Juventus FC vs Bayern Munich:
Will Stout D Trump Fluidity?
WHY THE BEST DRAW?
In what could easily have been a semifinal, Bayern’s dynamic offense will seek their way through Juventus’ vaunted defence. While Munich may have been slight favorites to progress when this draw was announced, three of their preferred center backs have since suffered injuries, evening the odds and enhancing the difference in playing styles between these two, in-form domestic league champions.
TACTICAL ASPECTS
Two of Soccer’s Most Flexible Sides
Juventus are one of only a few teams in Europe bold enough to often feature only three at the back, leasing another player into the midfield where he can create a variety of overloads. While this style is highly effective for them when Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli are all healthy, they are clearly comfortable morphing their shape at the back to best menace an opponent’s attacking style, and look equally solid with two of those three between wing backs Evra and Lichtsteiner.
Massimiliano Allegri’s pedigree as a coach has been increasingly evident as he’s managed to re-calibrate a Juventus side that lost three of its best players after last year’s memorable Champion’s League final with Barcelona. Newcomers Khedira, Cuadrado, Dybala and Alex Sandro have all been worked into the equation, with Zaza recently beginning to factor in for an injured Mandzukic as well. After their understandable early season struggles, Allegri’s ability to incorporate the talents of his new players has been impressive, and as a result Juventus have again forgotten how to lose.
Its anyone’s guess how Pep will line Bayern up on any given day. Having used at least seven different formations this season, Guardiola seems less to be adapting to opponents then testing theories about different player combinations and offensive shapes. Said to not believe in defenders, this tie provides a fitting tactical challenge for Bayern’s soon-to-depart coach in that he’s up against a formidable rival without a single legitimate central defender.
Strangely enough, due to personnel availability, these two most flexible of sides may very well both field their version of the classic 4-4-2. That said, both teams will likely employ bursts and sustained spells of high pressure.
Juventus’ Spine
While Juventus’ pair of twenty-two year old creators often drift wide for space, either will often look to occupy the central, creative zones in front of Bayern’s defense where their holders are not. Pogba is good for at least a couple moments of sheer brilliance per game, and is a surprisingly effective harrier and ball-winner. Dybala has simply been Juventus’ best player this season, and has had a hand in about half of their goals. Surprisingly efficient and subtle for a player of his age, Dybala can inspire premature comparisons to some of the sport’s great #10s when he has the ball at his feet and some space ahead of him. If these impressive flashes are to be taken seriously, this tie with a weakened Bayern defense provides an ideal forum for him to make a statement.
In between Juventus’ aforementioned central defenders and their creators waits steady Marchisio and Khedira, two balanced, heady midfielders who tackle ably, calm the game down and distribute. Neither is an apt finisher and and their affect on a game is easy to overlook, but they are catalysts of Juventus’ cohesion on offense, and a telling statistic is that Juventus has yet to lose this season with Sammy Khedira on the pitch.
Bayern’s Flank Service
Injuries to veteran difference makers Robben and Ribery have allowed for the emergence of Kingsley Coman and Douglas Costa. Both boast quick bursts of pace and have been impressive in bearing much of the attacking load this season, advancing the ball when it fits the situation, linking with midfield playmakers, providing Bayern’s two hungry finishers with crosses from either wing and collaborating with Bayern’s adventurous wing backs. Neither is much of a goalscorer, but they’ve tallied seventeen assists between them this season, and could be crucial in trying to loosen up Juventus’ defense with their quickness and guile, if they get the nod ahead of a mostly recovered Robben and a just-recovered Ribery.
With Alaba likely deputized into the center of defense, Bernat may replace him on the left flank, with captain Phillipe Lahm patrolling the right flank. While Bernat is an able back, he offers less upfield quality than Alaba, and will have his hands full with Lichtsteiner and Cuadrado.
The Crucial Areas of the Pitch
In Muller and Lewandowski, Bayern have a striking pair who have scored fifty-six goals to date in all competitions. Their two-vs-two with Bonucci and Barzagli in the box may very well decide the tie, as Bayern’s fluid build-up play usually provides both with a handful of chances per game.
Most likely, some combination of Vidal, Alcantara and Alonso will line up in front of whatever shaky center back pairing Guardiola settles on. Whether or not to field Xavi Alonso may be a key decision, as on one hand he is Bayern’s calmest distributor and usually absorbs pressure well, but on the other hand he will be standing where the quick Dybala and the elusive Pogba intend to leave their mark on the game.
SUBPLOTS/INTANGIBLES:
-Juventus legend Buffon and Bayern’s sweeper-keeper Neuer are both capable of negating any number of the other side’s clear chances.
-Juventus have not allowed a goal in their last 13.5 hours of football.
-Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic will face his former team, while Bayern players Arturo Vidal and Kingsley Coman were with Juventus last season.
-Juventus and Bayern have one combined loss since 2016 began.
-Apparently, some Bayern players learned that their coach, Pep Guardiola, was leaving at season’s end to coach Manchester City from their television sets.
Will Stout D Trump Fluidity?
WHY THE BEST DRAW?
In what could easily have been a semifinal, Bayern’s dynamic offense will seek their way through Juventus’ vaunted defence. While Munich may have been slight favorites to progress when this draw was announced, three of their preferred center backs have since suffered injuries, evening the odds and enhancing the difference in playing styles between these two, in-form domestic league champions.
TACTICAL ASPECTS
Two of Soccer’s Most Flexible Sides
Juventus are one of only a few teams in Europe bold enough to often feature only three at the back, leasing another player into the midfield where he can create a variety of overloads. While this style is highly effective for them when Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli are all healthy, they are clearly comfortable morphing their shape at the back to best menace an opponent’s attacking style, and look equally solid with two of those three between wing backs Evra and Lichtsteiner.
Massimiliano Allegri’s pedigree as a coach has been increasingly evident as he’s managed to re-calibrate a Juventus side that lost three of its best players after last year’s memorable Champion’s League final with Barcelona. Newcomers Khedira, Cuadrado, Dybala and Alex Sandro have all been worked into the equation, with Zaza recently beginning to factor in for an injured Mandzukic as well. After their understandable early season struggles, Allegri’s ability to incorporate the talents of his new players has been impressive, and as a result Juventus have again forgotten how to lose.
Its anyone’s guess how Pep will line Bayern up on any given day. Having used at least seven different formations this season, Guardiola seems less to be adapting to opponents then testing theories about different player combinations and offensive shapes. Said to not believe in defenders, this tie provides a fitting tactical challenge for Bayern’s soon-to-depart coach in that he’s up against a formidable rival without a single legitimate central defender.
Strangely enough, due to personnel availability, these two most flexible of sides may very well both field their version of the classic 4-4-2. That said, both teams will likely employ bursts and sustained spells of high pressure.
Juventus’ Spine
While Juventus’ pair of twenty-two year old creators often drift wide for space, either will often look to occupy the central, creative zones in front of Bayern’s defense where their holders are not. Pogba is good for at least a couple moments of sheer brilliance per game, and is a surprisingly effective harrier and ball-winner. Dybala has simply been Juventus’ best player this season, and has had a hand in about half of their goals. Surprisingly efficient and subtle for a player of his age, Dybala can inspire premature comparisons to some of the sport’s great #10s when he has the ball at his feet and some space ahead of him. If these impressive flashes are to be taken seriously, this tie with a weakened Bayern defense provides an ideal forum for him to make a statement.
In between Juventus’ aforementioned central defenders and their creators waits steady Marchisio and Khedira, two balanced, heady midfielders who tackle ably, calm the game down and distribute. Neither is an apt finisher and and their affect on a game is easy to overlook, but they are catalysts of Juventus’ cohesion on offense, and a telling statistic is that Juventus has yet to lose this season with Sammy Khedira on the pitch.
Bayern’s Flank Service
Injuries to veteran difference makers Robben and Ribery have allowed for the emergence of Kingsley Coman and Douglas Costa. Both boast quick bursts of pace and have been impressive in bearing much of the attacking load this season, advancing the ball when it fits the situation, linking with midfield playmakers, providing Bayern’s two hungry finishers with crosses from either wing and collaborating with Bayern’s adventurous wing backs. Neither is much of a goalscorer, but they’ve tallied seventeen assists between them this season, and could be crucial in trying to loosen up Juventus’ defense with their quickness and guile, if they get the nod ahead of a mostly recovered Robben and a just-recovered Ribery.
With Alaba likely deputized into the center of defense, Bernat may replace him on the left flank, with captain Phillipe Lahm patrolling the right flank. While Bernat is an able back, he offers less upfield quality than Alaba, and will have his hands full with Lichtsteiner and Cuadrado.
The Crucial Areas of the Pitch
In Muller and Lewandowski, Bayern have a striking pair who have scored fifty-six goals to date in all competitions. Their two-vs-two with Bonucci and Barzagli in the box may very well decide the tie, as Bayern’s fluid build-up play usually provides both with a handful of chances per game.
Most likely, some combination of Vidal, Alcantara and Alonso will line up in front of whatever shaky center back pairing Guardiola settles on. Whether or not to field Xavi Alonso may be a key decision, as on one hand he is Bayern’s calmest distributor and usually absorbs pressure well, but on the other hand he will be standing where the quick Dybala and the elusive Pogba intend to leave their mark on the game.
SUBPLOTS/INTANGIBLES:
-Juventus legend Buffon and Bayern’s sweeper-keeper Neuer are both capable of negating any number of the other side’s clear chances.
-Juventus have not allowed a goal in their last 13.5 hours of football.
-Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic will face his former team, while Bayern players Arturo Vidal and Kingsley Coman were with Juventus last season.
-Juventus and Bayern have one combined loss since 2016 began.
-Apparently, some Bayern players learned that their coach, Pep Guardiola, was leaving at season’s end to coach Manchester City from their television sets.