On Tuesday, Manchester City will host Bayern Munich in the opening leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie at the Etihad Stadium.
Team Form
Man City
Manchester City won a crucial game against Southampton by a score of 4-1 last weekend, which helped them keep pace with Arsenal in the title race. The team has won eight games in a row, and their late-season winning streak is in full flow.
During their eight-game winning run, Manchester City has scored an impressive 31 goals, which is a testament to their attacking prowess.
With Erling Haaland back to full health and leading the line, it’s no surprise that he has scored two more goals at St. Mary’s to take his tally to 30 Premier League goals for the season.
Haaland’s contribution to the team’s success cannot be overstated. He played a key role in their progress to the current stage of the competition, scoring five goals in a dominant 7-0 thrashing of RB Leipzig, another German opponent. This win confirmed an 8-1 aggregate victory in the last 16.
Man City Form (All Competitions): W W W W W
Bayern Munich
Despite sitting at the top of the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich has been less convincing than Manchester City in their domestic league. Thomas Tuchel’s mixed start as the head coach of Bayern adds even more pressure to the upcoming tie.
Bayern’s former coach, Julian Nagelsmann, led the team to a comfortable qualification from a difficult Champions League group, including Barcelona and Inter Milan. They then continued their form in the last 16 by defeating Paris Saint-Germain, winning both ties.
In contrast, Tuchel’s first game in charge of Paris Saint-Germain saw Bayern comfortably beat title rivals Dortmund at the Allianz Arena. However, this was followed by a shock cup defeat to Freiburg, resulting in their exit from the DFB-Pokal at the quarter-final stage.
Bayern Munich Form (All Competitions): W L W L W
Squad Report
Man City
Pep Guardiola will be delighted to know that he has a near-fully fit squad for this crucial match. The only absentee is Phil Foden, who is still recovering from having his appendix removed.
Bayern Munich
Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern side will be without a fit natural centre forward, as Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting is set to miss out due to a knee problem.
Manchester City’s possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Akanji, Ruben Dias, Ake; Stones, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland
Bayern Munich’s possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Pavard, De Ligt, Upamecano, Davies; Goretzka, Kimmich, Sane, Musiala, Coman; Muller
Head to Head
The two teams have met on eight occasions, with Manchester City winning five times and Bayern Munich winning three times. Interestingly, there have been no draws in any of their previous encounters.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Tuesday, April 11
Time: 08:00 pm, BST
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Prediction
While Manchester City has been in excellent form lately, with an eight-game winning streak and 31 goals scored in that period, they may still face a tough challenge from Bayern Munich.
The German side has an impressive record in England, having gone unbeaten in their last four trips, winning three.
Moreover, Bayern Munich has dominated the Champions League this season, having won all eight of their games so far.
This makes them a formidable opponent for Manchester City, and the match promises to be a true heavyweight clash between two of Europe’s best teams.
