Although Manchester City might need seen their 10-match successful run come to an finish on Wednesday evening, the Sky Blues did punch their Champions League semi-final ticket.
Eventually enjoying out a 1-1 draw towards Bayern Munich right here, Pep Guardiola’s aspect had been merely trying to end off the job as they claimed a surprising first-leg 3-0 romp on the Etihad final week.
Although the record-breaking Erling Haaland might need shockingly blazed over from the penalty spot seven minutes earlier than the half-time break, the ex-Borussia Dortmund ace did have time to notch his twelfth Champions League strike of the season after producing a medical end within the 57th minute.
While German worldwide Joshua Kimmich might need bagged Bayern a comfort strike after changing from the penalty spot within the last minutes, the Bundesliga giants face a significant inquiry behind the scenes following a routine European exit in midweek.
Crashing out due to a 4-1 combination defeat and with lots of the Allianz assist making their emotions heard on the last whistle, Thomas Tuchel’s males merely couldn’t cope with a Manchester City aspect who at the moment are dreaming of creating Champions League historical past this season.
On an evening when City breezed their approach to the semi-finals, we have now taken a take a look at the primary speaking factors following Wednesday’s showdown in Munich.
City are discovering high gear at an important time
Although Manchester City would possibly nonetheless discover themselves sat 4 factors adrift of Arsenal and defending their Premier League crown, the Sky Blues have actually discovered high gear at an important time.
Picking up some good momentum over the weekend as they claimed a 3-1 victory at house towards relegation scrappers Leicester, Guardiola’s high-flying squad have made it no secret {that a} maiden Champions League crown is on the high of their agenda this season.
Putting one foot firmly within the semi-finals after breezing their approach to a first-leg 3-0 romp on the Etihad final week, the one-time Bayern Munich boss is dreaming of the possibility to make main European historical past in 2023.
Only persevering with to shine on both aspect of March’s worldwide break, the Premier League giants all the time knew that it might take an almighty collapse for them to not progress on their European journey right here.
While City is likely to be upset to have seen their 10-match successful run come to an abrupt finish in Munich, Guardiola was fast to reward one other skilled show.
With Haaland notching his twelfth Champions League strike of the marketing campaign right here and solely persevering with to interrupt a string of data by the week, City have solely underlined why they’re seen because the standout decide from the ultimate 4.
A psychological take a look at towards Los Blancos awaits
Although many neutrals might need tipped Guardiola’s famous person squad because the main contender to get their palms on a primary European crown this yr, the Sky Blues will know that they face one other heavyweight problem subsequent month.
Watching the Spanish icons finally breeze previous Chelsea due to a routine 4-0 combination romp on Tuesday evening, Carlo Ancelotti’s aspect have already collected some stellar Premier League scalps in 2023.
Extending on their Champions League journey final month as they secured a 6-2 combination victory towards Liverpool, the reigning European champions don’t have any intention of relinquishing their crown this yr.
Suffering one of the vital outstanding Champions League collapses 11 months in the past as they fell on the semi-final hurdle following an notorious 3-1 second-leg defeat on the Bernabeu, there isn’t any doubt that the Sky Blues face an actual psychological take a look at within the Spanish capital.
Although City is likely to be trying to ebook their spot within the last of this yr’s FA Cup once they welcome Sheffield United to the Etihad this weekend, Guardiola will already be placing collectively the right plan to assist his aspect decide up some Los Blancos revenge subsequent month.
Tuchel has an actual job on his palms in Munich
Blown away on the Etihad final week as they finally slumped to a deserved 3-0 drumming, Tuchel and his new squad knew that they had been in want of an actual Champions League miracle on Wednesday evening.
While many throughout Europe might need been surprised throughout March’s worldwide break because the ex-Chelsea boss got here in to interchange Julian Nagglesman, Tuchel might be greater than conscious that he has a possible main rebuild on his palms on the Allianz.
Failing to select up any momentum final weekend as they had been pressured to accept a 1-1 draw at house towards Hoffenheim, the German giants additionally discover themselves in an actual tussle to defend their Bundesliga crown in 2023.
Shockingly crashing out of the DFP Pokal on April 4th as they suffered an notorious 2-1 defeat by the hands of Freiburg, Bayern have now gained only a pair of their earlier seven appearances throughout all competitions.
Knowing that they may face an actual backlash following their Champions League exit on Wednesday evening, Tuchel must also have a rising headache over his aspect’s relatively obvious defensive points.
Match Report
Bayern Munich: Sommer, Pavard, Upamecano, De Ligt, Cancelo, Kimmich, Gortzka, Sane, Musiala, Coman, Choupo-Moting
Subs: Mane, Davies, Tel, Muller, Stanisic
Manchester City: Emerson, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Rodri, Stones, Silva, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish, Haaland
Subs: Laporte, Alvarez, Walker
Goals: Manchester City: Haaland (57’) – Bayern Munich: Kimmich (83′ P)
Yellow Cards: Bayern Munich: Pavard, Upamecano, Cancelo, Kimmich, Stanisic – Manchester City: Ederson, Gundogan, Ake, Laporte
Red Cards: Tuchel (Not on pitch)
Referee: Clement Turpin
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