Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola targets away Champions League win at Juventus
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola believes his side can win the opening leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at Juventus on Tuesday.
Posted Tuesday, February 23, 2016 by skysports.com
Pep Guardiola is targeting an away win at Juventus on Tuesday night
Considered one of the favourites for this year's title along with Real Madrid and holders Barcelona, the Bundesliga giants travel to Turin in solid form but with worries over a decimated backline.
Bayern are the only foreign team to have beaten Juve in Turin in the past decade, winning 2-0 home and away on their way to a fifth Champions League trophy in 2013.
But Guardiola is wary of Massimiliano Allegri's side, who have been the form side in Europe in the last few months.
"Allegri has done a very good job here [at Juve] and although they didn't have a great start to the season, we're up against a Juve side that has just won 15 games in succession [before Friday night's 0-0 draw at Bologna]," Guardiola told media in Turin on Monday.
"It will be complicated and make for an interesting game, but ideally we're going out to score some goals and try to win this game so we can then control the return leg in Munich."
Robert Lewandowski is expected to lead the Bayern Munich line
A 3-1 win over Darmstadt at the weekend maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga, but Bayern have central defensive problems.
Both Holger Badstuber and Jerome Boateng are sidelined with injury and although Mehdi Benatia is expected to return, he has "no games in his legs", said Guardiola.
"We don't have a central defence, that's the reality. But we have to make do with the players we have," added the Spaniard, who will leave the club at the end of the season to take over at Manchester City.
Mario Mandzukic could come up against his former club if fully fit
Former Bayern star Mario Mandzukic has been sidelined recently but is expected to return to Juve's starting line-up fully charged and ready to partner Argentine striker Paulo Dybala.
But the Croatia international can expect no leniency from his former team-mates, according to Arjen Robben.
"This will be an important game for Mario. We're happy to see him again but we'll be doing everything to close him down," said the Dutchman.
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