November 26, 2024

Manchester City vs Bayern Munich: Goal, Rodri makes it 1-0 from a screamer

Rodri #Rodri

© Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images Halftime observations and analysis

  • Can’t cross, can’t shoot, can’t dribble. That sums up Bayern Munich’s attack today. Absolutely nothing has clicked up front so far. The best chance, a Musiala shot early in the game, feels like it happened ages ago. If anything happens, it’ll need to be a moment of magic like the De Ligt goal on Saturday.
  • Once again, Bayern have conceded first in a Champions League quarter final. This is the kind of self-inflicted wound that has kept this team out of a semi final for three years.
  • The press has been disappointingly passive. Manchester City can afford to take their time on the ball, and when they do pass, their moves are so much more crisp than Bayern’s. This game feels very unequal at the moment.
  • Halftime: Bayern Munich losing 1-0.

    42’ — De Ligt is off the pitch after rolling his ankle. If he’s out, this is game over for Bayern.

    27’ — Goal. Rodri bends it in from well outside the box.

    Kickoff: We’re underway at the Etihad! Can Bayern beat Man City?

    One hour until kickoff: Lineups are out! In a surprise turn of events, Thomas Muller has been benched with Tuchel opting for a front four of Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane, and Kingsley Coman. No Joao Cancelo either, Benjamin Pavard starts in his place. Joshua Kimmich captains the team from midfield.

    It feels like barely any time has passed since Thomas Tuchel got hired by Bayern Munich, and here he is coaching in a Champions League quarter final. The circumstances are rather unique since coaches never get fired this late in the season if they’re still in the CL, but Bayern is a rather unique club.

    This time it’s not Villarreal, but Manchester City who stand between the Bavarians and a long-desired UCL semi final. It’ll be the first time Pep Guardiola has faced his former team in his time as coach of Man City, which is crazy when you think about how many games these two teams tend to play in Europe every year. He’ll be facing the coach who denied him the ultimate prize in the 2021 final, who he knows well from his time at BVB and Chelsea.

    Bayern Munich will not have a striker in this game. There are questions about Joao Cancelo and whether he should start. Joshua Kimmich is a yellow card away from missing the second leg with a suspension. Leroy Sane, Sadio Mane, and Serge Gnabry are woefully out of form. It’s all very challenging from a coach’s perspective. Yet, these are the games you have to win to be counted among Europe’s best.

    It’s Bayern time.

    While you’re waiting for the game, why not check out our newest podcast episode? We have a very in-depth (and potentially depressing) discussion about how Bayern Munich stacks up against Man City. Listen to it below or on Spotify.

    Match Info

    Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England

    Time: 9:00 pm local time, 3:00 pm EST

    TV/streaming: Paramount+, Find Your Country

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