Champions League: Bayern Munich vs Juventus; Second Leg | Preview

If offered the result of the first leg before the match, I'm not sure who would not have taken it.

As is typically the case in this competition, the two-goal margin of victory was nice, but not conceding an away goal could possibly be just as useful, because a Bayern goal in Turin basically counts as two unless Juventus are ahead in the aggregate.

Even with so many things going for them, Bayern will certainly not take this match lightly, given what happened in the second leg against Arsenal in the previous round. Ironically, that match also began with the Reds holding a two-goal advantage in the aggregate.

Juventus forward Mirko Vucinic said that his team plans to transform their home leg "into a war," to add to the rhetoric that has been flying from both sides since the run-up to their first match last week.

Although partially due to weak, inconsistent officiating, the Munich leg saw some very dirty play from both sides that lived up to the pre-match fight in the press between the two teams.

For their actions, Juventus will be without Arturo Vidal and Stephan Lichtsteiner who are both on yellow card suspension.

Bayern will be without playmaker Toni Kroos for this match and for the foreseeable future after tearing a thigh muscle in the first half of the last match involving these two teams.

Of positive note for Bayern, Javi Martinez will be returning from suspension to reinforce the midfield and defense on Kroos' absence.

Expect Thomas Müller to once again be in Toni's usual role of central attacking midfielder, and also expect for him to play much like he did in the first leg. Müller and Mandzukic were essential to the Bayern strategy with their pressing against Juve's Andrea Pirlo.

Even though Jupp has many options to choose from at striker, he will in all likelihood stick with the Croatian Mario because of the defensive capabilities the former right back brings to the attack.

The task at hand for FC Bayern seems straightforward enough, but that's what we always say right before another Champions League disaster, isn't it?

I'll stick with very cautious optimism, and I think we'll see what kind of attitude the team brought to Italy within the first five minutes.

The Particulars:

When? 20:45 on your Bavarian clock, 1:45 pm CST for the Americas

Where? Juventus Stadium, Turin, Piedmont, Italy

Why? REDEMPTION

Referee: Velasco Carballo (Spain)

Other Notes:

-I have a feeling that somebody will have a heart attack from watching this match. It's going to be close.

-Likely the same kits as the first leg; Bayern have to wear red if Juve wear their home strip.

- Please let this referee not suck, please let this referee not suck, please let this referee not suck, please let this referee not suck.

-I wouldn't mind a goal 26-seconds into the match again.

-Even with his goal, Alaba was poor in defense last week. He needs to step it up.

-We're champions of Germany, so we've got that going for us.

Try your best to enjoy the match tomorrow~