14.03.2016 14:03 h

Defiant Juve throw down gauntlet to 'formidable' Bayern

Juventus will look to end "formidable" Bayern Munich's bid for Champions League glory by taking the game to the Bundesliga giants from the off, says midfielder Claudio Marchisio.

Bayern host the Italian champions at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday looking to seal their fifth consecutive quarter-final appearance in Europe's premier club competition.

And going at their first leg performance, Pepe Guardiola's men are widely expected to succeed.

Despite a decimated central defence three weeks ago in Turin, Bayern handed Juve a footballing masterclass, taking a 2-0 lead by the 55th minute before the Italian side regrouped to draw 2-2 and leave Juve, defeated 3-1 in last year's final by Barcelona, with the belief that all is not yet lost.

Marchisio admits Bayern are formidable, but he believes the Germans can expect a different Juventus side to the one they met in Turin.

Juve are now unbeaten in 19 consecutive games and Gianluigi Buffon has not conceded for 10 games -- a run that has left him just four minutes shy of overcoming Sebastian Rossi's decades-old unbeaten record of 929 minutes in Serie A.

"Bayern are a formidable team, but so are we. Just look at how much we've progressed in recent years, and come back into contention this season," Marchisio told www.juventus.com.

"We have what it takes to go there, without fear, and challenge them for a place in the quarter-finals. It won't be easy, but it's not impossible.

"Look at the first leg. We saw and experienced their strength, but the fact we fought our way back into a match in which we'd been dominated for 45 minutes gave us an indication of our own strength as well."

He added: "The first leg result puts them in the driving seat, so we can't afford to go there and sit back. We have to just go for it."

It was in the Juve dressing room at half-time last time out that the Italians finally awoke from their slumber and Paulo Dybala launched their salvage operation with his first goal in the competition on 63 minutes.

Patrice Evra knows Bayern only too well, having lost twice (2010 and 2014) in the quarter-finals to the Bundesliga giants when he played at Manchester United.

The French left-back is desperate to avoid another reverse in Bavaria, but he believes Juve's first leg display last time out has taught an unforgettable lesson.

"I think more than anything it showed us we have what it takes to do Bayern some damage," Evra said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The first 20 minutes we were far too tame... we didn't believes in ourselves and we were far too anxious.

"It's a question of psychology, because now we know that Bayern are vulnerable. I'm not trying to be arrogant. I respect all our opponents but let's not forget that last year we got to the final and every year in Europe you have to try and confirm yourself.

"Everyone thinks we've lost this tie, but we believes in ourselves. If I didn't, I'd ask the coach to leave me on the bench on Wednesday."

While Juve warmed up for Wednesday's decider with a 1-0 win over Sassuolo on Friday, a free-scoring Bayern put five unanswered goals past Werder Bremen on Saturday.

But defender Leonardo Bonucci insists: "It's a massive game for us, but we're going to Munich with the enthusiasm of a team that's looking to get to the next phase.

"We know how strong they are, but they they're not flawless and we will try to hit them on their weak points."