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In what is most definitely one of the most anticipated clashes of the UEFA Champions League quarter finals, Bayern Munich travel to Turin to defend their two-goal lead against Italian league leaders Juventus.
Here are five key clashes that could decide the way this tie goes:
1) Javi Martinez vs Andrea Pirlo
Although Andrea Pirlo has only scored five and assisted eight goals in the Italian domestic season for his club, he is Juventus’ most integral player. Despite getting on in years, there is no doubt that he retains his quality both on and off the ball.
With a penchant for dribbling and an eye for bisecting opposition defences with a perfect through ball, his set piece skills and shooting from distance make him a danger for any defence.
Tasked with the responsibility of stopping the 2006 World Cup Winner will be Javi Martinez. The Spaniard has returned from suspension and will be vital to halting Juve’s play in the centre of the park. With an ability to win the ball with clean, efficient tackles and a battling quality that is as evident in the air as it is on the floor, this duel could well decide the winner of this tie.
2) Franck Ribery vs Emanuele Giaccherini
In the absence of Simone Pepe, Mauricio Isla, Sebastian Giovinco and Stephan Lichtsteiner, it seems very likely that either Giaccherini or a more defensive de Ceglie could be fielded on Juventus’ right flank.
Occupying the left for Bayern will be Ribery, who has been one of the Bavarian club’s best players this season. Although Juve manager Antonio Conte has fielded the Italy winger in a more advanced attacking midfield role as often as he has out wide, if he starts today, the number 24 will most likely play out wide.
He must not let Kaiser Franck get the better of him, or his excellent dribbling, eagle-eyed vision and technical prowess which made his such an influential force at the Allianz Arena two weeks ago could once again return to haunt the Italians.
3) Dante and Daniel van Buyten vs Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella
With nine goals in 14 starts for Juventus, Matri is a player one discounts at one’s own peril. In a league known for stingy rearguards, Matri may not be in the lead for the capocannoniere this season, but that does not mean his goals have been influential for the Turin-based side.
His fellow strike partner Fabio Quagliarella has a much more impressive goals to game ratio, with 12 strikes in 13 starts. Given the necessity for goals and the lack of variety available up front, the duo could start this game together.
Barring their way to goal will be the experienced centre-back duo of van Buyten and Dante. Now aged 35, van Buyten is an extremely valued part of Bayern and given his top-of-the-line performances, the signs of him slowing down seem few at best.
His defensive partner Dante has been rotated with van Buyten, Jerome Boateng and Holger Badstuber and has developed an understanding with his Bayern team mates like a fish taking to water. Small wonder then that Bayern are not just Fussballmeisters, but Rekordmeisters as well.
4) Bastian Schweinsteiger vs Kwadwo Asamoah
Schweinsteiger may have scored the goal that sealed Bayern’s 23rd Bundesliga title, but he is not the sort of player who will rest on his laurels. He knows that Juventus will come into this game with fire in their bellies and while he will be responsible for bringing the ball forward, that does not mean he will be allowed to neglect his defensive duties.
Playing in a similar role to him will be Ghana international Asamoah. The former Udinese man is a bit more physical than his German counterpart and will be involved in a battle with Basti that could see the duo switch roles between rearguard and aggressor throughout the ninety minutes or more.
Whoever comes out on top will likely play a pivotal role in his team winning the game.
5) Mario Mandzukic vs Giorgio Chiellini
The game at the Allianz will be fresh in the minds of both defender and attacker, where the Croat got the better of the Italian to feed Thomas Muller who tapped into an empty net to double Bayern’s lead.
Today is a chance for both players to renew that rivalry. For Giorgio Chiellini, this game signifies an opportunity to prevent Mandzukic from repeating what he did in Munich. Chiellini has marshalled one of the most miserly defences this season, with only 21 goals having being conceded by Antonio Conte’s back three in Serie A.
Mandzukic on the other hand has scored a very impressive 22 goals in 35 games for both club and country this season, and finding the back of the net tonight would be the perfect way to better his goalscoring record in Europe where he has only a solitary strike to his name, and breach a world-class rearguard.
