Champions League: Arsenal’s Wenger hoping for deja vu at Bayern Munich

Atletico, Milan to meet in the other last-16, second-leg clash.

MUNICH: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hoping for deja vu when the Gunners face Bayern Munich away in Tuesday’s Champions League last-16, second-leg clash.

Wenger’s side go to Munich’s Allianz Arena needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first-leg at the Emirates Stadium three weeks ago.

Arsenal bowed out of Europe to the same opponents at the same stage last season, but not before enjoying a shock 2-0 win in Munich’s after losing 3-1 at home to Bayern.

The Bavarian giants only went through on away goals before going on to win the Wembley final and Wenger said it is all about belief again for his side in Bavaria.

“We have to go out there and go for it,” said Wenger. “I am confident we can produce a stunning result. It is down to scoring the first goal. After that, anything is possible.



“This time last year we went there and won 2-0, so we can take confidence from that. It is never over in this game. We will go there with belief that we can do it.”

In 14 matches since the start of 2014, The Gunners have have won nine, drawn two and lost three, including a humiliating 5-1 league defeat at Liverpool on February 8.

Meanwhile, Bayern have only dropped four points with 22 wins in 24 league games, but Manchester City showed Arsenal the way with a shock 3-2 win in last December’s group stage game in Munich.

Despite their Wolves romp, Bayern boss Pep Guardiola has said his team can ill afford to allow Arsenal the same first-half chances which Wolfsburg enjoyed.

“If we give Arsenal too much possession, we will have big, big problems,” warned Guardiola, who rested Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger in Wolfsburg.

“If we keep the ball, we’ll get into the quarter-finals, if they control it, Arsenal will go through.”

Atletico out to finish job against Milan

Atletico Madrid are looking to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 1997 when they host AC Milan at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday.

The Spanish side hold a 1-0 advantage from the first-leg three weeks ago thanks to Diego Costa’s late winner at the San Siro.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone was part of the side that made the last-eight 17 years ago and his men will be confident of building on their lead as they have been beaten only once in 22 home games this season.

Both sides continued their contrasting fortunes in domestic competition this season at the weekend as Atletico briefly retook top spot in La Liga with a 2-0 win away to Celta Vigo.

Milan, meanwhile, rested a number of their star names in a 1-0 defeat to Udinese to leave them marooned in 11th in Serie A.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2014.

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