Bayern munich vs Man city preview
Watch Bayern munich vs Manchester city preview as Man city Returns from the stomping without a courtesy, man city is ready to bounce back in the second leg of the quarter finals of the champions league at Allianz arena.
The action on the field at the Etihad Stadium was striking enough without Sadio Mane allegedly striking Leroy Sane in the face after the final whistle, as a faltering Bayern Munich side were served a slice of humble pie to leave their continental dreams hanging by the thinnest of threads.
A first-half Rodri stunner preceded Bernardo Silva’s header and an obligatory goal for Erling Braut Haaland in a Manchester mauling, although a besotted Tuchel bizarrely claimed that he “fell in love” with his team, but there was no such infatuation from the ex-Chelsea boss at the weekend.
Letting a slender lead slip to draw 1-1 with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, where Andrej Kramaric cancelled out a Benjamin Pavard effort, Bayern hold just a two-point lead over Tuchel’s former club Borussia Dortmund atop the standings, and the Star of the South could very well end a season of transition with just the DFL-Supercup to their name.
So far, the board’s brash decision to part ways with Julian Nagelsmann has not been vindicated, as Tuchel has won just two of his first five games at the helm, and Bayern have just one clean sheet to show from their last seven matches – not a reassuring statistic before facing Haaland and co, and neither is a two-game winless run at the Allianz Arena.
However, it has been over three years since the hosts failed to score in a competitive fixture at the Allianz Arena – drawing 0-0 with RB Leipzig in February 2020 – but only four teams have ever progressed from a Champions League knockout tie when losing the first leg by three goals or more, and none since Liverpool’s infamous Barcelona comeback of 2019.
Team News and Injury
Following a disagreement on the Etihad pitch, attacking duo Mane and Sane were involved in an astonishing dressing room bust-up – where the former purportedly left his teammate with a swollen lip from a punch – and he was dropped from the squad to face Hoffenheim at the weekend.
However, Tuchel has confirmed that the Senegal international will return to the squad for the second leg, which is more than can be said for long-term absentees Manuel Neuer (leg) and Lucas Hernandez (ACL), while youngsters Paul Wanner (jaw) and Gabriel Marusic (ACL) are out of contention too.
On a more positive note, striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting – an unlikely success story with 17 goals this season – is back in training following a knee injury, but it remains to be seen if he will be given the green light to start the second leg.
Regarding the travelling contingent, Guardiola has surprisingly been able to welcome Phil Foden back from appendix surgery for the journey to the Allianz Arena, and he will take a place on the bench here.
Having seen his players put Leicester to the sword before the half-time whistle blew, Guardiola once again denied Haaland a hat-trick by bringing him off at half time, while Stones, Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne were also brought off early doors in anticipation for the second leg.
With 11 continental goals to his name so far, one more strike for Haaland on Wednesday would draw him level with Ruud van Nistelrooy for the most Champions League goals in a single campaign by a Premier League player – the Dutchman netted 12 for Manchester United in 2002-03.
Man city vs Bayern Munich Head to head stats
Bayern Munich have lost their last two matches against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League – as many defeats as their had suffered in their first five such games in the competition.
Among teams that have faced them at least five teams in the UEFA Champions League, Manchester City are one of only three teams to have won at least half of their games against Bayern Munich in the competition.
Manchester City have lost only one of their last 20 games against German opponents in the UEFA Champions League, with their only such defeat coming again RB Leipzig in the 2021-22 season.
Bayern Munich lost the first leg by 3-0 scoreline – only three teams have overturned such a deficit in a knockout tie in the competition.
After three consecutive defeats against Thomas Tuchel’s teams, Pep Guardiola has won each of his last three such matches in all competitions without conceding a single goal.
Bayern vs Man city Prediction
Rival territory was not kind to Man City during the group stages, and Bayern’s affinity for goals at the Allianz Arena should at least lead to a flicker of hope for Tuchel’s side, which may quickly be extinguished.
The Champions League-winning nous in Bayern’s ranks counted for nought at the Etihad, and it should be a similar story against Man City’s well-rested and goal-happy crop, as they stroll into the final four with a comprehensive beating of the Bavarians.
