'Liverpool can exploit that' - Int'l legend reveals key to victory over Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich must find the correct balance between attack and defence in their Champions League clash with Liverpool, or risk getting explo...

Bayern Munich must find the correct balance between attack and defence in their Champions League clash with Liverpool, or risk getting exploited by the Reds, according to Germany legend Lothar Matthaus.

Jurgen Klopp’s side travel to Germany for Wednesday night’s second leg knowing that a score draw would be enough to take them through to the quarter finals.

That leaves with Bayern with a conundrum as to how to approach the game, and former German international Matthaus has suggested that the potential for imbalance could be key to the Reds progressing.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said: “0-0 is a decent result on the face of it but of course Bayern don’t have an away goal, and that’s all the more dangerous when you’re playing Liverpool, who carry a huge attacking threat.

“Bayern have to find the right balance – don’t concede, and score one themselves, that’s all they need.

“But the balance is very important – and also very dangerous: a bit too attacking, and Liverpool can exploit that; too defensive, then that’ll maybe reduce Bayern’s own attacking threat.

“They’ve got to score a goal somehow, because I don’t believe that in a game like this you can aim for a 0-0.”

OPINION

As far as second legs go, this couldn’t be poised any finer. Liverpool probably hold the advantage by a hair’s breadth, but even then they know that a Bayern Munich goal has the potential to upset the apple cart big style. It will be fascinating to see how both sides approach this one. Realistically, neither can rest on their laurels and play for the draw, but Bayern in particular will know that sitting back, especially against a Liverpool attack as fierce as this, could be a disaster waiting to happen. In an ideal world, Liverpool would nick an early goal, invite Bayern onto them, and then pick them off on the counter, but conceding first would mean that the Reds would have to go all out to score past one of the most awesome teams in Europe in their own backyard. It’s mouthwatering and nerve-wracking, and it promises to be a belter.