Choupo-Moting stays at home
Bayern’s top scorer has to pass in a duel with Haaland
4/10/2023 3:38 p.m
FC Bayern’s top scorer is missing in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League: Munich will travel to Manchester City without Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Coach Thomas Tuchel has several options to oppose Erling Haaland’s elemental force.
FC Bayern Munich will have to do without Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Manchester City. The attacker was not present at the final training session on the club grounds the day before the game on Tuesday (9 p.m./Amazon Prime Video and in the ntv.de live ticker). According to the club, the 34-year-old will not travel to Manchester due to knee problems.
Choupo-Moting had already missed the 1-0 win at SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday. He had repeatedly been stopped by back problems in the past few weeks. An alternative for the striker would be Sadio Mané, who turned 31 on Easter Monday. There were congratulations for Africa’s Footballer of the Year before the unit. The team-mates stood guard, Leon Goretzka hugged the former Liverpool star as he warmed up.
Thomas Müller before his 100th victory
Another option for the place up front would be Serge Gnabry, who played there against Freiburg. Coach Thomas Tuchel would also have Thomas Müller as an option for this position. The captain could be only the third player after superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (115) and Iker Casillas (101) to celebrate his 100th victory in the Champions League in Manchester.
In spring-like weather, Kingsley Coman, who had recently been slightly injured, was also part of the unit a few hours before departure. On Tuesday evening in Manchester, the Munich team want to create a good starting position for the second leg in Munich eight days later.
For Tuchel it is the fourth game as coach of FC Bayern. So far, Bayern have had a perfect premier class record this season. Eight wins in eight games. The winner of the duel would meet the winner of the pairing Real Madrid vs. Chelsea in the semi-finals.