Despite leading 2-1 from the first leg, the tie is still delicately poised as the Italians require just a 1-0 victory to go through themselves, all thanks to Per Kroldrup's away goal at the Allianz Arena.

Hot favourites

Bayern remain hot favourites to progress as they take on a crisis-ridden Fiorentina side who have won just two or their last ten outings in Serie A, stark contrast to Louis van Gaal's charges who extended their unbeaten run to 18 matches with a 1-1 draw at 1. FC Köln on Saturday.

The Munich Reds will be without Argentinean stopper Martin Demichelis after he fractured a cheekbone in his country's friendly against Germany last week, while rising star Diego Contento will miss out with a gashed knee. Star man Franck Ribery should be fit to start but continues to labour with a niggling ankle injury. Daniel van Buyten, on the other hand, has recovered faster than expected from a thigh tear and should start at centre-back.

Keep it tight

Fiorentina go into the match on the back of a 2-1 home defeat by Juventus, who Bayern of course thumped 4-1 in their final group stage match. Alessandro Gamberini remains sidelined with a shoulder injury that will likely keep him out until the end of the season, while Felipe will deputise for the suspended Massimo Gobbi at left-back. The good news for Tuesday night's hosts is that Mario Santana has recovered from a calf problem and will be available for selection.

The mission is clear for Bayern - avoid defeat and they're into the quarter finals. A repeat of last season's 1-1 group stage draw would certainly do the trick for the Bavarian giants, but no doubt the in-form Germans will be going for the jugular to make absolutely sure of their progression in Europe's premier club competition.


Probable teams:

Fiorentina: S. Frey - de Silvestri, Natali, Kröldrup, Pasqual - Montolivo, Bolatti - Marchionni, Jovetic, Vargas - Gilardino

Bayern: Butt - Hamit Altintop, van Buyten, Badstuber, Lahm - van Bommel, Schweinsteiger - Robben, Ribery - T. Müller, Gomez


Andy James