If the German soccer record champions FC Bayern, who maintained the Bundesliga lead with a 1-0 win in Freiburg, would like to have a say regarding the Champions League trophy, then on Tuesday (9 p.m., Sky) it will be an absolute one top performance may be required. In the first leg of the quarter-finals, Bayern Munich are away to top English club Manchester City, who have never won the giant-eared trophy. That should change this year – also because the “Skyblues” with super striker Erling Braut Haaland have become even more unpredictable.
The 22-year-old ex-Salzburg legionnaire, whose market value has now climbed to 170 million euros, has cured his groin injury and picked up where he left off in the 4-1 win in Southampton. Haaland scored twice – the 3-0 (68th) came from a spectacular side kick – and has already scored 44 competitive goals in 38 matches for the “Citizens” this season. Even Kevin de Bruyne is amazed: “You will never see such an action from me. If I had done it, I would be in a hospital in Southampton right now,” smiled the Belgian.
It’s up to the Bayern defense around Dayot Upamecano and Matthijs de Ligt to get Haaland’s elemental force under control. That’s easier said than done. “We’ve had two incredible decades with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Erling is at this level now. His skills are incredible,” ManCity coach Pep Guardiola praised his goal-getter in the highest tones. “He’s a machine,” added the 52-year-old, who himself wielded the scepter in Munich from 2013 to 2016.
“Everything can happen”
The recent upheavals at Bayern, who surprisingly said goodbye in the DFB Cup quarter-finals (1-2 once morest Freiburg), have left their mark on Guardiola. The change of coach (from Julian Nagelsmann to Thomas Tuchel) puts the Catalan’s tactical sense to the test. “Now I have to figure out what we’re going to do,” he said.
Most recently, both teams met in the “premier class” in the 2014/15 season. Back then, FC Bayern won 1-0 at home with a Jerome Boateng goal in the 90th minute, and ManCity won the return match 3-2 following trailing 1-2. Sergio Aguero put his name down three times (22’/penalty, 85′, 91′). Will it be similarly spectacular today?
Tuchel would have nothing once morest an open exchange of blows. “Anything can happen if we believe and if we’re willing to stretch ourselves to the ceiling,” said the 49-year-old, who has to play for goalscorer Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting following suffering a knee injury.
Also on Tuesday (9 p.m., Sky) Benfica Lisbon welcomes Inter Milan. The “Nerazzurri” haven’t won any of their last six competitive games.
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Alexander Zambarloukos
Sports Editor
Alexander Zambarloukos
