FC Bayern München coach Pep Guardiola warned his injury-ravaged defence to beware Juventus’ clinical streak at set-pieces when the pair meet on Tuesday.
The Bundesliga league leaders will step out in Turin for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Last 16 tie with a makeshift back four due to the spate of injuries suffered by Bayern’s central defenders.
With Jerome Boateng (l.), Holger Badstuber, Medhi Benatia and Serdar Tasci all short of full match fitness, midfielder Joshua Kimmich and the versatile David Alaba are likely to be employed in central defence where Juve – spearheaded by former Bayern man Mario Mandzukic – will aim to exploit their relative lack of height.
“We have to stop counter-attacks and above all not give away set-pieces. Juventus are the best team in Europe at set-pieces,” Guardiola told media. “Yes, we have a problem, but what should we do? Complaining won’t get you anywhere. We have almost no central defenders.”
After being rested for the 3-1 win over SV Darmstadt 98 at the weekend, Philipp Lahm will most likely return to the starting line-up and make his 100th appearance in the UEFA Champions League.
He suggested Bayern may rein in their habitual attacking verve given they will host Juve in the return at the Allianz Arena on 16 March. “We want to win every match,” the 33-year-old defender said. “But we have to keep in mind we have another 90 minutes in Munich.”
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