Bayern Munich vs Man City LIVE: Pep’s side aim to seal deal in Germany after Champions League first leg
MANCHESTER CITY know it would take another dramatic collapse to be knocked out of the Champions League TONIGHT.
The Citizens famously came close to back-to-back finals last year.
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However, they somehow conceded a goal in the 90th, 91st and 95th minute and were eliminated in the semifinals by eventual winners Real Madrid.
This year they have a firm grip on the champions of 2020, Bayern Munich – and certainly won’t let another European giant out of their hands.
City were absolutely phenomenal in their emphatic 3-0 win at the Etihad last Tuesday.
Rodri’s 27th-minute scream broke the deadlock in the first leg of that delicious quarter-final, and two quick second-half strikes from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland ensured Pep’s men one foot in the semis.
Manchester City have lost just one of their last 20 games against German sides in the Champions League, won 16 and are unbeaten in their nine games against German sides in the knockout stages of the competition.
To make matters worse for Bayern, ex-Manchester City star Leroy Sane and Sadio Mane got into a physical altercation in the dressing room – the German appeared to have his lip split – potentially upsetting the Bundesliga giants even further has.
But as we’ve seen so many times with this famous competition, it’s not over until it’s over.
Bayern Munich will be looking to become just the fifth side to emerge from a two-legged Champions League knockout game after losing by three goals or more in the first leg.
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They would join Deportivo de La Coruña who beat AC Milan in 2003/04, Neymar’s Barcelona against PSG in 2016/17, Roma’s comeback against Barcelona in 2017/18 and of course Liverpool who beat Barcelona 4-0 in the second leg at Anfield in 2018 -19
Could the Bayern stars make a comeback that will last forever in front of the home fans at Allianz?
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Simply sparkling for City.
They have won their last ten games in all competitions by an aggregate score of 37-4 – a streak that includes RB Leipzig 7-0, Burnley 6-0 and Liverpool 4-1.
They were 3-0 against Leicester after 25 minutes on Saturday, so it was no surprise that Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Jack Grealish and John Stones all got away.
At Bayern it is much more patchy.
They have won once since beating Borussia Dortmund 4-2 in Thomas Tuchel’s first game at the top of the Bundesliga.
That was a 1-0 win in Freiburg on April 8, four days after the same opponents were eliminated in the DFB-Pokal.
The defeat at Etihad was followed by a 1-1 draw at relegation contenders Hoffenheim on Saturday.
What’s new from the team and are there any injuries to worry about?
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel could welcome Mane back after being slapped with a one-game house suspension for beating team-mate Sane.
Manuel Neuer (broken leg) and Lucas Hernandez (knee) are out, but Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting could return after suffering a knee problem of his own.
Elsewhere, Pep Guardiola has almost a full roster of fit players.
Only Phil Foden is a question after appendectomy but even he trained on Tuesday and could be involved.
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Who will the star men be?
Sane and Choupo-Moting both have four Champions League goals this season, one more than Mane.
The ex-City winger will need to find his best form at Allianz if Bayern are to have any chance of progressing – while Matthijs de Ligt and Dayot Upamecano are somehow trying to keep Haaland calm.
Of course, City’s talisman is the Norwegian hero with 47 goals. He added two more to his tally against the Foxes and put his feet up for the second half.
Few would bet against him adding another – but Stones is also proving to be a key cog in the side as his new midfield role behind the likes of De Buryne and Grealish bears plenty of fruit.
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What did the managers say?
Pep Guardiola: “If you only think about the result, what you have to do or what we have done in the past, that would be a big mistake for us.
“We have to play our game. That’s what we’ve been talking about for the past few days.
“We’re very focused on what we want to do, not just trying to control the game but punishing them, trying to score goals, trying to understand the game and not just that we’re playing one of the… most renowned, historical teams play in this competition.
“I don’t understand a situation just to come here and defend something. We come here to play a football game, 11 men against 11. We try to be better than our opponents in this particular game.”
Thomas Tuchel: “We need a miracle, a miracle.
“I don’t know if it’s appropriate to say it was 4-0 or 5-1 – you have to be realistic – but we believe in ourselves.
“It’s the second leg. If we can play a good first half, we can do it in the second. Anything is possible.
“It’s a huge mountain to climb and that’s why we have to believe in ourselves, but we don’t want to be dreamers. For me, dreaming is always close to falling asleep, and you can’t sleep for a second.
“We have to believe, and believing means that we have it in our own hands to make things happen. We must realize it through team spirit, performance and energy.
“We are not alone, we can fight as a team and we have our spectators ready to fight with us.”
SunSport Prediction
Bayern 1-2 Man City (Man City win 5-1 on aggregate)
When does Bayern play Man City?
- The delicious Champions League second leg of FC Bayern Munich against Manchester City takes place TODAY, 19.04.
- The start is scheduled for at 8 p.m. CET – 9 p.m. local time.
- The Allianz Arena is the assigned venue for this match and has a capacity of approximately 75,024 spectators.
- Manchester City took a 3-0 lead in the first leg.
What TV channel is it on and can it be streamed live?
- Bayern Munich vs Manchester City will be broadcast LIVE At BT sport 1 In the United Kingdom.
- Coverage begins at 7pm BST – a full hour before kick-off.
- BT Sport subscribers can stream all the action live via the BT Sport website or the BT Sport app.
- Alternatively, SunSport will provide up-to-the-minute coverage of the game, including build-up and post-game reactions.
How are the chances?
- Bayern wins 33/20
- Draw on 13.5
- Manchester City wins 7/5
To qualify
- Bavaria 12/1
- Manchester City 1/50
*Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes correct at time of publication
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