Bayern Munich-Manchester City is a match valid for the return leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League and is played on Wednesday at 9 p.m.: TV, predictions.
The recent form of the two teams spoke volumes. And there was every indication that Pep Guardiola’s team would win. No one, however, could have imagined such a wide gap between Manchester City and Bayern Munich. And instead, the match at Etihad Stadium seven days ago turned out to be a nightmare for Thomas Tuchel’s men, who sank under the blows of the reigning English champions, who now “see” the semifinal.
The Citizens in the first leg of the most anticipated quarterfinal and dubbed by all an early final scrambled the Bavarians 3-0 in a match almost without history, mortgaging passage to the round. Only a sporting catastrophe, in fact, could prevent Haaland and his teammates from landing among Europe’s top four and challenging the winner of the double-header between Real Madrid and Chelsea. Qualification is in the bag, double-locked thanks to goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and the Norwegian slinger, now determined to reap all kinds of records. Manchester City brought to the surface the shortcomings of Bayern Munich, which showed up without any role strikers and inconsistent offensively. And with a fragile defense, as it has repeatedly appeared in the current edition of the Bundesliga. No trace of the team that in the round of 16 had been able to send home the Psg of Mbappé and Messi, who had run out of goals between the first leg and the return leg. Guardiola and his battleship did what they wanted, confirming the sensational moment they are going through.
City is in steamroller mode
The Tuchel cure, which took over from the exonerated Nagelsmann during the last national team break, is not working. With the former Psg and Chelsea coach at the helm, Bayern Munich has had two wins and a draw in the league, but also two defeats in the cups: the one with Freiburg in the German Cup cost them elimination, and they are in danger of doing the same with Manchester City in the Champions League.
Tuchel and Guardiola
Disappointing also was last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim, a half-hearted misstep that did not allow the Bavarians to stretch ahead of Borussia Dortmund, which was held back in turn by Stuttgart. Bayern remains at +2 on the Yellowoneri and that sense of omnipotence we had come to know in the past seasons is only a distant memory: with Edin Terzic’s lineup, a tight duel looms until the last day. The quarrel between Mané and Sané – the former Liverpool man after the final whistle of the Manchester match threw a punch at his teammate – is evidently a symptom of a few too many tensions within the locker room. Bursting with health, on the other hand, are the Citizens, who thanks to Arsenal’s new setback – a second consecutive draw for the Gunners – have reopened the title fight. On Saturday, City swept aside Leicester (3-1) bringing themselves to -4 from the Londoners, who have played one more game and will soon face a direct clash. Ten consecutive wins for Guardiola’s men between competitions – they are still in the running on three fronts – and in their last six games they have never scored less than three goals.
Bayern Munich-Manchester City: latest lineup news
Mané was ruled out for disciplinary reasons against Hoffenheim but is ready to return to the cup. The former Liverpool Senegalese will start from the bench, as will Choupo-Moting. The Cameroonian striker is available again after his injury and there could be space for him in the match. We will see Muller again in the role of false nueve, with the trio of Coman, Musiala and Sané behind him. Neuer and Lucas Hernandez are unavailable.
Guardiola will have to do without only Foden, who is back from appendicitis surgery. The Catalan coach will reintroduce the 3-2-4-1, with Stones and Rodri protecting the defense. In front, many offensive players, from Bernardo Silva to Grealish, via Gundogan and De Bruyne to the unfailing Haaland, “dosed” in the last Premier match with Leicester.
The prediction
A Bavarian comeback right now is pure science fiction. Against a Manchester City that seems to know no obstacles, the chances of achieving the feat are almost nonexistent. All that is left for Bayern Munich, urged on by its public, is a proud performance in an attempt to forget the first leg drubbing. There should be no shortage of goals in a challenge that promises to be wide open, from at least three goals in total. The hosts this time will in all likelihood manage to at least avoid defeat. Watch out for the usual Haaland, who has already scored six goals against the Bavarians in his career.
Bayern Munich-Manchester City likely lineups
- BAYERN MONACO (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Pavard, de Ligt, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Coman, Musiala, Sané; Müller.
- MANCHESTER CITY (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Akanji, Rúben Dias, Aké; Stones, Rodri; Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Gündoğan, Grealish; Haaland.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
