Next title chance almost gone
FC Bayern Munich goes under at Manchester City
04/11/2023 10:51 p.m
FC Bayern Munich needs a sporting miracle to avert the end of the Champions League: the Bundesliga club clearly lost the first leg at Manchester City. The German champion shows a good performance for a long time, but then has to pay dearly for an individual mistake.
Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic suffered in the stands with petrified faces. After the painful bankruptcy in the giant duel, Thomas Tuchel quickly embraced Pep Guardiola before the FC Bayern coach started to build up the necessary football miracle in Munich. FC Bayern is about to be eliminated after a 0: 3 (0: 1) in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Manchester City.
“I don’t see the result at all,” said Tuchel on Amazon Prime Video. They were punished at their best. “I refuse to badmouth the performance in any way, I’m very satisfied.” In an extremely gripping premier class show on Tuesday, the Munich team gambled away a better starting position for the second leg next Wednesday at home due to their own mistakes after the break. “Brutal, especially the first 60 minutes were very, very good,” said captain Joshua Kimmich, drawn and battered by a difficult battle with a black eye. Matthijs de Ligt said: “The result is bitter.”
“I love Thomas, but…”
Under Tuchel’s predecessor Julian Nagelsmann, Bayern had celebrated eight wins in eight games in the European Champions League. Now only a great evening can save Bayern, who also failed prematurely in the DFB Cup. “I already have the self-confidence and trust in the team that we can get something in the second leg,” emphasized Kimmich. After a dream goal by Rodri (27th minute), Dayot Upamecano started the 0:2 with a bad mistake by Bernardo Silva (70th). Super striker Erling Haaland, preparer at 2-0, shocked Bayern with another goal (76th).
Driven by the former Manchester star Leroy Sané, the Munich team repeatedly tried to equalize, but the Cityzens were simply more powerful offensively. In wind and rain, the new Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel, who had done without captain Thomas Müller in the starting XI, cheered his team on with gestures and calls from the line just as emotionally as the former Munich coach Pep Guardiola did for the home team. His star selection underlined why City are the big favorites to win the title this season.
The two coaching giants shook hands with a smile before kick-off, and then the game could begin. And how! In the constant rain, Tuchel and Guardiola were in full swing, sometimes only a few meters apart. And on the slippery lawn, the Munich team tried to survive the massive start-up phase in Manchester.
Tuchel decided against Müller for tactical reasons. “I love Thomas, but we don’t expect a typical Thomas Müller game,” said the Bayern coach on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service. The Munich team tried to compensate for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s injury failure with mobility on the offensive. The predicates required were fast, agile and good at dribbling.
And there were initially some indications that Tuchel had adjusted his team well to the dreaded Guardiola team, which has scored eight wins with 31:3 goals in the past eight competitive games – including the 7-0 in the round of 16 second leg at home against RB Leipzig with the five pack from Haaland. City’s urge to start the minute was a bit slowed down, Bayern offered Manchester little space and tried to keep the ball. Despite Manchester’s massive potential, an artful shot was needed.
“Game at a very high level”
Seconds earlier, national player Jamal Musiala had the Bayern lead on his feet, but his shot from around twelve meters was blocked. On the other side, Musiala was too easily tricked and Rodri took measure, the ball hitting the goal triangle. On the sidelines, Tuchel stretched his arms up out of frustration, while the two coach stars turned towards the bench with different feelings.
And with the goal, Manchester’s sovereignty came back in the game. City demonstrated that the team is the favorite for the title. However, Bayern held out well. But it lacked the power. It became dangerous up front when ex-City pro Sané was involved, as in a long-range shot in injury time in the first half.
In the game backwards, Joshua Kimmich earned top marks, but not even Kimmich could prevent the top chance for a possible 2-0 through city captain and national player Ilkay Gündogan after a high five from Sommer when running out. In the end, Sommer made up for his mistake and parried with his foot. Half-time conclusion from national coach Hansi Flick: “The game is at a very high level.” But you could tell that both teams respect each other.
Haaland gives Bayern the rest
Before the eyes of Flick, who had not recently nominated him, Sané scored the first shot on goal with a fluttering ball seconds after the break and initiated turbulent minutes. First with another Sané chance, but again Ederson parried. After a misunderstanding between Sommer and the unfortunate Dayot Upamecano, things got heated in the Bayern penalty area, and it was only with a lot of effort and luck that Bayern prevented the second City goal.
And back to the other side, again Sané, again Ederson. After that, Sommer had to use all his skills again against a City team driven by Kevin De Bruyne – but the Belgian had to go out a good twenty minutes before the end. Tuchel also swapped staff: Sadio Mané, once at Liverpool FC, came for Musiala.
But the problem was behind. Upamecano didn’t look safe the whole time and lost the ball completely unnecessarily to Jack Grealish. Pass to Silva, goal. Tuchel shook his head in disbelief. Bayern staggered tremendously. And Haaland gave them the rest. After the end of the DFB Cup against SC Freiburg in the quarter-finals, FC Bayern now needs a football miracle so that they don’t have to finally tick off the next title chance in the young era of Tuchel in the coming week. CEO Kahn and sports director Salihamidzic know that only too well.