Champions League: United looking to break through Bayern armour

Second match to be played against Barca, Atletico in first-leg quarters .

LONDON: Manchester United manager David Moyes says that his side must exploit the smallest weaknesses in Bayern Munich's game if they are to eliminate the Champions League holders in the quarter-finals.

United appeared in three of the four finals between 2008 and 2011, triumphing in the first year, but their fall from grace under Moyes means that they approach Tuesday's first leg at Old Trafford as underdogs.

While Bayern have grown even stronger under their new coach, Pep Guardiola, sweeping to a successful Bundesliga title defence in record time, United have endured a torrid campaign.

Seventeen points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and 10 points below the top four, their season now hinges entirely on their last-eight encounter with the all-conquering Bavarians.

"When we drew them, I felt we'd drawn the best team in Europe at this present time,” said Moyes. “I think most people would agree with that.

"We have got a really tough game and know exactly what we are going to get, but we'll try to exploit little bits of weaknesses that they have got.”

Bayern are bidding to become the first side ever to complete a Bundesliga season unbeaten and to win back-to-back European Cups in the Champions League era.

They have already impressed in England twice this season, outclassing City 3-1 in the Champions League group phase in October and then beating Arsenal 2-0 in the last 16.

However, Guardiola was critical of his players after they threw away a 3-1 lead in a 3-3 draw at home to Hoffenheim on Saturday, which was the first time they had dropped points in the league since October 5.

"We need to analyse what happened," he said. "If we play like we did today in the second half, we are not the favourites on Tuesday against United."

Xavi fears Atletico inside knowledge

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez is concerned that Atletico Madrid will know exactly how to stop the Catalans when they meet in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

Both sides have already clashed and drawn three times this season; twice in the Spanish Super Cup and once in La Liga.

Barca took the spoils in the Super Cup on away goals, but it is Atletico who lead the way in La Liga, a point ahead of second placed Barca.

And Xavi is well aware of how difficult a tie the four-time European champions face if they are to progress to a seventh consecutive Champions League semi-final.

"I don't like playing against Spanish teams in the Champions League, they know us very well,” he told the Barcelona website. “Atletico are a very uncomfortable opponent that defends and breaks on the counter-attack. The tie will be decided by fine details.

“They are solid and know how they want to play."

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2014.

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