Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping his team can pull off a win in Munich, as he serves a touchline ban
Manchester City visit German giants Bayern Munich this evening in one of the plum ties of this seasons Champions League group stage.
The two teams are no strangers to each other, as they met in the group stages last season.
Last season
City enjoyed mixed fortunes against the Bavarian giants last season. The Citizens lost the group game at the Etihad Stadium, before winning 3-2 at the Allianz Arena after coming back from two goals down.
The Allianz Arena has not been a good venue for Bayern against English teams, as they have claimed just one victory from their last five games, drawing two and losing two.
However that victory came in last season’s quarter-final meeting with the Citizens arch-rivals Manchester United.
Stronger
Bayern Munich arguably has an even stronger squad than last season with the summer acquisitions of striker Robert Lewandowski and Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso. The German giants have to be regarded as one of the favourites to win the competition this season.
Bayern boss Pep Guardiola is still seen as one of the top bosses in European football and has a very strong squad of players at his disposal. Bayern of course claimed the trophy in 2013 with a victory over arch-rivals Dortmund in the final.
However questions were asked last season when eventual winners Real Madrid hammered the German giants 5-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals. Guardiola and his players will be looking to put to bed those question marks this season.
The visit of Manchester City will no doubt be a test of their credentials in this competition, especially with that poor recent record on home soil against English teams. Bayern fans will be expecting more from their side this season.
Mixed start
Manchester City have enjoyed a mixed start to their campaign so far. The Citizens started the season off with consecutive wins before suffering a home defeat to Stoke and then drawing at Arsenal last time out.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side were not helped by a host of injury problems. Some would argue that a club that spends as much as City does on new players should be able to still field a strong team in most games.
They have been able to field decent teams, but still have not hit top gear in their attacking play and have even looked slightly vulnerable at the back at times. A trip to Munich will be a big test for Pellegrini’s team.
Teams
City brought in highly-rated centre-back Eliaquim Mangala from Porto for £32million this summer to strengthen their backline. The defender has yet to feature for the Citizens as he has not been match fit. However, the French international could make his debut for City in this clash.
City’s swashbuckling full-back Pablo Zabaleta is suspended after being dismissed in last season’s competition against Barcelona. Summer arrival Bacary Sagna is likely to fill in for the Argentine at full-back.
Another summer arrival Brazilian midfielder Fernando is out injured, as is mercurial Montenegrin forward Stevan Jovetic.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini will complete a two-game touchline game, with assistant Ruben Cousillas in the dugout for City.
Bayern have two injury doubts over wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. Both players have knee problems which make them very doubtful for the clash. Defender Holger Badstuber will miss out after tearing a thigh muscle in Saturday’s game against Stuttgart.
Favourites
Bayern may not have a great record against English teams at the Allianz Arena, but they are a strong team and are unbeaten this season. This game could go either way, but I think the men from Bavaria may just kick-off their European campaign with a tight victory.
Can Manchester City win in Munich for a second year?
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
