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Makeshift Bayern ready for set-piece masters Juve

Josep Guardiola says Juventus are perhaps the best team in Europe from set pieces – and injuries mean he is set to face them with a centre-back pairing both 1.8m or shorter.

Josep Guardiola speaks in Turin
Josep Guardiola speaks in Turin ©Getty Images
  • Josep Guardiola says Bayern must avoid conceding attacking set pieces
  • Injuries mean David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich are set to form makeshift central defence
  • Juventus unbeaten at home in Europe since Bayern's last visit in 2013
  • Bianconeri's 13-match winning run in all competitions ended on Friday
  • Ex-Bayern striker Mario Mandžukić and Germany's Sami Khedira passed fit

Possible lineups
Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Cuadrado, Marchisio, Khedira, Pogba; Mandžukić, Dybala.
Out: Cáceres (Achilles), Asamoah (thigh), Alex Sandro (thigh), Chiellini (calf)
Misses next match if booked: Sturaro

Bayern: Neuer; Lahm, Kimmich, Alaba, Bernat; Alonso, Thiago; Robben, Costa; Müller, Lewandowski.
Out: Boateng (adductors), Badstuber (ankle), Javi Martínez (knee)
Misses next match if booked: Boateng

Mario Mandžukić will feature
Mario Mandžukić will feature©AFP/Getty Images

Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus coach
Last year I got millions of insults when I said 0-0 was a good result - 0-0 is a great result at home. It's important we go there with two results which can get us through, because away goals count double. It's unlikely that it will finish 0-0. I foresee lots of goals.

Bayern have a way of playing and I doubt they are going to change that. We've got to play a great game in defence but above all be very good at relieving the pressure when we get possession. We've got to be on their level technically and tactically.

We deserved to reach the last 16, but this fixture is more like a semi-final.

Pogba: Juventus have nothing to lose

Josep Guardiola, Bayern coach
It's the last 16 and the last 16 is always difficult and complicated. Juventus didn't start the season well, but things are working well now with their style of play so it's going to be an interesting game. We'll try to play well and score a few goals, which won't be easy because they have not been conceding.

We have [injury] problems, but what can we do? We hardly have any players – we have Tasci and Benatia, but they have either just arrived or trained for only two or three days. I expect Juve to press high up the field, but if we can cope with that pressure, then we will see.

We don't have any central defenders – that's how it is. We've got to attack intelligently and avoid conceding set pieces as they are maybe the best team in Europe from set pieces. With Bonucci, Barzagli, Khedira, Pogba they are all really big; and our central defender is Kimmich [a 1.76m midfielder].

Arturo Vidal on Juventus return

Weekend results
Bologna 0-0 Juventus
Juventus's run of 15 consecutive Serie A victories came to an end on Friday. Patrice Evra headed wide from a corner with the best chance of the first half while Paul Pogba fired off target twice after the break. The visitors dominated yet could not break the deadlock.

Bayern München 3-1 Darmstadt (Müller 49 71, Lewandowski 84; Wagner 26)
Bayern conceded in the first half of a Bundesliga match for the first time since November but recovered after the interval. Thomas Müller, with two, and Robert Lewandowski both found the target to take their combined tally to 39 in the Bundesliga, the most ever by a strike partnership after 22 games of a German league season.

Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Juventus: DWWWWW
Bayern: WWWDWW

Juve celebrate their last victory over Bayern in 2005
Juve celebrate their last victory over Bayern in 2005©AFP/Getty Images

Reporter's view: Paolo Menicucci (@UEFAcomPaoloM)
When these sides met three years ago in the quarter-finals it was no contest, with Bayern outclassing Juve. The German champions are favourites again here but Juventus are a different proposition these days. They're playing with more confidence and experience, and they will believe in their chances against a Bayern side with defensive injury problems. Guardiola's attack, however, remains formidable and Bayern can still get the away goals that could give them the edge.

Did you know?
Bayern have won the sides' last three encounters, including home and away 2-0 victories en route to the 2013 title. That second-leg success in Turin, in April 2013, was the first and only time a foreign club have beaten the Bianconeri at the Juventus Stadium. Find our more in our match background.

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