Champions League / Ben Lyttleton / 29 September 2009 / Leave a comment

Two giants of European football came head-to-head on Wednesday night and it's Juventus who seem to be the more settled side in terms of team selection and formation. And the Italians are the team to be with, says Ben Lyttleton.

"The Brazilian playmaker Diego signed this summer has already shown himself to be a
crucial figure for Juventus: when he was missing for the Matchday One clash
against Bordeaux, his replacement Sebastian Giovinco struggled to control
the game."

Both these sides dropped league points last weekend as they fielded sides with half an eye on this fixture: and with Juventus having already dropped points at home to Bordeaux on Matchday One, it's the visitors who come into the game needing a result. With that in mind, it's good for them that they can call upon Diego again.

The Brazilian playmaker signed this summer has already shown himself to be a crucial figure for Juventus: when he was missing for the Matchday One clash against Bordeaux, his replacement Sebastian Giovinco struggled to control the game. Bayern will know all too well about the threat that Diego poses: this time last year he ran the show as his Bremen side beat Bayern 5-2 - in Munich.

But don't be too put off by Juve's 1-1 draw with Bologna at the weekend: coach Ciro Ferrara admitted that he may have brought back too many players who are still recovering from injuries, including Christian Molinaro, Jonathan Zebina and Alessandro del Piero, who is set to start on the bench. Instead keep an eye on David Trezeguet, looking sharp with three goals in four games after his injury-hit campaign last year.

Bayern are a tighter unit under new coach Louis van Gaal these days, but the tactical formation is still far from sorted in Munich. Against Hamburg at the weekend, Van Gaal started with a 3-4-3 system, switched it to a 3-3-3-1 and then, when he switched it again to his preferred 4-3-3, Bayern conceded the only goal of the game. Van Gaal's indecision is costing Bayern crucial points at the moment and though they might be able to make them up in the Bundesliga, there will be few second chances in Europe: especially with a double-header against French champions Bordeaux coming up.

Still, with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben secure of their places and Ivica Olic and Thomas Muller, who marked his Champions League debut with two goals
in Haifa, as the front four, you can see why Bayern have notched 11 goals in
their four home games this season. At the back, it's not so comfortable: the
players are still unused to playing in a back three and that will suit the
visitors, whose ([3.8]) price to win is excellent value.

Tags: Bayern Munich squad, Champions League betting, Champions League odds, Diego Juventus, Franck Ribery