Bayern Munich are confident they have overcome a mini-crisis just in time for their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Juventus today as they chase a treble of titles this season.
After conceding two second-half goals to draw 2-2 in Turin last month, Bayern’s near flawless season stuttered again after they managed just one point from their two league games.
They returned to form on Saturday, though, when they crushed Werder Bremen 5-0.
Bayern, chasing a record fourth consecutive Bundesliga title as well as the DFB Pokal in what is coach Pep Guardiola’s last season in charge, are in the driving seat, having scored twice in Italy. Juve need a win or a draw with three goals or more to advance.
Bayern have a perfect home record in the competition this season, having beaten Dinamo Zagreb, Arsenal and Olympiakos with an aggregate score of 14-1.
Until their shock 2-1 loss to FSV Mainz 05 two weeks ago, Bayern had won 17 consecutive home games dating back to May last year.
With Mario Goetze making his comeback on Saturday after almost five months out and winger Franck Ribery getting much needed match practice after his own long injury break, Bayern will have more depth than in the first leg in Turin.
However, Guardiola warned qualification will not be easy against the Italian side, who are also on course for a treble.
“We are playing against one of the best teams in Europe,” the Spaniard said. “They have not conceded a goal in their past 10 league games, so expect a very complicated and uncomfortable game.”
Juve are in equally scintillating form, unbeaten in the league since October last year and having won 18 of their 19 league games since then.
Remarkably, the Bianconeri have let in only one goal in their 12 Serie A matches this year and kept a 10th successive clean sheet in the 1-0 win over US Sassuolo last week.
“It will be a tremendous battle, and we go to Munich full of enthusiasm and determination to reach the next round,” Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci said. “We are fully aware of how strong Bayern are, but they also possess a few weak points which we will look to exploit.”
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