Bayern Munich aiming to complete job against Juventus

Pep Guardiola’s side have the advantage of two away goals from the 2-2 draw in Turin

Bayern Munich head coach Pep Guardiola: “We are playing against one of the best teams in Europe.”  Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty
Bayern Munich head coach Pep Guardiola: “We are playing against one of the best teams in Europe.” Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty

Bayern Munich are confident they have overcome a mini-crisis just in time for their second leg tie against Juventus tonight as they chase a treble of titles this season.

After conceding two second-half goals to draw 2-2 in Turin last month, Bayern’s near flawless season stuttered again after managing just one point from their previous two league games.

They returned to form, however to crush Werder Bremen 5-0 on Saturday.

“I think we showed that we are in a very good form. I would say that we are looking towards Wednesday with optimism,” said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

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Bayern, chasing a record fourth consecutive Bundesliga title as well as the German Cup, are in the driving seat, having scored twice in Italy and Juve need a win or a draw with three goals or more to advance.

Bayern have a perfect home record in the competition this season, having beaten Dinamo Zagreb, Arsenal and Olympiakos with an aggregate score of 14-1.

With Mario Goetze making his comeback on Saturday after almost five months out and winger Franck Ribery getting much needed match practice after his own long injury break, Bayern will have more depth than in the first game in Turin.

But winger Arjen Robben is a doubt after he was forced to skip training yesterday due to a heavy cold,

Manager Pep Guardiola warned qualification will not be easy against the Italians, last season's Champions League finalists, and also on course for a treble.

Uncomfortable game

“We are playing against one of the best teams in Europe,” the Spaniard said.

“They have not conceded a goal in their last 10 league games so expect a very complicated and uncomfortable game.”

Juventus are in equally scintillating form, unbeaten in the league since October and having won 18 of their 19 league games since then.

Remarkably the Bianconeri have let in only one goal in their 12 Serie A matches this year and kept an unprecedented 10th successive clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Sassuolo Calcio last week.