Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini (left) runs behind Arjen Robben.

Juventus have a tough task on their hands as they seek to keep alive their European dream and overturn a two-goal deficit against Bayern Munich in tonight’s quarter-final, second leg, in Turin.

The Bianconeri warmed up for this evening’s clash with an uninspiring 2-1 win over Serie A strugglers Pescara at the Juventus Stadium on Saturday to preserve their nine-point lead at the top of the standings.

Today’s match will be different though and Juve must lift their game significantly to reach their first Champions League semi-final in a decade.

Bayern, the newly-crowned Bundesliga winner, will be in high spirits today. Last weekend, they sealed their 23rd German title in record fashion and were declared champions with six matches to spare following a 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Bavarians’ dominant performance in the 2-0 first-leg win over Juve at the Allianz Arena makes them clear favourites to reach their second successive Champions League semi-final and a third in the last four years.

Juve coach Antonio Conte has to come up with a wily plan today. He is not one who goes down without a fight and will be trying to infuse his combative spirit into his players to turn the tie in their favour.

History is on Juve’s side.

In fact, they’ve won all five European quarter-finals played against German opposition so far.

Bayern have previously been found wanting when it comes to underline their supremacy. Take last year’s final against Chelsea for instance.

All was set for Bayern’s fifth Champions League triumph when they hosted the May 19 showdown at their own Allianz Arena.

The Bavarians had concentrated most of their efforts on the Champions League last season but we all know what happened and how Chelsea returned to London with the cup in their bags after a tense penalty shoot-out win.

Also, in the previous round against Arsenal, Bayern had opened a seemingly unassailable 3-1 first leg lead at the Emirates Stadium before agonisingly going down 0-2 at their own backyard.

Meanwhile, Juve’s upset in Munich last week not only ended Juve’s 18-match positive run in Euro club competitions but also exposed in no small way their frailties with respect to one of the strongest European sides this season.

Juve’s blunt attack and the over-reliance of veteran playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who was tightly marked in Munich, will not be solved until the next transfer window with the signing of new players.

Results attained in recent years amply testify that Bayern Munich are better equipped than Juventus and enjoy better credentials to challenge for the major.

For most critics of the game, Juventus still have some catching-up to do with respect to Europe’s best sides at the moment including Spanish giants Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

However, many pundits in Italy are still convinced that Juve have enough quality within their ranks to give the Germans a good run for their money.

Bayern start favourites but if Juve show the same kind of fighting spirit they have been exhibiting with Conte as coach, nothing could be ruled out tonight.