UCL: Liverpool and Bayern Munich look to defend their fortresses

(Football news) UEFA Champions League 2nd leg will kick off with two interesting games. Liverpool will play Inter Milan at fortress Anfield to try and defend their 2 goal advantage. Inter will have a task in hand as overcoming a 2-0 deficit away from home itself is difficult even more so if that away ground is Anfield. Joel Matip has returned to training and is available for selection but that shouldn't matter as Ibrahim Konate has been Jurgen Klopp's first choice center half along with Virgil Van Dijk in the UCL. 

Roberto Firmino and Thiago are also back in contention. Who out of Firmino, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz will start upfront with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane is the big question. Inter Milan on the other hand will be without star midfielder Nicola Barela who is suspended while Ivan Perisic has recovered and is available for selection. Inter Milan were extremely unlucky in the first leg as the scoreline didn't do justice to how close the game was. This time around they need to be more clinical in the final third. Simone Inzaghi needs to find a way to deal with Liverpool's explosiveness and high press. 

Three weeks ago, RB Salzburg caused an upset by holding Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw. The Bavarian side needed a 90th minute equalizer from Kingsley Coman but the job is not done. The return leg at Allianz Arena is the big one and Salzburg would have to play their hearts out to get the better of Bayern. Corentin Tolisso, Alphonso Davies and Leon Goretzka are all unavailable while Thomas Muller has recovered from his illness and is back in contention along with captain Manuel Neuer. Salzburg will be without Sekou Koita, Albert Vallci, Ousmane Diakite, Bryan Okoh, Jerome Onhuene and Noah Okafor. Benjamin Sesko and Oumar Solet on the other hand are expected to be back.

The biggest problem for the Austrian is a certain man called Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker hasn't scored in the last two games and will be keen to break the pattern. It is in matches like these where Lewandowski often turns up and produces a masterclass. Captain Neuer's return is a very big boost for Julian Nagelsman. Salzburg won their last game 4-0 against Altach while Bayern Munich drew at home against Leverkusen.

Also read: Real Madrid go 8 points clear while Barcelona and Atlético enter top 4

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