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Fiorentina vs Bayern München Match Preview
Referee Tom Henning Ovrebro took center stage unfortunately when the Bayern Munich hosted Fiorentina at the Allianz Arena two weeks ago.After sending of Fiorentina’s Massimo Gobbi for what appeared to be no good reason, he allowed Bayern’s Miroslav Klose to remain on the pitch following what appeared a more aggressive challenge.
Klose rubbed salt in the Fiorentina wound when he later scored the winner from an offside position.
Fiorentina’s goal, like all away goals in the Champions League knockout phase, looms large, however, and if the Viola can get one back and keep a clean sheet they’ll go through to the round of 8.
Yet league results suggest that Fiorentina will have an uphill climb to beat the Germans. They’ve won just once in nine Serie A matches and currently sit 10th in the league.
Nevertheless, Fiorentina have some sting in their tail and Bayern will have to beware Montenegran striker Stevan Jovetic and especially Italian international striker Alberto Gilardino, who has 11 goals this season.
Bayern meanwhile are two points clear of nearest rivals Schalke in the Bundesliga table and haven’t lost a match in any competition since November.
But they nearly suffered an upset at the weekend as 13th place Cologne held them to a 1-1 draw.
Bayern had to come from behind for the equalizer and with a little luck could have gotten a winner, as they hit the woodwork on two occasions. Yet the result proves that the Bundesliga’s top club can be vulnerable.
Bayern come into the match with some defensive concerns. Defender Diego Contento suffered a knee injury against Cologne. And although Daniel van Buyten has been declared fit again, Argentine international defender Martin Demichelis will be out for three weeks.
Despite Bayern’s defensive concerns, there is no doubt that Fiorentina will have their hands full on Tuesday. Bayern will be visiting Florence with top stars Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mark van Bomell, Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez among others all fit.
Porto’s 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Estadio do Dragao in February was gifted to them through defensive errors by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Campbell’s second goal in consecutive Champions League matches, albeit nearly four years later, his previous coming in Arsenal’s loss to Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League Final.
But whereas Arsenal have injury concerns to numerous key men, Porto should have a full squad available, including 17 goal Falcao. Brazilian striker Hulk, incredible though it may seem, should also be available, although he hasn’t played a league game for Porto since he was involved in a fracas with a steward off the pitch when Porto met Benfica in December.
A goal down going into the game, Arsenal must attack. There is no doubt that they have men who can put the ball in the Porto onion bag. The questions for Arsene Wenger, however, lie in his defensive options. Porto’s strikers are handy fellows indeed in front of goal and if Arsenal are to win the tie they must man their back line with defenders.
