Good evening! The Champions League is well and truly back and it returns this evening with arguably the standout tie of the last 16 as Juventus host Bayern Munich in Turin. These two European heavyweights have reached the final of this competition 18 times between them down the years, and tonight's match promises to be a fascinating contest between two teams who are sweeping everyone aside domestically at the moment. First things first, though, let's take a look at the team news...

JUVENTUS STARTING XI: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Cuadrado, Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba; Mandzukic, Dybala

JUVENTUS SUBS: Neto, Rugani, Sturaro, Pereyra, Hernanes, Zaza, Morata

BAYERN STARTING XI: Neuer; Lahm, Kimmich, Alaba, Bernat; Thiago, Robben, Vidal, Müller, Costa, Lewandowski

BAYERN SUBS: Ulreich, Benatia, Ribéry, Rafinha, Alonso, Götze, Coman

What can we make of those two sides, then? Well, the biggest headline as far as the hosts are concerned is the return of Mario Mandzukic up front after more than a month on the sidelines with a thigh injury. The Croat was a major doubt to face his former club, where he scored 39 goals in 74 appearances during a two-year spell, but he has been deemed fit enough to start alongside Dybala up front today.

Aside from that, it is pretty much the lineup we expected from Juventus, with four changes in all from the side that drew with Bologna on Friday. Two of those are the returns for Mandzukic and Dybala, while Sami Khedira and Juan Cuadrado are named in midfield. Paul Pogba, who squandered the best chances in that stalemate with Bologna, once again starts in the middle of the park too.

Interestingly, Morata drops to the bench for Juventus this evening despite the former Real Madrid man having a very impressive record in the Champions League knockout stages. He has scored six goals in eight starts in such matches and was instrumental in helping the Old Lady all the way to the final last season. He and Simone Zaza should provide Juve with plenty of attacking threat off the bench should they need it.

Juventus have been most impressive at the back so far this season, though, and they are unchanged in defence tonight, with Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci and Evra making up the quartet. The absence of Chiellini through a calf injury is certainly a blow, but they have been very hard to score past even without the battle-hardened Italy international in recent weeks especially. Buffon, as ever, tends the goal.

In the opposite goal to Buffon, arguably the finest keeper of his generation, is a man widely regarded as the best in the world today in the shape of Manuel Neuer. The German has helped Bayern to a formidable defensive record of their own this season and is always tough to beat. However, he is defend something of a makeshift defence tonight, with the likes of Boateng, Martinez and Badstuber all injured.

That means that Guardiola is once again forced into naming midfielder Kimmich and full-back Alaba as a central defensive partnership, which is certainly something that Juve will look to exploit this evening. Guardiola was particularly concerned about Juve's ability from set pieces heading into this match, and the inclusion of Mandzukic for the visitors will have done nothing to ease those concerns as they will be more of an aerial threat from open play now too.

In midfield, Bayern boast an array of talent, with the likes of Thiago, Robben, Costa and Vidal all starting, and Alonso, Ribery and Gotze on the bench. The latter two of those have only recently returned to the squad after injury and Guardiola has chosen not to throw them straight back in for such a big game. For Vidal, it is a return to Turin having switched between these two clubs last summer. He made 157 appearances and won four Serie A titles during this time for Juve.

There is no doubt that Bayern's main threat will come from Lewandowski and Muller tonight, though. The duo have combined for 56 goals between them already this season, including 39 in the league - a Bundesliga record for a strike partnership after 22 games of the season. Between them they have 12 goals in the Champions League this season, which is twice as many as Juve's entire squad have managed, and Lewandowski alone can top tonight's hosts' season tally.

The stars are very much out for both sides, then, and this one really does have all the makings of a classic between two of the biggest and best clubs in European football right now. Tonight's match will be a bigger one for Juventus than Bayern given their home advantage this evening, and the Old Lady may feel that they need a win by a couple of goals to give them a good chance at the Allianz Arena for the return leg on March 16.

It just so happens that Juve come into this match in tremendous form in front of their own fans. They have won their last 11 home games in all competitions and have conceded just two goals in their last 12 outings here, including an ongoing run of six consecutive clean sheets. Their unbeaten home record stretches back to the opening day of the season when they were beaten by Udinese, since when they have won 13 and drawn three.

Juventus actually got off to a pretty poor start in their search for a fifth consecutive Serie A title this season, winning just one of their first six games and only three of their opening 10. However, since October they have not been beaten, winning 15 in a row before that incredible streak came to an end on Friday. Even so, their unbeaten run continues and they remain one-point clear at the top of the table.

The Bologna draw also ended a 13-match winning streak in all competitions, a run that stretches back to their last appearance in the Champions League, when they were beaten by Sevilla. That defeat could very well prove to be a costly one for the Old Lady as it saw them surrender top spot in Group D to Manchester City, which in turn set up this showdown with one of Europe's top teams. Still, to be the best you have to beat the best, and Juve look like they are starting to re-establish themselves as a major force on the European stage.

Domestic dominance is almost a given at the moment for Massimiliano Allegri's side, and last season's run all the way to the Champions League final hinted that they were looking to muscle in on the top teams in Europe once again. Their record in the group stages was not particularly impressive, though, scoring only six goals, which is the lowest tally of any team to have reached the knockout stages and also the lowest tally in Group D itself. However, they did at least make it through to the knockout rounds, which is something they had failed to do in consecutive season since 2005-06.

They boast a formidable record at home in Europe too. They have lost just two of their last 45 home European outings, a run which stretches back to the start of the 2004-05 season. However, that may not actually be great news as far as tonight is concerned, because both of those defeats came at the hands of Bayern Munich, who are the only foreign team to have ever won at the Juventus Stadium. Should the visitors pull that feat off again tonight then they will need to become the first team to score past Juventus here in the Champions League this term.

It is the defensive record that has arguably been the most impressive thing of the lot when it comes to Juve's recent form. The idea of Italian teams being defence-minded is something of a tired cliche, but also hard to argue against in the form of Juventus, who have kept an incredible nine clean sheets in a row before tonight. The last goal they conceded was in a 2-1 win over Sampdoria on January 10 - 836 minutes ago, or almost 14 hours).

That is the task that stands before Bayern, then, but there aren't many teams around who will fancy their chances more than the Bavarians. I have already talked about the phenomenal scoring rate of Lewandowski and Muller, but as a team they fired in 19 goals in the group stages of this season's competition - more than treble the amount of Juventus and a tally matched only by Real Madrid. There is no doubt that, on their day, they have the ability to break through the most stubborn of defences.

Like Juventus, Bayern will be looking to transfer their domestic dominance onto the European stage this season, with Pep Guardiola's side looking likely to make it four league titles in a row this season. They are eight points clear of Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga having picked up 59 points from a possible 66 this season, losing only once. They have the best attack in the league and the best defence in the league, the latter of which by 12 goals.

Indeed, while many will take note of Juventus having kept nine clean sheets in a row heading into this match, it is worth remembering that Bayern have conceded just 11 times all season in the Bundesliga - a record that only Atletico Madrid can match across Europe's top five leagues. They kept four clean sheets in the Champions League groups too, with Arsenal the only team able to score past them on their way to the knockout rounds.

These two sides have an identical record of nine wins and a draw from their last 10 games, with Bayern also having remained unbeaten since early December. They were beaten 3-1 by Borussia Monchengladbach on December 5 for what is their only league defeat of the season and one of just two losses they have suffered in 32 matches in all competitions. Arsenal were the other side to gain the scalp of Guardiola's side, doing so to keep their hopes of reaching the last 16 alive.

Both of those defeats came away from home, and while their record on the road is one that the majority of other teams around the world would consider a formidable one, it perhaps suggests that a draw tonight would be a very good result, particularly if they can nick an away goal too. Bayern have won 13, drawn two and lost two of their away games this season, while at home they have been perfect so far, with 15 wins from 15 games.

If that away record in all competitions doesn't come into the 'poor' category, their record on the road in the Champions League is surprisingly bad. They have only won two of their last seven away games in this competition, with those both coming in this season's group stage. In knockout ties they have failed to win any of their last five away matches, drawing two and losing three, despite managing to make it to at least the semi-finals in five of the last six years.

It is a record that may have to improve if they are to get past a team of the calibre of Juventus, and failure to do so may well reflect negatively on Pep Guardiola's time at Bayern overall. He took over with the club having just won the treble and, while he has maintained their success in Germany, he has so far fallen short in Europe. Considering his high standards, not winning the Champions League before his move to Manchester City at the end of the season may be seen as a black mark on his record.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes away from kickoff in Turin, which means that it is time for a prediction! This is a match that I am really looking forward to, and hopefully the two European heavyweights can put on a good show. Juventus' home advantage just about gives them the edge for me, particularly given Bayern's recent away record in this competition, but the visitors certainly have the quality to end Juve's clean sheet run and get a valuable away goal. I'm going for a 2-1 home win on the night, which is a scoreline that neither side would be too unhappy with.

Bayern have been something of a bogey team for Juventus recently. As already mentioned, the Germans have won their last two away games against Juve, scoring six goals and conceded just the one in that time, including a 2-0 triumph in the 2012-13 quarter-finals. Bayern actually won 2-0 in both legs of that tie to clinch a 4-0 aggregate victory on their way to winning the whole thing under Jupp Heynckes.

Mandzukic was actually on the scoresheet for Bayern when these two sides last met back in April of 2013. That tie is the only time that these two have met in a Champions League knockout tie, but Juve are winless in their last four Champions League meetings with tonight's opponents, drawing one and losing three. The Bianconeri's last victory in this fixture came in November 2005 when a David Trezeguet brace helped them to a 2-1 win.

Juve do have a good home record against German opposition, despite Bayern's recent success here. They have won 14 and lost just five of the 22 previous times that they have hosted Bundesliga opposition, while Bayern have won seven, drawn three and lost nine of their away matches in Italy. Their last visit to these shores saw them pick up their record away win in European competition, thrashing Roma 7-1 in last season's group stages.

Right, we're just a couple of minutes away from kickoff in this mouth-watering clash now! It promises to be a cracker over the two legs, and one of the European big boys will be knocked out whatever happens.

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Juventus get us underway in Turin, with Martin Atkinson the referee for this high-profile clash.

SAVE! Juventus have a chance to get a shot on goal inside the opening seconds as one ball over the top finds Mandzukic in space, but he doesn't really catch his shot and Neuer gets down to make a simple stop.

Juventus are happy enough to sit off Bayern and allow them possession here, before looking to hit them on the break. The home fans are trying their best to make it a hostile environment here.

SAVE! Bayern have their first shooting chance, and it is come effort from Vidal as he fires a fine volley towards goal Buffon parries it away, though, and the attack eventually breaks down when Lewandowski's claims for a penalty are ignored.

This match has quickly settled into a pattern of Bayern controlling the ball and Juventus defending. The hosts wouldn't have expected to see too much of it tonight, but they need to be wary of showing Bayern too much respect here.

Already the possession stats are around 70% in Bayern's favour. You certainly wouldn't be able to tell that Juve are the home side here - Bayern are being allowed to knock the ball about too easily, playing their own game and dictating the tempo of the match.

Juventus just can't keep hold of the ball at the moment. They need to get themselves into this game as playing on the break for 90 minutes against Bayern is a dangerous game, particularly in the home leg of a two-legged tie.

CHANCE! Suddenly Juventus do get a chance as Pogba collects the ball in midfield before playing it down the left. The Ball is swung in towards Mandzukic, but he is stretching for the ball and can't steer it on target.

Douglas Costa has looked like a real handful already for Bayern, and he works a yard on his marker here only to drag his effort wide of the far post.

CHANCE! Oh my word, what a huge chance this is for Bayern! Kimmich gives the ball to Lahm, who in turn slips it inside to Lewandowski. The deadly striker shows an unselfish streak when in a great position, squaring the ball to Muller for what looks like a simple finish. However, the ball is slightly behind him, and he can't get a shot away as Bonucci nips in to clear.

Bayern simply had to score there, but the way this match is going it won't be long before they get another. Their possession has edged up to 77% now - they are making a Champions League match against the Italian champions look like a training game at the moment.

Apologies if I am repeating myself here, but it really is one-way traffic at the moment for Bayern. They are in complete and utter control - it almost looks as though they have an extra man on the field.

Juventus finally manage to string a fairly decent set of passes together, but even then they can't even get out of their own half as Vidal wins the ball back and launches an attack.

YELLOW CARD! Douglas Costa becomes the first name in the book for a trip on Cuadrado, giving Juve a chance to put the ball in the box from a free kick. That was a soft card from Martin Atkinson, though.

Marchisio throws the resulting free kick into the middle and Bonucci climbs highest to meet it, but he can't get a clean connection and it bounces through tamely for Neuer to collect.

CHANCE! Another shooting chance for Bayern as Robben picks the ball up on the right side of the area, with it bouncing up invitingly for a volley. Robben lashes his effort goalwards, but it arrows a yard or so over the top.

Juve have threatened a couple of times already with a ball over the top, and Dybala is almost released here. It is a difficult one for the striker to bring down, though, and he just can't manage it. He would have been clean through on goal had he brought that under his spell.

The ball almost breaks for Muller in the box, but this time it is his turn to fail to control the pass. This Juve defence will need to keep at 100% concentration throughout this game if they are to survive, you feel.

Juventus are being forced back very deep when defending at the moment, with Bayern spending a lot of time with their 10 outfield players in the hosts' half. Surely this can't be Juve's game plan over the two legs?

SAVE! Another chance for Bayern as a cross from the right flank finds its way to Bernat on the edge of the box. The full-back fires one at goal that Buffon doesn't deal with as well as he would like, but Bonucci is there to mop up the danger.

CHANCE! Buffon is called into action again here as Thiago swings a free kick into the middle. A huddle of bodies are up competing for it, and it looks to be Lewandowski who gets the touch that takes it into the arms of the Juve keeper.

The only thing Juve can be pleased with so far in this match is that it remains goalless. They have been made to look distinctly average by this Bayern Munich side so far, and they are still giving them too much respect.

I said before the game that a draw would be a good result for Bayern tonight, but the way this match has gone it is turning into a great result for Juve. They need to change something sooner rather than later if they are to win tonight, which they probably need to considering Bayern have won every single home match they have played this season.

Bayern have made things look so easy in this match so far, but Juve have made it pretty easy for them too. The hosts have not done themselves justice at all so far tonight.

Good block from Evra to deny Robben, who collects the ball on the right after Buffon had palmed away a dangerous cross from Costa.

CHANCE! A half-chance for Bayern again here as the resulting corner is met by Robben, who attacks it really well. He can't connect with it cleanly, though, and the ball goes a couple of yards wide.

Juve make a rare break forward into the Bayern half down the left, but Dybala's low ball into the middle is cut out by Alaba for a corner, which comes to nothing.

Bayern finally make the breakthrough! Robben comes forward down the right and stands a cross up towards the back post, where Costa is waiting to knock it into a dangerous position. The ball is cleared straight to Muller who, as usual, is in the right place at the right time to simply stroke the ball home. Nothing more than the visitors deserve here, and Juve's long run without conceding a goal comes to an end!

There will be just the one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

A late penalty shout for the hosts, albeit mainly from the stands. The ball drops to Dybala in the error and he is just levered off it by Vidal, resulting in the penalty shouts. Atkinson is right to wave it away, though.

Martin Atkinson blows the half-time whistle in Turin, and it is Bayern who have a deserved lead at the break. It was a masterclass of possession from the visitors at times as they controlled the tempo of the game and utterly dominated things. Despite only being one behind at the break, it is bordering on embarrassing for Juventus, who were simply outclassed on their own patch in that opening 45 minutes.

The goal arrived just a couple of minutes before half time when Robben stood up a cross to Costa at the back post and the Brazilian knocked it back inside towards Lewandowski. Juve were able to get their first, but the ball was only cleared as far Muller, who calmly stroked it home with a relatively simple finish.

Juve have made the rare threat on the break, with Mandzukic having the hosts' two best sights of goals, but for the most part it has been one-way traffic for Bayern. It has been quite incredible to see just how much they have dominated against a side who made it all the way to the Champions League final last season and have been unstoppable in Italy recently. They have just looked at a much, much higher level to Juve.

In truth, the lead should be more than just the one at half time, with Muller squandering another glorious opening after just 13 minutes. Lahm slipped a pass inside to Lewandowski, who unselfishly helped it on its way to Muller for what looked like it would be a simple finish. However, it was just too far behind the German, who couldn't touch it over the line before Bonucci nipped in to clear the danger.

KICKOFF: Bayern get us back underway for the second half here in Turin, and as expected the hosts have made a change at the break. Hernanes comes on in place of Marchisio.

It is early days, but the signs are a little more encouraging for Juventus at the start of this second half. They are showing a little more energy in defence and looking to press Bayern a little higher up the field.

Poor from Evra as he just stops playing up against Lewandowski, thinking that the ball is out of play. In fairness to the full-back, he is right, but the linesman doesn't flag it and Lewandowski is allowed to send a dangerous ball into the box that Juve just about deal with.

SHOT! For all Bayern's slick passing so far, Alaba goes for something different here, letting fly with a swerving shot from range. It is a decent effort that has Buffon a little concerned, but it flies narrowly over the top.

Juve have a chance to break down the right, but a terrible pass inside puts paid to their short-lived hopes of harming this Bayern side. There has been very little for the home fans to shout about so far tonight.

Could that be tie over? Bayern get their second with a lightning counter-attack as Lewandowski shrugs off Bonucci to collect a through-ball. He has Muller in support, but waits instead for Robben, who he sends a little further wide than he might like. It is obvious what Robben is looking to do from that point in, but Juve are unable to prevent him from cutting inside and bending his shot into the far corner.

Juve have a chance to come up with an immediate response here with a free kick in a very promising position...

It is Pogba who goes for goal, but his effort hits the top of the wall and goes behind for a corner.

Bayern aren't settling for just the two goals here as a cross is swung in towards the near post, which Lewandowski attacks really well. He gets there in front of his marker, but is unable to steer his diving header on target.

Juventus need to throw caution to the wind here. They have not been in this match whatsoever and need to try something drastic if they are to get back into the tie. Bayern have a 100% home record in all competitions this season, so Juve's chances of overturning a 2-0 deficit in the second leg is slim to none.

Now then! They needed a goal, and they have got one through Dybala, who breaks his Champions League duck. It comes via a defensive error as Kimmich allows the ball to squirm underneath his foot to Mandzukic, who in turns threads a pass through to Dybala. The striker 'only' has Neuer to beat, and keeps his cool to slot it into the bottom corner.

Madness from Mandzukic and he goes head to head with Lewandowski and thrusts it into the Bayern striker. Lewandowski returns the favour, and either player could have been sent off for that. Martin Atkinson, though, opts for leniency and doesn't even produce a card.

Muller almost has a chance to extend Bayern's two-goal lead as he throws himself towards a cross from the left, but it is just too far in front of him.

CHANCE! Great counter from Juventus, and they should be level here! Mandzukic wins a 50-50 with a less-than-committed Vidal that sees the ball break kindly for him and race down the left in space. He sends the ball out to Cuadrado in space inside the box, but Neuer stands up to the shot and tips it over the top.

CLOSE! Juventus are beginning to threaten now! The resulting corner drops to Pogba on the edge of the box, but his curling effort flies narrowly over the angle. Not a bad effort at all!

JUVENTUS SUB: Another change from the home side as Stefano Sturaro replaces Khedira.

YELLOW CARD! Lewandowski becomes the second player in the book for clipping the heels of Cuadrado.

This final 20 minutes is set up to be a lot more interesting than might have been expected when Bayern scored their second of the evening. Juve have certainly brought themselves more into the game as the night has wore on, but anything other than a Bayern win tonight would be very unjust.

BAYERN SUB: Pep Guardiola turns to his bench for the first time tonight as Bernat is replaced by Mehdi Benatia.

JUVE SUB: The hosts respond with their final change, and it is an interesting one as goalscorer Dybala is replaced by Alvaro Morata.

Morata is immediately involved as he goes for goal first time having been found by Cuadrado's pass, but he doesn't catch his shot and it is easy for Neuer.

This certainly did not look likely earlier in the half when Bayern led by two goals! Sturaro brings Juventus level by steering the ball into the roof of the net from close range after Morata had sent a well-directed header into his path. What a turnaround!

I must confess, I thought this tie was over at 2-0 to Bayern. The visitors had been utterly dominant up to that point and, with two away goals, looked home and dry. Juve have fought back brilliantly, though, and still have more than 10 minutes to find a winner tonight.

YELLOW CARD! Morata goes into the book for a challenge on Robben.

This one is really up for grabs now. Juve are suddenly full of belief that they can pull off what would be a remarkable comeback considering how dominant Bayern were in the opening hour of this contest.

CHANCE! Almost a chance for Juventus as first Morata's cross runs through before Lichtsteiner hangs it back into the middle for Pogba, who steers his header too high.

BAYERN SUB: Franck Ribery steps up his recovery from injury with another sub appearance here, replacing Costa.

It is Bayern who are looking the more dangerous of the two sides right now as we enter the final few minutes of what has been a thoroughly entertaining encounter.

Brilliant from Ribery down the left as he jinks his way to the byline before firing a fine ball right across the face of goal that is just begging to be knocked in.

CHANCE! Thiago whips a corner into the box that Benatia meets with a firm header, but it lacks a bit of power and accuracy, going just over the top.

YELLOW CARD! Vidal picks up a late booking and, crucially, concedes a free kick in a dangerous free kick when dragging Morata to ground. No complaints there.

CHANCE! The initial delivery is cleared, but Juve keep up the pressure and the ball eventually falls to Bonucci on the edge of the box. He strikes a volley towards goal, but it is straight at Neuer.

We are now into the second of three added minutes, by the way.

The first leg comes to an end in this blockbuster European tie, then, and so far it has lived up to the billing. Bayern will be wondering just how they haven't won this game tonight having utterly dominated for an hour and taken a two-goal lead through Muller and Robben. Juventus fought back in the final half an hour, though, and while it is still an uphill battle for last season's runners-up, the goals from Dybala and Sturaro certainly give them a better chance.

That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's first leg as Juventus come from behind to rescue a draw with Bayern Munich in Turin. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction from both camps. There is more Champions League action on offer tomorrow night too, so be sure to check back in with us for that. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!