournament.

“Today we’re talking about Paris [saint-Germain],” Matthäus said after Laurent Blanc’s side secured the Ligue 1 title over the weekend.

“But for me PSG were already one of the favourites, even more than Real Madrid. I think one of Bayern, Barcelona or PSG will win the trophy.

“I think Bayern will progress, but Juventus are a strong team. It’s not for nothing that they’re leading in Italy after a very poor start to the season.

“They won’t come to Munich to attack, they’ll try to keep it at 0-0 for as long as possible, then try to take advantage at the end.

“With [Paul] Pogba in midfield they have someone who can make the difference, and up-front they have strikers who can score at any time.”

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Capello: ‘Bayern better than Juventus’

http://www.football-italia.net/81322/capello-%E2%80%98bayern-better-juventus%E2%80%99?

Mar 14, 2016

Former Juventus Coach Fabio Capello believes his old side have only a 40 per cent chance against “superior” Bayern Munich.

Wednesday sees the second leg of the Champions League Last 16 tie between the two teams, with the Bavarians having a slight advantage after the 2-2 draw in Turin.

“Juventus’ chances against Bayern?” Capello considered in an interview with Fox Sports.

“40 per cent. The Germans have more big personalities and top-level players. We have to expect a much more decisive Juve, and a stronger one than was seen in the second half of the first leg which everyone raved about.

“To beat this Bayern, Juve will have to do something exceptional. I think Bayern are superior to Juve.”

Capello also gave his opinion on another of his former teams, Milan.

“I have a lot of admiration for the Coach [sinisa Mihajlovic] who has done a lot given the players he has at his disposal.

“For the first time this year Milan made acquisitions of a certain level, but in the previous two years they didn't buy any players worthy of Milan.

“Let’s give him the time to build on the work he’s done this year. If you change Coach every year you’re always starting from scratch.”

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Juventus have Mandzukic worry

http://www.football-italia.net/81324/juventus-have-mandzukic-worry?

Mar 14, 2016

Mario Mandzukic is a doubt for Juventus’ trip to Bayern Munich, according to reports.

The Croatian international appeared to be limping when he went off during Friday’s 1-0 win over Sassuolo, raising fears he could miss the Champions League Last 16 second leg.

According to giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, while the injury is not serious it’s enough to cause concern for Coach Massimiliano Allegri, who will assess the forward in the training session at Vinovo tomorrow.

Alvaro Morata is on standby to start at the Allianz Arena, but Allegri is keen to have Mandzukic available, as his physicality and work rate is seen as crucial.

Meanwhile, giornalaccio rosa also reports that Giorgio Chiellini could be left at home, as he’s yet to recover from a calf injury.

The Juventus medical staff had been working round the clock to have the defender fit in time, but it appears he won’t make the match, and could stay to work on his fitness ahead of Sunday’s derby with Torino.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Claudio Marchisio suffers calf strain,
will miss trip to Bayern Munich

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/3/15/11226064/claudio-marchisio-injury-juventus-bayern-munich-2016-champions-league

Mar 14, 2016

Here's something you don't want to hear less than 48 hours from Juventus kicking off a decisive European game against one of the best teams still remaining in the Champions League.

Romeo Agresti ‎@romeoagresti
#BayernJuve: stiramento al polpaccio per #Marchisio. Out per la trasferta in Germania. @GoalItalia

Rough translation for all of the non-Italian speakers/readers out there: Claudio Marchisio has a calf strain. He's out for the trip to Germany.

Yep, according to the well-connected Romeo Agresti, Juventus' most important midfielder is out for Wednesday night's trip to Germany to face Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie. There has been no confirmation or mention of an injury from Juventus' end as of Monday turning to Tuesday in Italy. Juve's Monday training report had no mention of any kind of injury updates — be it the status of Giorgio Chiellini or Marchisio dealing with this new calf injury.

So now, with it looking like Chiellini won't be taking part in Wednesday's second leg and Marchisio reportedly set to miss out, two of Juve's most important pieces could very well be watching from Turin rather than stepping on the Allianz Arena field. That's, as you can probably suspect, is far from what you want to hear about with so much riding on this 90 minutes of game time.

Let's just hope that this report of Marchisio being injured is a little off the mark. It wouldn't be the first time we got an injury scare and it turned out to not be much of anything at all.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Marchisio out of Bayern-Juve?

http://www.football-italia.net/81328/marchisio-out-bayern-juve?

Mar 15, 2016

Juventus’ injury problems continue to mount up as Claudio Marchisio is reportedly ruled out of the trip to face Bayern Munich.

It was reported yesterday that striker Mario Mandzukic was a doubt for the Champions League last 16 second leg, with Giorgio Chiellini also likely to miss out.

giornalaccio rosa dello Sport have now reported that Marchisio won’t be available for the clash in Germany or the Turin derby due to a calf strain.

The newspaper writes that the exact recovery time is still unclear but the first tests suggest the Italy international will be sidelined for between 20-30 days.

Hernanes or Stefano Sturaro are now tipped to start in midfield for the Bianconeri as they look to build on a 2-2 first leg draw.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Alex Sandro needs to be in Juventus'
starting lineup against Bayern Munich

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/3/15/11212830/alex-sandro-juventus-bayern-munich-2016-champions-league-starting-lineup

Mar 15, 2016

A few days ago, it seemed like everything was just going to fall into place when it came to who will be named to Juventus' starting lineup against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night. Giorgio Chiellini would come back from injury, the 3-5-2 would return into Max Allegri's thought process and then, as a result, there might only be a decision here or there in terms of who plays.

Then came the realization that Chiellini probably isn't going to beat the race to full fitness in time to make the trip to Germany because he's still training separately from the main group. Then came the report late Monday night that Claudio Marchisio will miss the Bayern game with a calf injury. All of those hopes for simple squad rotation went flying out the window. Amazing how quickly all good things can switch just like that, isn't it?

Like, the topic of this post, for instance. This was originally set up to be solely a Patrice Evra vs. Alex Sandro post. Honestly, it was. And, I guess it still kind of is. But, like Juventus' sudden injury situation, it has stopped on a dime and change directions. Kinda.

Instead of completely concentrating on why Sandro should play over Evra, this is just the declaration that Sandro should play — period. If it's at left back, play Sandro. If it's as a left winger in a 4-4-2, play Sandro. Shift Paul Pogba inside, slot him next to Sami Khedira, and play Sandro. Yes, this isn't something that is going against what the headline says above. That'd be just weird, honestly. All aboard the #TeamAlexSandro train, everybody!

If it comes to that, then great. But if Allegri feels like it's a Sandro-or-Evra situation at left back, then play Sandro.

For comparisons sake, let's take a look at the two options at left back, shall we?

As you probably suspected, Evra's defensive stats are mostly better, while Sandro's offensive contributions are better than the 34-year-old Frenchman's. This isn't exactly a surprise. We know Evra is more defensive than offensive, and we know that Sandro is more offensive than defensive.

I can't help but look at two of those stats above — crosses per game and key passes — and think about what Sandro will be able to do against a Bayern Munich defense that still isn't 100 percent fit and proved to be more than a little vulnerable when Juve upped the pressure in the first leg.

Even when we knew he would miss the first leg two weeks ago, I rued the possibilities of what Juve may be missing. Mario Mandzukic was healthy and in the starting lineup again, and the potential combination of Sandro sending in his usual dangerous crosses with the big Croatian on the other end is a enticing possibility.

Sandro's value and importance seems to grow week by week as he gets more playing time. Of course it's his offensive contributions at left back that makes him so good, but he's no slouch on the defensive end, either. And as much as Evra would be a rock defensively against a Bayern team that rolls out one of the best attacking groups in Europe, it's going to be more imperative that offense is created on the other end of the field, too.

The fact is, when Sandro is in the lineup, Juventus' attack just has a completely different look and threat to it. There's more creativity, more options to work with both out wide and with combinations between the wings, center of the midfield and the forwards.

BWRAO ‎@JuventusNation
With no Marchisio, would a 4-4-2 with Sandro and Cuadrado on the wings be a good idea?

I'm in! Who's with me? No matter if it's at left back or as a left winger, Allegri needs to play Sandro. That seems like a pretty simple solution to this sudden pre-Bayern injury problem at this point.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Bayern Munich vs. Juventus: Areas
Where the Tie Will Be Won and Lost

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2624091-bayern-munich-vs-juventus-areas-where-the-tie-will-be-won-and-lost?

Mar 15, 2016

German and Italian titans clash on Wednesday as Bayern Munich host Juventus in the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie. The Bavarians came out a dominant force in the first leg and were 2-0 ahead at one point, but the hosts battled back to earn a 2-2 draw. And now the contestants head into a second leg of action at the Allianz Arena.

Both Bayern and Juve have clear strengths and weaknesses that could decide the outcome of Wednesday's match and the tie overall. Bleacher Report has analyzed the squads and their recent performances and picked out the top three areas that could influence the result.


The Wings: Juve's Ability to Win Set Pieces and Play Crosses

With David Alaba standing 1.80 meters in height, Joshua Kimmich 1.76, Juan Bernat 1.72 and Philipp Lahm 1.70, it's quite obvious Bayern's weakness is in the air. If Juve can play crosses, they should have chances to score. The key is in being able to create these chances, which is easier said than done.

Free-kicks and corners are obvious sources of crossing opportunities, and Juan Cuadrado could be critical in winning these. The Colombian has blistering pace and fine dribbling ability, and it's his type on the wing that can force Bayern to "play it safe" and send the ball out for a corner.

Also on the wing, Alex Sandro could be key to the crossing game. The Brazilian will have plenty of targets in the box; depending on lineup selection, the likes of Mario Mandzukic, Alvaro Morata, Sami Khedira, Paul Pogba and more could be waiting from free play. And from corners and free-kicks, the centre-backs could be added to the mix.

Sometimes, slight tactical nuances win games. On Wednesday, though, Juve's most obvious key to success is the classic game of crossing the ball into the penalty area and counting on one of the many big men in the box to head it in.


Midfield: Bayern's Ability to Cover Their Back Four and Control the Tempo

Bayern head into the second leg with the current scoreline being enough for them to advance, which is a big advantage. Juve will have to score at least once in order to stand a chance of progressing—probably two or three times.

To that end, Bayern will be wise to try to play as they did in their recent scoreless draw with Dortmund, controlling the tempo and waiting for their opponents to get frustrated and overcommit to the attack before they unleash an attack of their own. The Bavarians were unlucky not to score in that game, but will probably be on target against Juve if Wednesday's game plays out similarly.

The longer the game draws on without Juve working their way into a situation of advantage, the more in control the hosts will become. The visitors will have to commit more and more to the attack, and Bayern will have to favor their odds of scoring if attackers like Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller, Douglas Costa and Robert Lewandowski find themselves attacking with space.

Aside from controlling the tempo, Bayern will need to defend from the front line in order to cover their under-sized back four and a pair of inexperienced centre-backs. Yes, Kimmich and Alaba have played well together. But their natural abilities are better suited to other positions and for all their positive performances, both have played very few games at centre-back. One of the reasons they've played so well is that they've had good support, with the midfield and forwards pressing opponents into making poor passes.

If Juve can get the ball between the Bayern midfield and defense, it could cause Bayern real problems. Kimmich admitted (via Stefan Coerts of Goal) to his mistakes having let the Italians back into the game in the first leg, and the second leg could play out similarly if the visitors are able to expose Kimmich and Alaba.


The Goalkeepers

Tactically analyzing such a high-profile encounter as that between Bayern and Juve might be highly entertaining, but each of the contestants has a player between the posts who can transcend tactical considerations.

Even as he remains a regular starter, Gianluigi Buffon has become a legend of the game. The 38-year-old has played senior football for 21 years and won accolade after accolade. Throughout his career, he's proved to be a game-changer. Former Italy coach Marcello Lippi put it best when, after asked about his team's lack of a fantasista (a Lionel Messi or Roberto Baggio-type, given freedom of position in attack and capable of winning games on their own) he said, per Goal.com Italia (via Goal): "We have our own fantasista in goal; his name is Gigi Buffon."

If Buffon is approaching the twilight of his career, Manuel Neuer is still at the height of his. The Bayern man turns 30 later this month and has enormous experience. He, too, has single-handedly kept his teams in contention in the Champions League, World Cup and otherwise. And in 2011, Buffon even admitted to Sky Sports News (h/t Goal) that Neuer had become "the best goalkeeper in the world."

Both Buffon and Neuer are world-class goalkeepers, and either could decide his team's progression. Theirs might be the most interesting head-to-head matchup on Wednesday.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Bayern Munich and Juventus share
a compelling rivalry in the modern era

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/uefa-champions-league/2/blog/post/2829565/bayern-munich-and-juventus-compelling-rivalry-in-modern-era

Mar 15, 2016

What do you do the day after you've won an Olympic gold medal? If you're Boris Becker, you go watch Bayern Munich play a preseason preparation match. On Aug. 8, 1992, roughly 30 hours after the tennis star triumphed alongside Michael Stich in Barcelona in the men's doubles, Becker received a standing ovation from the fans in Munich when his presence at the friendly against Italian giants Juventus was announced.

Becker's favourite team then took an early lead through Olaf Thon, whose first-time shot from the edge of the box wrong-footed goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi. Midway through the first half, though, Juve's Paolo Di Canio struck from a distance. The ball hit his German teammate, Andreas Möller, and took a wicked deflection. Now it was Bayern's goalkeeper, Raimond Aumann, who was wrong-footed. When the stadium announcer credited Möller, a former Dortmund and Frankfurt player, with tying the game, the 20,000 supporters at the Olympic Stadium booed their hearts out.

Bayern must have hoped for a slightly bigger crowd that day, but attendance was hurt by the fact that the game was live on television. That was highly unusual in the early 1990s. Then again, this was not your usual friendly. The game was billed as the belated testimonial for club icon Klaus Augenthaler, who had retired the previous summer after more than 400 league appearances for Bayern. That was the reason celebrities such as Becker and football luminaries such as Jupp Heynckes were in the stands.

But there was another thing that made this match so attractive for German television: It was the first game between Bayern and Juventus. In 1992, even before the Champions League vastly increased the number of matches among the European elite, this was a weird piece of trivia. Juventus had a reputation for drawing German opposition in European competitions: Between 1968 and 1992, they met no fewer than 10 sides from West or East Germany.

The Bianconeri also had a reputation for struggling against those teams. To cite one example, the famous Bayern vs. Dynamo Dresden tie in the 1973-74 European Cup came about only because Dresden had surprisingly knocked Juve out in the previous round. Yet Juventus had never been drawn against the biggest and best team in Germany, so Augenthaler's testimonial had to make do for the moment.

Eight minutes before the break, Roberto Baggio set Di Canio up with a brilliant through ball, and Juventus took the lead. To add insult to injury and ruin Augenthaler's farewell, Möller added two more goals after the restart, which gave him a hat trick and his team a 4-1 win.

"I see this as a testimonial, but at the same time, it was an acid test [for Bayern]," Augenthaler said after the game. Sitting in the dressing room drinking wheat beer, he added: "I'm still annoyed."

There would be more Bavarian annoyance in the years to come, as fortune refused to lift the strange curse of the draw. While the Italians seemed to play Borussia Dortmund all the time -- the two clubs met seven times in the UEFA Cup and the Champions League between 1992 and 1997 -- Juventus and Bayern were kept apart.

Preparation matches had to compensate for this lack of proper competitive games. In July 1996, Bayern and Juventus were invited to Switzerland and played in a small tournament to celebrate Zurich FC's 100th anniversary. Again Bayern, coached by former Juventus boss Giovanni Trapattoni, came up short. Marcel Witeczek put the Germans ahead, but Alessandro Del Piero equalised, and Nicola Amoruso sealed Juve's win.

A year later, in August 1997, the two teams met in San Benedetto del Tronto, a city on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. In the opening stages, Del Piero missed a penalty, but Bayern couldn't capitalize. On 22 minutes, Didier Deschamps set Filippo Inzaghi up, and the striker scored the only goal of the game. An Italian match report said "Bayern appeared weak in attack and sometimes confused in defence," and the Germans suffered their third defeat in as many encounters with the Old Lady.

Ironically, none other than Felix Magath was in charge of Bayern when the curse was finally broken. In late August 2004, the Munich giants were put into a Champions League group with the Bianconeri. After the draw, Magath alluded to his winning goal for Hamburg against Juventus in the 1983 European Cup final when he said, "I'm happy that I can at last play against Juventus again. I only have the best of memories of Juventus, but they don't have them of me."

Magath's image in Turin was about to improve, though. Juve won a dour home leg, thanks to a left-footed Pavel Nedved strike deep in the second half. Two weeks later, in Munich, the Italians left it even later. In the final minute of a scoreless game, Zlatan Ibrahimovic made fools of Torsten Frings and Owen Hargreaves when he suddenly ran into the box with the ball at his feet. Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn saved his shot but couldn't hold on to the ball, and he presented Del Piero with the easiest of tap-ins.

It was Juve's fifth win on the trot over Bayern, and they maintained their perfect record. Since then, though, things have changed. They have changed so thoroughly that when the Champions League draw in February paired the two sides in this season's round of 16, Bayern's official website referred to the Germans as "Juve's bogey team."

It's a bold claim, though Bayern have a few stats to back it up. Since Ibrahimovic shimmied past Frings and Hargreaves with stylish ease, Bayern and Juventus have played seven games against each other. Bayern won four of them and lost only one.

The most famous of these triumphs was not the victory that broke the spell. That was the Champions League group game in October 2005, when a Sebastian Deisler strike and Martin Demichelis header in the first half put Bayern beyond Juve's reach before Ibrahimovic pulled one back for the visitors in the dying seconds. Nor was it the 2-0 win in April 2013 in Turin, the first (and still only) Bianconeri defeat at the Juventus Stadium by a non-Italian team.

No, the Juve game that looms largest in Bavarian lore is the match in Turin in December 2009, the last matchday of that season's Champions League group stage. The Germans needed all three points to go through at the expense of the Italians. Because Bayern were only fourth in the Bundesliga at the time, it was all over town that the team's new coach -- an eccentric Dutchman by the name of Louis van Gaal -- would be fired if the Juve game weren't won.

After 11 minutes, Bayern striker Ivica Olic hit the post. Six minutes later, David Trezeguet put Juventus ahead with a great volley from 18 yards. But just when their entire season was beginning to unravel in front of them, Bayern's players managed to shrug off their doubts and fears and roll up their proverbial sleeves.

On the half hour, Olic went down in the box under a challenge from Martin Cáceres. Bayern hadn't won a penalty all season, but they won one that day. With the game, the competition and perhaps the coach's fate on the line, who would step up but the goalkeeper, Jörg Butt? He had converted a penalty for Hamburg against Juventus in 2000 and for Bayer Leverkusen against Juventus in 2002 -- in both cases at crucial moments in the game. Now he did the same for Bayern and tied the match. In the second half, Bayern ran rampant. Olic scored the go-ahead goal before Mario Gomez and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk found the target for a stunning final score of 4-1.

The game in Turin didn't merely save Bayern's campaign. It completely turned their season around. Suddenly, the side was unstoppable. For a few dizzying months, Van Gaal became "King Louis of Bavaria," the most popular Dutchman in living memory. He claimed the league/cup double and came very close to giving Bayern the first treble in club history when he guided his team to the Champions League final in Madrid. But alas, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, José Mourinho's Inter denied Bayern their ultimate triumph.

It would be another three years before Jupp Heynckes at long last earned Bayern their elusive treble, which is, of course, the achievement Pep Guardiola must emulate if he is to be remembered as one of the truly great managers in Bayern's history, rather than just a very good one.

His next hurdle on the road to Milan, scene of this year's Champions League final, is Juventus. The match Wednesday will be the 10th competitive encounter between the two clubs in less than twelve years.

That's not bad for two teams that once seemed like the twain who never shall meet.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Bayern Munich v Juventus Goalscorer Betting:
Muller ready to maul Bianconeri

Having struck his 13th goal in 14 Champions League starts in the first leg in Turin,
Al Hain-Cole is backing the German to help Pep Guardiola's men past the Italians.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/2994/betting/2016/03/15/21326182/-?

Mar 15, 2016

After serving up four goals between them in an entertaining first leg in Turin, Bayern Munich and Juventus are sure to attract the neutrals when they go head-to-head once again at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

Having failed to score for just the second time in seven matches in this season’s Champions League, Robert Lewandowski is NetBet’s 7/2 (4.50) favourite to make up for lost time by opening the scoring in Germany.

With seven goals in seven matches to his name in Europe and 34 in all competitions, the Polish striker will certainly attract some attention at 21/20 (2.05) anytime odds.

However, having struck his 13th goal in 14 Champions League starts last time out, Thomas Muller looks like even better value at 5/4 (2.25) to find the back of the net once again after striking six times in seven games coming into the encounter.

Having joined Muller on the scoresheet at the Juventus Stadium, Arjen Robben can be backed at 8/5 (2.60) to do so once again, while Franck Ribery is available at 11/4 (3.75) on what promises to be a busy night for the visiting defence.

Despite their impressive comeback from two goals down, Massimiliano Allegri’s team will still need to be efficient in attack if they are to overturn their away goal deficit in this second leg.

After grabbing the first Champions League goal of his promising young career, Bianconeri top scorer Paulo Dybala is his side’s 16/5 (4.20) favourite to hit a priceless away goal in Munich.

While he may trail Dybala by 10 in all competitions, Alvaro Morata’s expertise at the European stage has seen him hit five goals in eight knockout stage matches in the Champions League, making 7/2 (4.50) odds appear rather tempting on the former Real Madrid man.

Meanwhile, Mario Mandzukic can also be backed at that 7/2 (4.50) anytime price to hit the net against his former club, with Paul Pogba a 5/1 (6.00) outside bet to bring his undeniable talent to the fore at the optimum moment.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Dybala & Marchisio ruled out of Bayern tie

The Juventus duo will miss the second leg of the Champions League last-16 clash
against the Bundesliga champions along with Giorgio Chiellini and Mario Mandzukic.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2016/03/15/21333932/-?

Mar 15, 2016

Paulo Dybala and Claudio Marchisio are set to miss the second leg of Juventus's Champions League Round of 16 clash with Bayern Munich after sustaining injuries in training.

Juve came from 2-0 down to earn a draw with the Bavarian giants in Italy in February, but the Old Lady are set to travel to Allianz Arena on Tuesday without a number of their key stars.

Marchisio failed to complete his last training session after suffering a calf injury while Dybala has suffered a foot problem, and both will join centre-back Giorgio Chiellini and striker Mario Mandzukic on the sidelines as Massimiliano Allegri's men go in search of an improbable victory.

Chiellini has also been battling a calf problem in recent weeks and is unlikely to face Bayern after training alone on Monday, while Mandzukic limped out of the club's 1-0 win over Sassuolo on Friday.

The Croatia international is reportedly a serious doubt for the midweek encounter, with Alvaro Morata likely to start if Mandzukic is indeed ruled out.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

THE BATTLE OF BAVARIA…BAYERN MUNICH V JUVENTUS

http://www.juvefc.com/8616-2/?

Mar 15, 2016

My preparations for this match have been perfect. After crawling out of bed to find my youngest niece, beloved baby goblin (her elder sister I call Monkeyface) squealing in my sister’s arms at the door as my hellhound threw himself into his trademark berserker routine, I devoured a breakfast fit for a viking King just returned from battle, slowly regained my balance from a dreadful hangover, jumped aboard my two wheeled devil steed, aimed at the ocean and hit launch. Forging a bed of sand on the close to deserted beach I joyfully lost myself in the lines of Money (Martin Amis) and was awakened from my fugue state by the sound of my own voice roaring obscenities as my eyes became blinded and painful from what seemed to be the start of a storm. I observed myself telling the wind to go eat a bowl of fuck…Was this the beginning of tourettes? NO. It was time to throw myself into the ever growing in volume and height waves, squeal with joy like a child as I jumped and rolled and floated, thrown hither and thither by Nature’s finest onslaught. A glorious two hours spent under the powerful gaze of our nearest and dearest star then home to the hound, gardening, planting, tidying up my ‘special plants’ and finally the call came, from the stand-in boss at work, approving my late show tomorrow morning, allowing me to remain in my lair to watch the entirety of the Battle for Bavaria. Everything seemed to be falling into place…

That was, until I peeked at the italian sports sites and discovered that not only Chiellini remained highly doubtful, yet the fiends had thrown Big Mario and Il Principino into the list of possible, even probable absentees. Which leaves this preview in tatters before I have even truly begun. Headlines of ‘Chiellini hopes close to zero‘ are not however, enough to curb my enthusiasm.

Our form of late has been average. Other than the horror show against Inter in the coppa italia, the performances have been fine, the results perfect. Which is a little more than can be said for our opponents, for Munich were recently beaten at home by Mainz, drew away with their only potential rival for the title, Dortmund, before smashing poor Bremen 5-0 last weekend back in their Allianz fortress.

Let us focus on the worst case scenario of all three suspects forced to find themselves at best on the bench…

Buffon

Lichsteiner Barzagli Bonucci Evra

Cuadrado Khedira Hernanes Pogba

Zaza/Morata Dybala

That is what I suspect Allegri would deploy in such horrid circumstances. My own preference would be for Rugani to play in central defence (to allow the 3-5-2). I feel his lack of experience is less of a concern than starting with Cuadrado, in fact, such a game could be the making of the youngster…regardless of the result. That is, of course, as long as we do not get pummelled. Which on the basis of the first 50 minutes of our most recent outing against Munich, must be considered a woeful possibility. My opposition towards the inclusion of the Colombian is that his game is too one dimensional to trouble Bayern. He is a one trick pony whose shooting and passing is often below average. Perhaps it is too cavalier to play Rugani, and clearly Allegri sees him as one for the future, to be brought through carefully and on a steady, not rushed timeframe.

The other main gripe with this formation is that Pogba is pushed out wide when his best work is always through the middle. When finding the ball and charging forward at pace. He has the skills to be useful on the left, but why not place him centrally with Khedira and have Sandro as an orthodox left winger to counterbalance Cuadrado. This would be more balanced in many ways.

Although Mandzukic would be a huge miss, on the positive side of the dilemma is that both Zaza and Morata are far less likely to be making up numbers in midfield and defence. Their game is solely focused on the final third. Which could well work in our favour, for to avoid another siege where we defend like lunatics, pack our rear third with 10 players and have no outlet up top is certainly in Allegri’s thinking. The way to bother Bayern is to attack their defence, as hard as possible, through the middle. Which is why I suspect Zaza would be a more viable replacement for Big Mario. The major problem with offering Zaza the spot is that he will be forced to tackle, for we will be under pressure for much of the game, and the frontman’s tackling can at best be described as overzealous. Every challenge he makes in the defensive phase is either potentially career ending or a red card. Still…I can’t help but admire his grit.

I hope that if there is any question of Marchisio’s fitness that he doesn’t start. Rather a fit Sturaro or Hernanes than a ghost, in such a vital area of the field.

Unfortunately, I find it hard to see us winning the tie without Chiellini. His loss will be the most deeply felt, yet perhaps he will play. Whilst reports have been anything but positive, none have suggested any worse than ‘he has been training apart from the squad, when Allegri had hoped he would have rejoined his comrades by now’. Unlike Marchisio, who is a pale imitation of himself when unfit, I have often seen Chiellini play with what appear wounds severe enough to demand a stretcher, if not a gurney, yet he shrugs his shoulders, embraces the sponge and becomes ever more brutal.

Let us, for a brief moment, ponder the best possible scenario, in terms of selection…

Buffon

Lichsteiner Barzagli Bonucci Chiellini Evra

Khedira Marchiso Pogba

Mandzukic Dybala

Now there is a side which can cause serious problems for any opponent…Even swapping Marchisio for Hernanes does not dent my confidence considerably, for the Brazilian was superb in our first collision with the monstrous swine machine. I would even go so far as to suggest that Sturaro could offer more bite than Khedira. Less experience of course, less technical ability, but he has the zeal we require in spades to balance out the scales. Talent is hugely important, yet the value of drive, of grit, of fight can never be underestimated.

It was no surprise to find our fortunes change for the better (in the first leg) when we replaced both Khedira and Marchisio with Hernanes and Sturaro. The latter duo were fitter, sharper and far more determined. Which unsettled Bayern considerably. It was the combined effect of both players which completely changed the midfield dynamic, and the course of the match.

One thing also worth considering is something which Peter mentioned in another thread. Namely that Allegri has shown that he often improves tactically upon the second meeting with a side in Europe. Especially in the knock-out phases. Of course the same can be said of Guardiola. Yet of the two, it is the Spaniard upon whose shoulders weigh heaviest with pressure.

The Bayern coach – who must be looking upon Man City’s haphazard form with less enthusiasm than he would have felt when signing the contract to head there in the Summer – is desperate to win the champions league before his tenure in Bavaria draws to a close. Yes yes! He has continued their outstanding domestic dominance, yet the European title has eluded his reach. Absent of this accolade, many will consider his work in Germany to be nothing more than average. He inherited a wonderful side, has altered it to his liking and methods, yet has he achieved more success than his predecessors? The answer is presently NO. To fail yet again in the premier continental competition will erode the aura which surrounds him of a gifted genius who worked wonders with Barca and is widely praised as one of the finest minds in football.

Whoever starts for Juve, all I demand and hope for is to find pride in their performance. Players live for this kind of match, the opportunity to test themselves against the very best, the elite. Reputations can be gilded or broken in such ties. I am less interested in the result than I am in the fury of our battle cry…

We are very much the underdogs, yet let us become the hounds of war.

 

BREAKING NEWS

It is with some sorrow that I must confirm the club statement just issued…

Paulo Dybala and Claudio Marchisio will not be available for the game against Bayern Munich. Dybala is suffering from lesions to his left calf and will be monitored on a daily basis in the lead up to the derby with Torino. Marchisio’s calf is mangled and he will be unavailable for an estimated 20 days.

Well well well! Whilst such revelations are far from ideal, the positives to take are immense! For Dybala is a major loss, yet I will try to carefully suggest that his lack of experience against top class opposition soothes the blow. And in his stead we have Morata and Zaza. The injury to Marchisio is more a concern for our league campaign, for we have others, such as Sturaro and Hernanes capable of slotting in for this match, and who can say, perhaps they will offer more bite and snarl than Il Principino, who was awful in the first leg.

As for the positives…Mandzukic and Chiellini appear ripe and ready. Two players who possess the spartan menace which I have long thought will be the only chance we have to prosper in this battle. We must assume both will start.

Buffon

Lichstiner Barzagli Bonucci Chiellini Evra

Khedira Hernanes Pogba

Mandzukic Morata

Fine, absolutely fine! The news has far from dampened my spirits, for it has nourished them!

 

BREAKING NEWS

I may have been a little over eager…for it appears, despite my pouncing upon the absence of Chiellini and Mandzukic from the official announcement of injuries, the general consensus appears to lead to neither players entering the fray from the first whistle. Without them both, we are lost facing a steeper ascent in our uphill mission for glory.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Juventus announce Claudio Marchisio, Paulo Dybala
will miss Bayern Munich clash

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/3/15/11232108/claudio-marchisio-paulo-dybala-injury-juventus-bayern-munich-2016-champions-league

Mar 15, 2016
 
Upon further confirmation that we can't have nice things, the reports of Claudio Marchisio being injured and subsequently missing out on Juventus' Champions League trip to Bayern Munich are 100 percent a reality. Oh, and if that wasn't enough, we have a brand new injury to smack us right in the face. Talk about kicking us while we're down.

Juventus has announced that both Marchisio and star striker Paulo Dybala won't be on the flight to Germany to take on Bayern on Wednesday night. Instead of fighting for their Champions League lives with a relatively full strength starting lineup, Max Allegri is now set to field a squad that is without two of its most important players at the Allianz Arena.

Remember how I've said all season long that injuries are stupid? Here's another reminder of that very fact.

The injury-related details for all the guys and gals to read about, courtesy of Juventus' official website:

Paulo Dybala and Claudio Marchisio will both miss out on Wednesday night's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

After reporting discomfort during yesterday's training session, today's medical examinations taken by the Argentine revealed a swollen soleus muscle. He will therefore remain in Turin where his condition will be monitored ahead of Sunday's Serie A fixture against Torino.

Marchisio, meanwhile, reported discomfort in his left calf during Monday's workout. Tests conducted yesterday evening showed up a first-grade tear in his soleus muscle, an injury which is expected to keep the midfielder out for 20 days.

First, this is crap.

Second, this is going to be crap no matter what else you tell me.

Third, man, I sure hope the good version of Álvaro Morata in the Champions League shows up. He seemed to do pretty well the last time he played on German soil in the Round of 16, if I'm not mistaken.

The Marchisio news is a little easier to take because it was expected. When reports surfaced late Monday night, everything pointed toward him missing the Bayern match and a few weeks after that. There is no surprise that Marchisio will miss three weeks based on what we heard about 12 hours ago. But Dybala, that's a bit of injury news that is completely out of the blue. He goes from the player looked to lead the offense in a game where goals are certainly going to be scored to now being forced to stay back in Turin.

Oh, Mario Mandzukic is a doubt and Giorgio Chiellini is training apart from the main group again Tuesday afternoon. So if you were thinking either one of those guys were going to be starting on Wednesday night, then I guess you will have to adjust those expectations just the slightest bit.

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Dybala, Marchisio miss Bayern-Juve

http://www.football-italia.net/81340/dybala-marchisio-miss-bayern-juve?

Mar 15, 2016
 
Juventus have announced that Paulo Dybala and Claudio Marchisio won’t be available against Bayern Munich on Wednesday due to injury.

The Old Lady travel to Bavaria for the Champions League last 16 second leg after a 2-2 draw in Turin in the first tie.

Massimiliano Allegri will have to make do without two key players after the club revealed today that Dybala and Marchisio won’t be fit to travel.

“Paulo Dybala and Claudio Marchisio won’t be available for the match against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday,” read a statement on the club’s official website.

“The Argentine striker was released early from training yesterday. Diagnostic tests carried out this morning have ruled out a fracture, but shown an edema overload of the left soleus muscle.

“He therefore won’t be available for the Champions League match and his condition will be monitored daily ahead of the match on Sunday against Torino.

“During training yesterday Marchisio suffered a muscular problem to his left calf. Checks late last night showed a first grade soleus muscle injury and the prognosis is for 20 days.”

[Socrates 8974]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Claudio Marchisio Missing Bayern Munich
Tie a Major Blow to Juventus Hopes

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2624638-claudio-marchisio-missing-bayern-munich-tie-a-major-blow-to-juventus-hopes?

Mar 15, 2016
 
When the whistle blows at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening, Claudio Marchisio will arguably be the one man most eager to see Juventus overcome Bayern Munich. Born in Turin, the midfielder has been with the Bianconeri since 1993, comfortably making him the longest-serving player in the current squad.

Sadly for all concerned, he will miss the match with a calf injury and has been ruled out for 20 days according to the club's official website, a desperate blow for both the team and Marchisio himself, so important is he to their tactical approach.

Over the course of his time with Juventus, he has experienced incredible peaks and troughs, from being part of the side that was relegated in the aftermath of the 2006 Calciopoli scandal to a member of the starting XI for last season’s UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona.

In the intervening years, Marchisio has won four Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia and three Supercoppa Italiana crowns over the course of 337 appearances for Juventus in which he has netted an impressive 35 goals.

Recent seasons have seen an alteration in his style of play, the 30-year-old going from an all-action box-to-box midfielder to a calculated passer at the heart of head coach Massimiliano Allegri’s side.

According to statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, Marchisio has made an average of 67.5 passes per game this season, a sharp rise from his 2013/14 mark of 37.2.

Always a diligent and tactically aware player, the same source shows his number of tackles has remained consistent—2.2 per game in both 2013/14 and 2015/16—while his interceptions have risen from 1.4 to 2.9 per match.

The shift began last season as Allegri opted to deploy him as a deep-lying playmaker when Andrea Pirlo was out injured, and that has continued this term after the bearded genius joined Major League Soccer side New York City FC.

JuventusFC ✔ ‎@juventusfcen
Agnelli: "@ClaMarchisio8 has signed a five-year contract extension with the club." #Marchisio2020

His performances in the role saw Marchisio rewarded with a new contract that expires in 2020, with club president Andrea Agnelli praising the player as he proudly announced the deal at a press conference in July last year:

Claudio’s is the dream that every kid wants to have. He joined Juve at the age of seven, rose through the academy ranks, became part of the first team and has also worn the captain’s armband. Claudio’s already a legend: his shirt is in the museum and he’s up there alongside the Bianconeri greats.

The Italy international has continued to improve this term, with the side improving markedly when Marchisio returned to action in October following his own injury lay-off. Indeed, Juventus have lost just once in his 28 2015/16 appearances—a 1-0 reverse away to Sevilla—notching a staggering 22 victories and five draws in the remaining matches.

His influence was visible in their most recent outing, helping the Bianconeri to a narrow 1-0 victory over Sassuolo on Friday evening.

As the graphic in the tweet below highlights, Marchisio was a strong defensive presence as he registered four tackles, four interceptions and one clearance in his 90 minute display.

Adam Digby ‎@Adz77
.@ClaMarchisio8 vs Sassuolo: 4 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 clearance, 45/56 passes, 3/3 take-ons (via @StatsZone)

Always providing an outlet to his team-mates, the midfielder also connected with 45 of his 56 pass attempts (80.4 percent) and completed each of his three take-ons.

That win allowed Juve to maintain their lead over Napoli at the top of the Serie A standings, but—speaking to Sky Sports Italia and Mediaset Premium—Marchisio quickly moved on to focus on Wednesday’s mammoth Champions League task (h/t Juventus.com):

Bayern are an excellent side but our revival this season and the way we have improved in Europe in the last few years show that we are too.

There is plenty to learn from the first leg: we saw firsthand just how good they are but the second half proved that we have what it takes to reach the quarter-finals. Overturning a two-goal deficit like that was no mean feat.

Going on to note that both teams have “brilliant squads,” he added that Juventus “have to go to Munich looking to win,” but there is little doubt that without Marchisio, the chance of upsetting the Bundesliga giants has faded somewhat.