Neuer lauds Buffon’s goalkeeping record

Bayern München goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has hailed the achievement of Juventus counterpart Gianluigi Buffon after he set a new club record this weekend.

Italy international Buffon's clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Sassuolo on Friday made it 926 minutes without conceding a goal for the keeper, while also leaving him just three minutes away from breaking Sebastiano Rossi's all-time record in the Serie A.

And, speaking ahead of Wednesday's Champions League last-16, second-leg clash between Juve and Bayern, Neuer had nothing but praise for Buffon, while also claiming their European Cup tie is anyone's for the taking.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport about Buffon's record, Neuer said: "Congratulations! I haven't seen the game against Sassuolo, but the result confirms Juve's quality."

When asked about the upcoming Champions League clash, where the sides are level at 2-2 from the first leg in Turin, Neuer said: "We're not the favourites, even though we managed not to lose in the first leg. It's going to be an open game, but don't think that our success against Werder was just a training practice.

"After two games without winning, we still have our usual self-confidence. Starting from tomorrow we'll focus on Juve. We're not playing for [Pep] Guardiola, we're playing for Bayern."