Stand-out tie of the Champions
League Quarter-Final draw? Absolutely, without the slightest shadow of a doubt.
Personally, it strangely doubles up as a dream tie as well as a dreaded one.
Hoping it will turn out as the former. That aside, both teams are traditional
giants of the European game and naturally the tie is always going to generate
massive interest. Domestically, both have been in imperious form this season
and are odds on to be crowned champions. Bayern are way clear of Bundesliga
champions Borussia Dortmund, while Juventus, on the back of an unprecedented
unbeaten league season are on course to retain the Scudetto, are also massively
ahead of the chasing pack. Thus the strength and might of these two is clear
for all to see.
The last time these two sides
clashed in the Champions League, Bayern produced a master class get-out-of-jail
show in Turin to run out 4-1 winners and advance to the knock-out phase of the
2009-2010 season. Times have inevitably changed and a similar result is
improbable. Juve, under Antonio Conte have evolved into a mean, efficient
machine that suffocates opponents to submission gracefully. Sticking to the
Italian-favored 3-5-2 formation, La Vecchia Signora, in many pundits’ view is
the hardest team to crack in Europe. Their players are experienced and equipped
to bring out the best of that system and of course Conte is Italian – and you
know about Italian gaffers and tactics.
On the other hand Bayern Munich
really is the most complete team this season. After the agony of coming so
close and faltering on home soil last May, the bosses at the club have pulled
all stops to conjure up a world-beating side boasting the famed German
efficiency as well as the Spanish-esque silky style. They too have a
water-tight defence. Their slight edge could be their industrious and
devastatingly effective midfield complimented by a more than potent attack. Add
to that the fact that in Jupp Heynckes, FC Hollywood have a manager who’s
taking his final bow and is determined to leave on a high at all costs.
Motivation is not a big problem here.
This is a clash pitting an
immovable object (Juventus) against an irresistible force (Bayern). Something
has got to give, for sure, but which one? In goal there’s the veteran Italy and
Juve captain Gigi Buffon and German number one, Manuel Neuer. Both are among
the top five ‘keepers in the world so no much difference here. The Old Lady’s
first choice back-line of Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Berzagli and Giorgio
Chiellini is as good as any and better than Bayern’s of Phillip Lahm, Daniel
Van Buyten, Dante and David Alaba. Though that only holds for them as a
defensive unit. We all know that in offence, Lahm and Alaba are at their
destructive best.
The midfield battle is going to
be key over the two legs. It will be interesting to see how Juve’s trio of
Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio, of course flanked by the
flying wingbacks in Stephan Litschsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah will fare against the arguably
more technical Bastian Schweinsteiger, Javi Martinez at the base and Frank
Ribery and Thomas Mueller on the flanks and Toni Kroos in the free role. In
this battle, you reckon that whichever of the two that manages to contain
either of Pirlo or Schweini will have the important upper hand. Also the
Ribery-Alaba combination will definitely force Litschsteiner to defend more and
attack less and that might play into the Bavarians’ advantage. In Marchisio,
Juve have a slimy schemer who if unshackled, could be decisive.
Upfront Juve will rely on Mirko
Vucinic and Fabio Quagliarella (or Alessandro Matri) to finish off the chances.
Not much is expected of them though as they are not known for being prolific as
much. For Bayern, Mario Mandzukic who’s been in scintillating form all season
will lead the line. The difference between him and the Juve forwards is that
give him an inch, he’ll grab a mile definitely. Of course if he’s marked out,
there’s always Mario Gomez and even Claudio Pizzaro waiting on the wings. Thus
in that department, Bayern look the more menacing.
