CL Preview: Bayern Munich - Juventus
11/3/2004 5:51:00 PM
Serie A leaders Juventus visit an expectant Olympiastadion on Wednesday evening to face a schizophrenic Bayern Munich side of which anything is possible. An estimated television audience of 150 million awaits with bated breath.
BACKGROUND
"Even a team as good as this stumbles at some point," says Bayern skipper Oliver Kahn ahead of the clash with unbeaten Juventus, the side that tops Champions’ League Group C with nine points from three games. The Italians have cut a swathe through Serie A this season, and would seem to have found some of their lost panache under new coach Fabio Capello, who succeeded Marcello Lippi in the summer. The meeting a fortnight ago was tight and tense, with Pavel Nedved, the European Footballer of the Year, settling matters with a late winner.
Tonight’s game should offer a serious test of the visitors’ credentials for Bayern have the personnel to trouble the Juventus rearguard. Roy Makaay has been in excellent form this season, though has been quiet of late - always an ominous sign when facing a player of his undoubted goalscoring ability. However, for all that, Bayern have been on a rollercoaster this season, at times taking the dictums of coach Felix Magath to heart and demolishing the opposition, while at others falling into their old habit of complacency, a trait that is characterised by mind-numbingly tedious slow passing in an archaic style that belies the side’s natural creative ability.
Kahn always talks a good game, and believes the defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday can be recovered from on Tuesday. He told his club’s official Web site: "We can step up a gear compared to Saturday’s defeat in Monchengladbach. In the past, we’ve turned it on when teams like Juve or Madrid come to town." Indeed, the Olympiastadion is one of the most inhospitable European destinations for top-quality visitors, a fact that is likely to colour Capello’s reading of the game. Indeed, the last Juventus visit saw a 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the 1997 showpiece. A draw will suit Juventus, effectively confirm qualification, and send them on their way to eventual group victory. Anything less would put even qualification back in doubt, especially as Ajax are likely to close to within three points with a win over Maccabi Haifa.
TEAM NEWS
Bayern welcome back Michael Ballack and Hasan Salihamidzic, but Ze Roberto misses out with conscussion sustained in Saturday’s defeat at Borussia-Park.
Alessandro Del Piero returns for Juventus, and is likely to replace Marcelo Zalayeta in attack. Alessandro Birindelli also returns to action, though is likely to start on the Italian bench.
PROBABLE TEAMS
Bayern Munich: Kahn; Görlitz, Lucio, Kovac, Salihamidzic; Sagnol, Ballack, Hargreaves, Frings; Pizarro, Makaay.
Juventus: Buffon; Thuram, Ferrara, Cannavaro, Pessotto; Camoranesi, Blasi, Emerson, Nedved; Del Piero, Ibrahimovic.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Roy Makaay (Bayern Munich)
He never waits long for a goal, but has been bereft of a strike for a month. That run won’t last too much longer…
Pavel Nedved (Juventus)
Despite a below-par start to 2004, Nedved has risen from the dead with his performances for both the Czech Republic at Euro 2004 and for his club in the new campaign. As such, he can be expected to make a decent defence of his European Footballer of the Year crown with only Andriy Shevchenko and Ronaldinho serious competitors to the effervescent Czech.
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