Bayern and Juve draw a blank

FC Bayern München and Juventus failed to make the most of their opportunities, the two heavyweights playing out a goalless draw to maintain their unbeaten records in UEFA Champions League Group A.

Heavyweight contest
The two sides boast six European Champion Clubs' Cups between them but punched below their weight in front of goal as they were unable to convert a number of chances in Munich. Bayern enjoyed the lion's share of possession and will be the more disappointed with the stalemate, although they nevertheless have two more points than Ciro Ferrara's Juventus, who extended their unbeaten run to 14 matches in all competitions.

Free flowing
With Oktoberfest in full swing in Munich, the teams were clearly in the mood to produce an equally intoxicating spectacle with the opening minutes as free-flowing as the beer in the Bavarian capital. While David Trezeguet delivered an inviting cross into the Bayern box, the hosts almost registered a breakthrough goal barely four minutes in. Arjen Robben skipped effortlessly inside Fabio Grosso before slanting a low ball into the feet of Thomas Müller. The youngster's clipped shot from an acute angle had the entire Bayern bench on its feet, but their expectations were denied as the ball dropped fractionally wide of the far post.

Breathtaking
Former Werder Bremen playmaker Diego was keen to impress on his return to Germany and forced Hans-Jörg Butt into his first save of the night, yet the Brazilian found himself upstaged by Bayern's own source of inspiration, Franck Ribéry. The Frenchman effected a breathtaking shimmy that took him past two defenders before impudently chipping Gianluigi Buffon, only for the ball to land on the roof of the net. Miroslav Klose then flashed a header narrowly over, but Juventus remained dangerous on the counterattack. Mauro Camoranesi fashioned a curling strike which Butt leapt full length to turn aside, before Trezeguet directed a half-volley centimetres wide of the top corner.

Robben off
Robben's injury-enforced exit close to half-time meant Bayern became ever more dependent on Ribéry for forward momentum after the break. The No7 – at once industrious and inspirational – duly obliged. Breaking at pace down his favoured left flank, Ribéry's low centre found Klose in front of goal, yet the forward, who played his first full 90 minutes since March on Saturday, miscued from close range. While Bayern had to work hard to create openings, Juventus were presented with an opportunity when Daniel Van Buyten misjudged a high ball, but Vincenzo Iaquinta spared the Belgian's blushes by wastefully firing over.

Iaquinta volley
The former Udinese Calcio striker almost made amends with ten minutes remaining, holding off Holger Badstuber and swivelling to send a curling volley just wide of Butt's left-hand upright. The introduction of record signing Mario Gómez for the tiring Klose failed to revive the Bayern attack, and Louis van Gaal will be hoping his forwards can rediscover their goalscoring touch ahead of two potentially decisive encounters with FC Girondins de Bordeaux, while Juve next face Maccabi Haifa FC.