Champions League: Juventus v Bayern Munich match preview

A look ahead to this tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Juventus Stadium

Thomas Muller slots in Bayern's second against Juventus in the first leg (Getty Images)

Newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich will travel to Turin boasting a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Germany last Tuesday, a result that ended Juventus’ hugely impressive 18-match unbeaten run in European competition. Goals from David Alaba and Thomas Muller handed the Germans a comfortable win at the Allianz Arena, but the margin of victory was kind on the Italian outfit after Bayern were guilty of wasting several chances to extend that lead.

Juventus key personnel should be feeling fresh ahead of tonight’s crucial fixture, after manager Antonio Conte made changes to his side for their 2-1 victory over Pescara last weekend. Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon were among those who didn’t feature in a victory that sent the club 12 points clear ahead of nearest rivals Napoli at the summit of Serie A.

Jupp Heynckes’s men will undoubtedly be in a buoyant mood having secured the Bundesliga title with a record six games to spare after Bastian Schweinsteiger’s solitary goal saw them ease to victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Having now completed their goal of ending Borussia Dortmund’s mini-reign of terror in German domestic competition, Bayern will now have their sights firmly set on avenging that gut-wrenching penalty shootout defeat on their own turf in last year’s Champions League final. That was the second time the club have fallen at the final hurdle in the last three years, having also lost the 2010 final to Jose Mourinho’s Inter in Madrid.

KICK-OFF:Wednesday, 7.45pm

PAST MEETINGS…

Bayern Munich 2 (Alaba, Muller) Juventus 0, Champions League, knock-out phase, April 2013

Juventus 1 (Trezeguet) Bayern Munich 4 (Butt, Olic, Gomez, Tymoschuk), group stage, December 2009

Bayern Munich 0 Juventus 0, Champions League, group stage, September 2009

STATS…

Juventus have committed 131 fouls in the Champions League this year. Only Galatasaray and Malaga have fouled opposition players more often.

Bayern Munich have been awarded 82 corners in this season’s Champions League, more than any other team. Juventus are next with 60.

David Alaba’s deflected goal in the first leg came after just 25 seconds, making it the seventh fastest goal in the competition’s history.

Bayern Munich (70) are tied with fellow quarter-finalists Real Madrid for the most shots that have failed to hit the target in this year’s tournament.

ODDS…

Juventus to win: 2.8

Bayern Munich to win: 2.5

Draw: 3.3

TV: Live on Sky Sports 4 at 7.45pm, highlights on Sky Sports 1 at 12.00am.