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Juventus duo Claudio Marchisio and Paulo Dybala will miss the Champions League last-16 second leg with Bayern Munich due to injury.
Dybala left training early on Monday and tests have confirmed he has picked up a calf problem, ruling him out of the game with Pep Guardiola's side.
Juventus stated his condition will be monitored ahead of the weekend's derby with Torino.
Midfielder Marchisio also damaged a calf muscle in his left leg and will be sidelined for 20 days, the Serie A champions confirmed.
Juve are already without defensive duo Martin Caceres and Giorgio Chiellini, as well as former Bayern striker Mario Mandzukic for the trip to the Allianz Arena.
The Frenchman has defended his 20-year reign at the Gunners, insisting the club would not be at their current level without his control
Arsene Wenger claims Arsenal have moved forward under his guidance without any help or money.
Pressure has intensified on the Arsenal boss following Sunday’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Watford, while the Gunners look set to exit the Champions League on Wednesday evening unless they can overturn a 2-0 first-leg defeat against Barcelona at Camp Nou.
And amid calls for his resignation at the end of the season, Wenger launched a staunch defence of his 20-year reign: “I have no doubt about my motivation.
“I built this club with hard work and without any external resources. If you compare the club when I arrived and how it is today, it is moved forward – and without any help from anybody.
“There was no money from anyone. Now I am even more motivated than the first day I arrived. And I feel even more pressure and responsibility to keep this club moving forward.”
Wenger plans gung-ho approach for Camp Nou rescue job
15 March 2016
Arsene Wenger is planning a gung-ho approach when his out-of-sorts Arsenal side face the daunting challenge of overturning a 2-0 deficit against Barcelona in the Champions League last 16.
The pressure has mounted on Wenger after a three-match winless Premier League run left Arsenal 11 points adrift of leaders Leicester City, while their defence of the FA Cup came to an end in a disappointing 2-1 loss to Watford on Sunday.
Now Arsenal travel to Camp Nou for the second leg of their Champions League tie against holders Barca on Wednesday, but Wenger is refusing to give up hope of a remarkable turnaround.
"Our approach was not bad in the first leg but we lost our balance and got caught," he said at Tueday's pre-match news conference.
"We are in a position where we don't have to calculate too much. I don't think we have to think too much. We need to score two or three goals, so it demands a very clear charge and we know we have to attack.
"We have gone through a disappointing spell and it is important to remain calm and strong.
"We have won everywhere in Europe, but not here yet. The players are united to give a strong performance."
Wenger, who is boosted by the return of centre-back Laurent Koscielny from a four-match absence with a calf injury, is aware that Arsenal must also remain tight to stop the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
"The magicians from Barcelona will demand a good defensive performance from our side," he added.
"It's just the next game. The Champions League is very important, we made a miracle to be in there [knockout stages]. We have to deliver something special against Barcelona."
While it is becoming increasingly likely that Arsenal will not win a trophy this season, Wenger is remaining optimistic.
"We fight of course to win trophies," he continued. "At the moment we are not favourites to deliver that. No matter the difficulty, the Premiership is more open than people think it is. In the Champions League you never know."
Atletico Madrid defender Juanfran is keen to avoid meeting Real Madrid or Barcelona - who meet Arsenal on Wednesday - in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after they saw off PSV in dramatic fashion in the round of 16.
Diego Simeone's men needed penalties to eliminate the Eredivisie champions after another scoreless draw in the second leg at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday.
Juanfran eventually netted the decisive spot-kick and he is adamant Atletico believe in their chances of winning silverware after surviving a scare against PSV.
"It was a real heart-stopper. I’m very happy to see how the crowd got behind the side," Juanfran told reporters.
"We believe, our coach makes us believe and we have a lot of hunger and heart. We believe in all that we do.
"I don’t want to draw a Spanish side in the competition. Whoever we get will be very strong and it will be a tie just like this one."
Fernando Torres, meanwhile, was equally delighted with his side's win, while also praising PSV for their performance over two legs.
"We’re really happy. The lads are tired, but proud of what we’ve done. The important thing is that we’re in the next round," the attacker added.
"You take a penalty knowing what you’re doing, just like we did last season. We did not miss a single one and that shows character, especially from the young lads in taking their responsibility.
"You have to say well done to PSV. They played a good game and they knew what they had to do. Without doubt their goalkeeper [Jeroen Zoet] was the player of the tie, in both games.
"We couldn’t create the chances we wanted to, but now we have to think in the future."
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon has admitted his side are the underdogs when they visit Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Serie A champions Juve came back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw in the home leg of their last-16 tie, but will have to do without the likes of injured trio Paulo Dybala, Claudio Marchisio and Giorgio Chiellini at the Allianz Arena.
However, while accepting that Bayern are the favourites to reach the quarter-finals, goalkeeper Buffon feels Juve can upset the odds.
"Their successes over the past five years make Bayern the stronger team. But let's see who has the upper hand on Wednesday," he told Tuesday's pre-match news conference.
"We're a strong outfit and have the ability and conviction to make life difficult for Bayern. Wednesday will be a good opportunity to show that we can hold our own in spite of some important absences.
"We will need to be a little less nervous [than the first leg] and have a greater impact on the game.
"The tie is finely poised. This is an important sign that shows we've reached another step in our growth."
No concrete European Super League proposals, Uefa claims
By Peter Staunton
Mar 15, 2016 16:30:00
European football's governing body has spoken out following a report in the German press which stated that plans for a European super league were already at an advanced stage
Uefa has denied claims that plans for a European Super League are at an advanced stage by stating there are still "no concrete proposals on the table".
A report in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung publication suggested that Uefa would install a Super League over and above the current Champions League and Europa League competitions.
Selection criteria for the new league would be based not only on sporting considerations but also on attractiveness of potential participants as well as their marketing importance. The report claimed that the new competition would not be closed off to only the most profitable clubs.
Uefa's current Clubs Competition Cycle began this season and will run until the end of the 2017-18 season. A decision on the future of continental football beyond that date is expected by the end of this year.
"Uefa constantly reviews the format of its competitions and invites stakeholders, including member associations, to share their ideas in a consultative process," a Uefa spokesperson told Goal. "There are no concrete proposals on the table at this stage as we are just beginning a new three-year cycle (2015-18) for club competitions."
The fate of European club competition will largely rest with the influential European Clubs Association (ECA). It represents 220 clubs from 53 member nations and is heavily involved in discussions about the future of Uefa competition.
Last year, the ECA also signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Uefa covering the period 2015-2022. Two ECA club representatives are due to join the Uefa Executive Committee with full voting rights at the Uefa Congress in May after initially joining with observer status last year.
The ECA is chaired by the Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge who in January stated that a new competition involving clubs from his native Germany as well as England, France, Spain and Italy could be put in place.
More recently though the ECA general secretary Michele Centenaro declared the association's interest in working with Uefa for a better Champions League and not a Super League outright.
Bayern wake from nightmare but mistakes must stay in memory
By Niklas König
Mar 16, 2016 23:40:00
Pep Guardiola's side looked to be heading out of the Champions League after being overwhelmed by Juventus - but a remarkable revival saved the day
Bayern Munich may be through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but two error-strewn performances against Juventus cannot be easily forgotten.
In the first leg of their dramatic Champions League last-16 victory over Juventus, Bayern had made enough mistakes. Enough for an entire campaign. That they got through after a similarly sloppy second leg owed more to luck than judgement.
An utterly dominant 60 minutes during the first game was undone by unconscionable errors. Bayern had thought the match won but threw it away, spurning a 2-0 lead to finish 2-2. They still had two away goals, heartily celebrated by Pep Guardiola afterwards, and so perhaps suffered from further over-confidence.
But as they fell 2-0 down in the second stanza the tables were fully turned, with Juventus now sure of victory. Again, Bayern’s plight had come down to individual errors. On 23 minutes David Alaba, Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer all contributed to a collective blunder that allowed Paul Pogba to pounce on to a long ball from Stephan Liechtsteiner.
A slightly belated birthday present for the Frenchman was followed by another gift from Bayern, as Alvaro Morata humbled Alaba, Mehdi Benatia and Kimmich to lay on Juve’s second to Juan Cuadrado.
Bayern legend Franz Beckenbauer's half time analysis was crushing: “They did everything wrong,” he said in the Sky studio. Neuer agreed in his post-match analysis, saying “we gave presents to our opponent. Only after that did you could see what kind of football we can play."
It could have been totally unsalvageable – harsh offside flags and spurned chances by Morata could have put Juve out of sight.
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. Ultimately Bayern survived. If Guardiola had erred in his starting XI, his substitutions changed the balance of play. Sure, extra-time was assured by late strikes from Robert Lewandowski and – in injury time – Thomas Muller, but subs Thiago and Kingsley Coman (who set up the equaliser) finished the job from the bench.
On balance, progress is not undeserved for Bayern – the first 60 minutes in Turin and the final flourish in Munich are worthy of champions. Perhaps the fortune was earned. But the glaring weaknesses cannot be glazed over. The errors cannot be forgotten - must not be glossed over - by one magnificent hour in Turin.
Ordinary teams are punished by such errors. Bayern so nearly were. But this is no ordinary team.
The Gunners were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday evening following another defeat to Barcelona
Roy Keane has claims Arsene Wenger has a “weak group of players” and has accused Arsenal of “cheating” supporters.
Wenger’s men were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday following a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona at Camp Nou.
The Gunners also crashed out of the FA Cup to Watford last Sunday and need to overturn an 11-point gap behind Leicester City in order to be in with a chance of winning the Premier League title this season.
“It tells you that they’ve got a weak group of players, who can’t seem to lift it for certain games,” the former Manchester United captain told ITV.
“No doubt the pressure has got to them in the last few months and for players at Arsenal football club who can’t deal with pressure, then you shouldn’t be there.
“Tonight the damage was already obviously done in the first game. There’s no great shame in losing 3-1 tonight, the effort was there - but I think Barcelona had switched off - but it must be hard for the manager to stomach that, and for the supporters when they see their players lift it for certain games, but they can’t do it for Watford at home, or Swansea at home.
Muller jokes Guardiola threatened to 'cut off our balls' if Bayern lost to Juventus
By Harry Sherlock
Mar 17, 2016 10:45:00
The Germany international played a key role as the Bavarian giants came from 2-0 down to beat the Italian giants, and he has now joked about his side's painful motivation
Thomas Muller has joked that Pep Guardiola threatened to cut off the balls of his Bayern Munich players if they lost to Juventus in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday.
Bayern staged a remarkable comeback to qualify for the quarter-finals, as they came from 2-0 down to win 4-2 and seal a 6-4 aggregate victory over Massimiliano Allegri's men.
Goals from Paul Pogba and Juan Cuadrado gave Juve the lead at half-time, leading former Germany captain Franz Beckenbauer, in his role as a pundit for Sky, to speculate that Guardiola would "neuter" his players if they failed to overturn the deficit.
Goals from Robert Lewandowski, Muller, Thiago and Kingsley Coman ensured that no such punishment was forthcoming, and Muller joked that Beckenbauer was very close in his prediction of Guardiola's half-time team talk.
"Yeah, very similar. He didn't say "neuter", but he said he will cut our balls," he replied, when asked for his reply to the World Cup winner.
Following their victory Bayern join Wolfsburg, Real Madrid, Benfica, PSG, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City and Barcelona in the draw for the quarter-finals, which takes place on Friday.
Rummenigge urges UEFA to change Champions League draw format
By Stefan Coerts
Mar 17, 2016 12:31:02
The Bayern Munich CEO has urged UEFA to introduce a seeding system for the knockout stages to protect the big teams in Europe's elite competition
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has called on UEFA to change its seeding system for Champions League draws in order to protect the so-called big teams after the group stage.
The Bundesliga champions saw off last season's runners-up Juventus in the round of 16 to book their ticket for the quarter-finals and Rummenigge feels it would be in football's best interest if UEFA came up with a system to keep the big teams apart as long as possible.
"What I don't like about the Champions League draw for the knockout stages is that it all depends on fate," Rummenigge told reporters.
"UEFA should consider an alternative with seeded teams or something similar.
"I saw some games in the first knockout stage where I came close to switching off the TV.
"And now we see a team like Juventus - who made it to the final last season - crash out in the round of 16.
"This is no longer acceptable. I am fed up with how fate plays such a big role."
UEFA currently already has a system in place where group-stage winners cannot be paired with other pool winners - or with a team from the same country - in the round of 16 in order to protect the big teams.
Juventus' failure to finish top of their group saw them paired with Bayern, while Manchester City - who beat Massimiliano Allegri's men to top spot - were drawn with Dynamo Kiev.
Pep Guardiola could yet take on his next club, Manchester City, after Bayern Munich came back to qualify, with both Clasico clubs also still involved in the last eight
Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain will find out at Friday's draw in Switzerland whom they will face in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
With seedings, pots and country restrictions out of the way, anyone could be paired against anyone else as the competition moves firmly into the business end, with the draw set to take place at around 1200 CET in Nyon.
City are the only Premier League side remaining in Europe's top tournament and could yet have to take on their next manager, Pep Guardiola, whose Bayern team staged an incredible comeback to eliminate Juventus after extra time on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, the possibility is now open for the two Clasico clubs, Barcelona and Real Madrid, to face each other after seedings kept them apart thus far, while Benfica and Wolfsburg will be seen as the most generous possibilities to draw.
Joining them in the hat are Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, the latter having seen off Chelsea in the last 16.
The first legs will be played over April 5 and 6, with the return matches set for the following week on April 12 and 13.
Hecking: Wolfsburg cannot show Real Madrid too much respect
31 March 2016 19:40
Dieter Hecking believes his Wolfsburg side can pull off a shock when they host Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, as long as they do not show their opponents too much respect.
Wolfsburg are playing in the competition for only the second time in their history and the Bundesliga side booked their last-eight place by beating Gent.
Hecking revealed he would have preferred to have drawn Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals but said he is looking forward to seeing his side take on "the 'creme de la creme' of Europe".
"From a sporting point of view, I would have preferred Benfica, because that would be a 50-50 tie. But then there is the glamour of Real Madrid," he said.
"I think we can succeed if we don't show too much respect for Real Madrid, the club and their individual players. They are a team just as we are, and we have to try to make it as difficult for them as possible with what we have.
"You have a chance in any match. We are big underdogs in this tie, but outsiders are there to be cheeky, and I would like to see my team doing that in both matches.
"Anyone who knows Real Madrid knows their strengths. They have great quality in attack and have shown that in the Champions League. They've won seven of their eight matches this season, so we're facing great quality, but we shouldn't underestimate ourselves as we also have something to offer. I hope we can show that."
Hecking added that it has been a "special experience" for Wolfsburg - who are eighth in the Bundesliga - to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
"It was a special experience for the club and for the fans, but also for the team. It's also a milestone for me in my career," he said.
"Now we are in with the 'creme de la creme' of Europe – we have to face the teams who have dominated Europe in recent years. And we're part of that with Wolfsburg, from a city of 120,000. That's extraordinary for the club.
"It is a huge amount of fun to play in the Champions League. Every single game has been a highlight. It's a massive experience and an experience that I don't want to miss out on.
"We deserve to be in the quarter-finals, we're having a great season in the Champions League, so let's see what we've still got in store."
Bayern Munich v Benfica: Butt warns hosts to expect tough tie
3 April 2016
Bayern Munich must be careful not to underestimate Benfica in their Champions League quarter-final tie, Hans-Jorg Butt has warned.
Bayern entertain Benfica at the Allianz Arena in the first leg on Tuesday, with the return fixture at the Estadio da Luz taking place eight days later.
Retired goalkeeper Butt spent four seasons at Bayern from 2008 after spending the previous campaign at Benfica and is confident the Portuguese champions will provide stiff competition as they look to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1989-90 – when they finished as runners-up to AC Milan.
In order to progress, though, the Lisbon-based side will need to overcome the Bundesliga champions for the first time in what will be their seventh attempt.
If Bayern are to book a place in the last four for a fifth successive campaign, Butt insists they cannot take Benfica lightly.
"The danger is that they can underestimate Benfica," he said in an interview with Abendzeitung Munchen.
"The club has developed very well and has again been helped by the good contacts to very, very good players from South America.
"Benfica are not in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for no reason - it is no coincidence. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, even if they have not been particularly successful internationally in recent years.
"Clearly, Bayern is the favourite and I believe they will progress, but it will not be a walk into the semi-finals."
Pep Guardiola's team required extra-time heroics to overcome Juventus in the previous round and have suffered just one defeat in 14 competitive matches in 2016.
Benfica are in a similarly rich vein of form, with a pair of wins over Zenit St Petersburg in the last 16 forming part of a run which includes just one loss in their previous 22 matches in all competitions.
A 5-1 win over Braga on Friday, in which Jonas scored his 30th league goal of the season – a tally higher than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have managed in La Liga - will provide a huge confidence boost ahead of their trip to Munich.
But Rui Vitoria will be without goalkeeper Julio Cesar (thigh), defensive duo Lisandro Lopez (thigh) and Luisao (arm), as well as Nuno Santos (knee).
Holger Badstuber (ankle) and Jerome Boateng (groin) remain long-term absentees for Bayern, while Javi Martinez (knee) and Arjen Robben (thigh) are doubts.
Kingsley Coman sat out the 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday with a slight muscle injury and Franck Ribery staked his claim for a starting berth with a phenomenal overhead kick to secure the win.
Key Opta stats:
- Bayern Munich have knocked out Benfica in each of their three previous ties in European competition (1975-76 European Cup, 1981-82 European Cup, 1995-96 UEFA Cup).
- Benfica have lost all three of their away games against Bayern Munich, conceding 13 goals, an average of 4.3 per game.
- Bayern Munich have won their last 10 Champions League home games, their best ever run in the competition, scoring 40 goals and conceding only six along the way.
- Among the quarter-finalists, Benfica are the only team alongside Barcelona to have scored in all eight of their Champions League games this season.
- Pep Guardiola has reached the quarter-finals in each of his seven seasons as coach in the Champions League.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has revealed Fernando Torres will play in the Champions League against Barcelona.
The experienced striker featured from the start in Atletico's 5-1 win over Real Betis on Saturday, scoring once to take his tally for this La Liga season to six, and was taken off at the hour-mark with an eye on the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final at Camp Nou on Tuesday.
"Will Torres play against Barcelona? Yes, he will," Simeone told a news conference.
"I spoke with him before the match. He played 60 minutes against Betis to prepare for the match versus Barcelona."
Atletico recorded a comfortable win over Betis to prepare for the match against the Catalan giants and Simeone was delighted with his side's performance, while also underlining the importance of the league.
"The work put in by the players is what pleases me most," he said.
"I went for a 4-3-1-2 formation and the players did well, which is not easy. It is not an easy formation, but we did well.
"There is no doubt about it that La Liga is very important. The fans always get excited to see Atletico high up the table.
"The Copa del Rey and Champions League are different, because it's all about a few games. Consistency is key in La Liga. You have to be stable and solid to perform in the league."
Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City: Pellegrini backs Mangala to step up against Ibrahimovic
4 April 2016
Manuel Pellegrini has backed Eliaquim Mangala to rise to the occasion when Manchester City face an in-form Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
France defender Mangala has faced criticism from some quarters over his form since moving to Etihad Stadium for a reported fee of £42million from Porto in August 2014.
But with captain Vincent Kompany (calf) leading a damaging injury list that also includes goalkeeper Joe Hart (calf), Raheem Sterling (groin) and possibly Yaya Toure (knee), Mangala is set to continue deputising against the Ligue 1 champions.
Mangala's performances may have been indifferent, but Pellegrini is confident the 25-year-old can keep a brilliant PSG attack - led by the evergreen Ibrahimovic - quiet at the Parc des Princes.
"If you have the statistics then you will see every time Mangala plays then we win," Pellegrini said.
"In a few games this season he has made mistakes, which is very awful to concede, but if you review his overall performances, he is a very good player.
"I don't think the price made a difference for him. He is a very young player, he is adapting to a difficult league in the Premier League.
"He has all the conditions to be a very important player here and I'm sure he will improve in every season he plays in the Premier League."
The tie marks City's first foray in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after being knocked out in the last 16 by Barcelona in the previous two seasons, as they seek to finally translate their domestic form into Europe.
There is equal importance to the game for PSG as they bid to reach the semi-finals for the first time since big-spending owners Qatar Sports Investments completed their buyout in 2011.
PSG have dominated domestically and wrapped up the Ligue 1 title last month with a 9-0 battering of Troyes.
There has been little let-up from Laurent Blanc's men and they routed Nice 4-1 on Saturday, Ibrahimovic at his brilliant best with an inspired hat-trick - leaving the Sweden international needing just one goal to beat Pauleta's record of 78 goals in all competitions at the Parc des Princes.
For PSG, knocked out by Barca in the quarters last season, the main aim is now on competing with Europe's elite and many consider them favourites to beat City.
But Thiago Motta was keen to stress the quality at City's disposal - the influential Kevin De Bruyne and Samir Nasri returning from long lay-offs in Saturday's 4-0 win over AFC Bournemouth - ahead of a crucial first leg.
"They have great players," he told reporters.
"They have [David] Silva, [Sergio] Aguero - if we give them the ball, we will suffer. The key will be to defend well and, when we have the ball, to control the game like we did against Chelsea [in the last-16 against]."
Key Opta stats:
- Only once (in six games) has an English club beaten Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in European competition. It was Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in September 2004 (3-0).
- The last three Champions League knockout encounters between Ligue 1 and Premier League clubs have all seen the French team eliminate their English counterpart.
- PSG have been eliminated in the quarter-finals in each of the last three campaigns. Their last (and only) Champions League semi-final appearance to date was in 1994-1995.
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in each of his last four Champions League games. Only twice before has he gone five in a row in the competition.
Bayern Munich v Benfica: Butt warns hosts to expect tough tie
3 April 2016
Bayern Munich must be careful not to underestimate Benfica in their Champions League quarter-final tie, Hans-Jorg Butt has warned.
Bayern entertain Benfica at the Allianz Arena in the first leg on Tuesday, with the return fixture at the Estadio da Luz taking place eight days later.
Retired goalkeeper Butt spent four seasons at Bayern from 2008 after spending the previous campaign at Benfica and is confident the Portuguese champions will provide stiff competition as they look to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1989-90 – when they finished as runners-up to AC Milan.
In order to progress, though, the Lisbon-based side will need to overcome the Bundesliga champions for the first time in what will be their seventh attempt.
If Bayern are to book a place in the last four for a fifth successive campaign, Butt insists they cannot take Benfica lightly.
"The danger is that they can underestimate Benfica," he said in an interview with Abendzeitung Munchen.
"The club has developed very well and has again been helped by the good contacts to very, very good players from South America.
"Benfica are not in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for no reason - it is no coincidence. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, even if they have not been particularly successful internationally in recent years.
"Clearly, Bayern is the favourite and I believe they will progress, but it will not be a walk into the semi-finals."
Pep Guardiola's team required extra-time heroics to overcome Juventus in the previous round and have suffered just one defeat in 14 competitive matches in 2016.
Benfica are in a similarly rich vein of form, with a pair of wins over Zenit St Petersburg in the last 16 forming part of a run which includes just one loss in their previous 22 matches in all competitions.
A 5-1 win over Braga on Friday, in which Jonas scored his 30th league goal of the season – a tally higher than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have managed in La Liga - will provide a huge confidence boost ahead of their trip to Munich.
But Rui Vitoria will be without goalkeeper Julio Cesar (thigh), defensive duo Lisandro Lopez (thigh) and Luisao (arm), as well as Nuno Santos (knee).
Holger Badstuber (ankle) and Jerome Boateng (groin) remain long-term absentees for Bayern, while Javi Martinez (knee) and Arjen Robben (thigh) are doubts.
Kingsley Coman sat out the 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday with a slight muscle injury and Franck Ribery staked his claim for a starting berth with a phenomenal overhead kick to secure the win.
Key Opta stats:
- Bayern Munich have knocked out Benfica in each of their three previous ties in European competition (1975-76 European Cup, 1981-82 European Cup, 1995-96 UEFA Cup).
- Benfica have lost all three of their away games against Bayern Munich, conceding 13 goals, an average of 4.3 per game.
- Bayern Munich have won their last 10 Champions League home games, their best ever run in the competition, scoring 40 goals and conceding only six along the way.
- Among the quarter-finalists, Benfica are the only team alongside Barcelona to have scored in all eight of their Champions League games this season.
- Pep Guardiola has reached the quarter-finals in each of his seven seasons as coach in the Champions League.
Wolfsburg v Real Madrid: Casemiro living the dream
4 April 2016
Casemiro is living the dream at Real Madrid by playing in the Champions League as his side prepare to take on Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday.
The midfielder, 24, has become a key figure with the Santiago Bernabeu side in recent weeks and impressed in Saturday's victory over Barcelona in El Clasico at Camp Nou.
Casemiro revealed he is delighted to be playing in Europe's elite club competition and expects Wolfsburg to pose a stern test in Germany, but nonetheless wants Madrid to play their own game as they chase glory under Zinedine Zidane.
"Every [side] Real Madrid could have faced would have been difficult because there are no easy teams," he told UEFA.
"We need to respect Wolfsburg because we know they have some great players, but we have to respect them while playing our own game, our happy football.
"I left Brazil with the mentality of wanting to win in life. I always hold my head up high. I had a dream to play in the Champions League, so every time I play for Real Madrid - and in the Champions League - I try to enjoy it as much as possible because it's the realisation of a dream."
Real Madrid will have to make do without the services of Raphael Varane due to a calf injury, but they will be brimming with confidence following the 2-1 win over arch-rivals Barca which was sealed by Cristiano Ronaldo's late winner after Sergio Ramos had been sent off.
Wolfsburg, meanwhile, have little reason for optimism following their recent form. Dieter Hecking's men were beaten 3-0 by Bayer Leverkusen on Friday, meaning they are now three games without a win and down in eighth in the Bundesliga - seven points outside the top four with six games remaining.
Consequently, Marcel Schafer feels Wolfsburg only have a very slim chance to spring a surprise, even though they are relishing the challenge of testing themselves at the highest level.
"Last season we worked our asses off to make it into the Champions League," Schafer said to UEFA.
"Now we have made history for the club by reaching the quarter-finals and we are playing one of the world's best teams.
"When you think that 20 or 25 years ago you were watching Real Madrid on TV, and now you have got the chance to play against them, it is a fantastic challenge.
"We know we only have a very small chance, but you go onto the pitch to be successful and that's what we want to do against Real as well. We have nothing to lose."
Hecking will be without Sebastian Jung due to a knee injury, while Daniel Caligiuri and Bas Dost are doubtful.
This is Wolfsburg and Real Madrid's first-ever competitive encounter.
Key Opta facts:
- Wolfsburg are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in their history.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 14 goals in as many Champions League games against German opposition.
- Wolfsburg have lost only one of their seven Champions League home games, against Manchester United in December 2009 (1-3).
- Keylor Navas has yet to concede a goal in the Champions League and is only 133 minutes away from equalling Jens Lehmann’s record in the competition (853 minutes).
- Real Madrid have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the sixth consecutive season. Only Barcelona are currently on a longer run (nine).
Barcelona v Atletico Madrid: Luis Enrique keen to move on from Clasico loss
By Dom Farrell
Apr 4, 2016 08:13:58
The Catalans' boss insists El Clasico "no longer exists" for his side as they prepare to take on another team from the Spanish capital in the Champions League
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid head into their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday on the back of contrasting weekends in La Liga's title race.
Champions Barca lost 2-1 to bitter rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico on Saturday, with their lead at the summit cut to six points as a result of second-placed Atleti storming to a 5-1 win over Real Betis.
Atletico remain title outsiders but will be buoyed by the memory of overcoming Barcelona at the same stage of the Champions League two seasons ago before going on to achieve Liga glory.
"For me, this game [Clasico] no longer exists," said Luis Enrique, whose Barcelona side saw a phenomenal 39-match unbeaten run come to an end against 10-man Madrid.
"There is no pain or anything you can think of. We had many games without defeat, but defeat also teaches you things.
"All titles have difficulty and my players knew that. Going 39 games unbeaten means little if you don't win titles at the end of the season.
"[Atletico] will put on a lot of pressure and make it tough for us."
Enrique at least avoided any fresh injury concerns in El Clasico, meaning former Atletico midfielder Arda Turan might have to be content with a place on the bench once more.
Turan entered the fray with Saturday's match all square at 1-1, but the coach offered backing to his Turkish international after Barca struggled to control the late midfield battle.
"Ivan [Rakitic] had a card and that was enough of a risk," Luis Enrique explained. "Arda could give us even more between the lines. He has been unlucky because he entered when the game was pretty crazy."
Opposite number Diego Simeone was able to make less taxing substitutions as Betis were put to the sword, and he confirmed Fernando Torres would start against Barca having opened the scoring on Saturday.
"Every game we’ve played against them has been different," said Simeone, who will assess Saul Niguez after the midfielder was substituted with a knock to his ankle on Saturday.
"We're preparing ourselves as well as we can so the game goes the way we want it to."
Atletico were unbeaten in six matches against Barcelona during their glorious 2013/14 campaign but have lost on their previous three visits to Camp Nou.
Luis Enrique's men edged each of this season's Liga encounters 2-1, with Lionel Messi scoring on both occasions. Should the mercurial Argentinian repeat the feat on Tuesday he will register his 500th Barcelona goal.
Atletico centre-backs Diego Godin and Stefan Savic will be available to attempt to prevent Messi from doing so, having returned to training on Sunday following a hamstring strain and a nail infection respectively.
Youngsters Lucas Hernandez and Nacho Monsalve – the latter on debut – lined up at centre-back against Betis.
Belgium international Yannick Carrasco will also come back into Simeone's plans having overcome an ankle complaint, although Luciano Vietto missed training on Sunday due to illness.
Key Opta stats
- Barcelona have won the past six games between the sides in all competitions. A seventh win would be a new record in their head-to-head history with Atletico.
- Barcelona's clean sheet against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in April 2011 is their only shutout in European games against Spanish opposition.
- Atletico have never scored more than one goal in each of their eight European encounters with Spanish clubs.
- Atletico's quarter-final win in 2014 marked the only occasion in the past eight years when Barca have failed to reach the Champions League semi-finals.
- Luis Enrique's men are unbeaten in the Champions League this season and the coach has won all 10 of his Camp Nou home games in the competition.
