The Champions of England, Manchester City will face the Champions of Germany, Bayern Munich, in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium for the first time this season.
Both football powerhouses are going to play the first leg of the Champions League on April 11, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.
Manchester City and Bayern Munich have been strong teams in Europe but are currently finding it difficult to defend their respective domestic leagues.
Manchester City vs Bayern Munich Preview
Manchester City defeated Southampton 4-1 on April 8, 2023, to stay in touch with Arsenal, who played a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on April 9, 2023.
Manchester City’s win against Southampton was their eighth in a row. The Blues of Manchester had scored 31 goals in those eight victories.
Erling Haaland wasted no time in scoring two goals to bring his total Premier League goals to 30 in his first season.
The Norwegian has ten goals in the Champions League this season.
Haaland had never enjoyed success against the Bayern Munich side while playing for Borussia Dortmund.
The striker had participated in seven matches against the German champions and lost them all.
Bayern Munich are currently on top of the Bundesliga table with a new manager, Thomas Tuchel, who ended Manchester City’s dream of winning the Champions League against Chelsea.
Tuchel’s predecessor, Julian Nagelsmann, had a quite easy Champions League campaign from the group stage to the Round of 16 without losing a single match.
Tuchel’s first match in charge of Bayern Munich saw them defeat their title rival Borussia Dortmund to return to the top of the Bundesliga table, followed by a shocking defeat to Freiburg in the quarterfinals of the DFB-Pokal.
Bayern Munich met Freiburg again on April 8, 2023, and they took the best revenge against them.
One of Tuchel’s main focuses is to make sure he tightens up Bayern Munich’s defense.
The team had only kept six clean sheets in 16 matches. It is going to be a difficult scenario for Bayern Munich, who face one of the best free-scoring teams in Europe.
Manchester City vs Bayern Munich team news
Pep Guardiola has a nearly fit squad, with Phil Foden the only absentee. He is likely to focus on starting his best players because of the strength of the other team.
Bernardo Silva may come in for Riyad Mahrez, who played both legs in the last encounter with RB Leipzig.
Tuchel will be without Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, who will miss the encounter with Manchester City due to a knee injury.
Serge Gnabry and Thomas Mueller are likely to be put in the center to replace Choupo Moting.
Leon Goretzka is set to return to the squad, and Jamal Musiala may come into the squad to support Mueller up front.
Sadio Mane’s struggles may see him get replaced on the right wing by former Paris Saint-Germain winger Kingsley Coman.
Manchester City vs Bayern Munich Probable Line Up
Manchester City’s probable starting lineup:
Ederson; Akanji, Ruben Dias, Ake; Stones, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland
Bayern Munich’s probable starting lineup:
Sommer; Pavard, De Ligt, Upamecano, Davies; Goretzka, Kimmich, Sane, Musiala, Coman; Muller
Manchester City vs Bayern Munich Prediction
Manchester City’s current form shows they are capable of beating anybody, but it will be difficult to have their way against Bayern Munich, who haven’t lost in the last four visits to England.
Prediction: Manchester City 2:2 Bayern Munich
