Speaking on his opposite number, Kovac added: "I am happy to go up against Igor. His coaching career doesn't surprise me. It is an exceptional achievement to have guided Juventus into the Champions League, and he did very well in France as well. Juventus have a lot of good players. We will see how it ends on Tuesday."

Dortmund are waiting on the fitness of Julian Brandt, who picked up a wrist injury and did not play against Heidenheim recently.

The Turin showdown is seen as one of the standout ties in the early rounds of the new Champions League format, where every point could prove crucial in securing a place in the knockout phase.

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The Blues face the Bavarians on Wednesday, but their squad is far from full strength heading into the tie.

Among the biggest concerns is forward Joao Pedro, who joined from Brighton in the off-season and has quickly established himself as one of Chelsea's brightest performers, adding energy and invention in attack.

He played 79 minutes in the 2-2 draw against Brentford but was not fully fit, with Maresca confirming he is still short of full sharpness.

Chelsea hope he will recover in time to feature against Bayern, though there is caution about rushing him back.

Teenage winger Estevao, expected to make an impact in both domestic and European competition this season, missed the Brentford clash after picking up an illness on international duty. No clear recovery timeline has been given.

Meanwhile, Romeo Lavia's persistent injury troubles continue. The midfielder has not played since suffering a muscle problem at the Club World Cup, although there is optimism he could return in the autumn.

Chelsea's absentee list does not end there. Dario Essugo recently underwent thigh surgery and is ruled out until 2026, while striker Liam Delap is unlikely to return before the end of the year with a hamstring problem.

Benoit Badiashile has resumed full training, but his match readiness remains uncertain, leaving him a doubt for

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