Champions League: Bayern Out to Restore Pride – and Personal Relations!

Bayern Munich vs Manchester City

It could well be mission impossible for Bayern Munich in their quest to turn around their Champions League quarter-final tie.

My tip to win the tournament are facing an emphatic exit at this stage for the second year in a row, unless they can pull off one of the great escapes of modern times.

Realistically, it just won’t happen.

Talking Points

That’s because they are up against a team at the top of their game in Manchester City and the English champions’ advantage – 3-0 after a statement performance – should not be overcome.

Where does this leave the German champions?

Well, they remain a force and, despite being held on Saturday, are on course for an 11th straight Bundesliga title.

Perhaps this tie simply came too soon in the reign of Thomas Tuchel, who masterminded Chelsea’s Champions League final victory over Pep Guardiola and City two seasons ago.

Pep Guardiola of Manchester City and Thomas Tuchel of Bayern Munich meet for their Champions League second leg match — Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Bayern Munich’s Thomas Tuchel before their first leg match

For now, they want to restore some pride on Wednesday night in the Allianz Arena and show there is far more substance to them on Europe’s biggest stage.

Tuchel could certainly have done without the fallout from the first leg which saw them leave Sadio Mane out of their squad for Saturday’s league match against Hoffenheim amid reports he punched team-mate Leroy Sane.

The pair reportedly had to be separated by teammates after the altercation with Senegal forward Mane dropped because of ‘misconduct’ and the club also confirming he will be fined.

German newspaper Bild said the two-time African footballer of the year had complained about the way Germany winger Sane spoke to him after the defeat.

After flying back to Germany, Mane was picked up privately at the airport while Sane got the team bus.

The pair were back in training together by Thursday morning as Tuchel looks to put the matter behind them.

While the news coming out of the Bavarian dressing room is very negative, City’s bulletin is positively bouncing.

None more so than Bernardo Silva who delivered a complete one-man guide to elite-level football with an imperious first-leg display.

A contest in which he was described as being utterly masterful, starting the game in the bespoke right-wing super presser role that Guardiola has set aside for him in the current version of City.

And then there is Erling Haaland, 47 goals in 40 games so far this season and showing no signs of stopping.

Stopping him and restoring some pride is surely about the best Bayern can hope for?

History

The history between these two sides is limited to seven clashes in this competition – six of them in the group stages.

Last week’s first leg edged City ahead by four victories to three and there hasn’t been a single draw. The seven matches have certainly been responsible for Champions League 2023 highlights as they have averaged more than three goals a game (22 total).

City’s first foray into the Champions League saw them paired with Bayern in the 2011/12 group stage as Roberto Mancini looked to make a splash on the European stage.

Jupp Heynckes’ side brushed them off in their first meeting, with Mario Gomez scoring twice in a 2-0 home win, to leave City’s knockout stage hopes in jeopardy.

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Despite rallying in the final four games, including a 2-0 win in Manchester, it was not enough as they bowed out at the first hurdle in their first Champions League.

City were drawn in the same group as Bayern again in 2013/14, with Guardiola in charge of the Germans and guiding them to a 3-1 win on his first trip to Manchester, before an impressive showing from Manuel Pellegrini’s team sealed a 3-2 fightback victory in the return fixture.

The familiarity stretched into the following 2014/15 campaign as Sergio Aguero inspired City to a 3-2 home win to drag Pellegrini’s team over the line to another last-16 spot. Bayern had won 1-0 at home.