Manchester City earned a superb 3-0 victory against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, to give Pep Guardiola’s men a huge first-leg lead in their Champions League quarter-final tie.
It was a game that City dominated for the vast majority at the Etihad, as they defended doggedly and managed nine shots on target. Goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland ensured it’s the Blues who are heavy favourites to make it to the last four of the competition.
City started the game brightly with Haaland firing wide from an acute angle after five minutes, while Ilkay Gundogan headed over soon after. Haaland also hit a disappointing strike straight at Bayern keeper Yann Sommer midway through the first half, a few minutes before Rodri handed City the lead.
The midfielder cut inside on his left foot and bent a sublime effort into the corner from around 25 yards with his left foot, giving Sommer no chance.
The Swiss stopper did well to keep out a Gundogan shot with his feet in the 34th minute, after he’d been clattered by Jack Grealish seconds prior. Meanwhile, Bayern had seen speculative efforts from Alphonso Davies flash wide early on, with Jamal Musiala’s shot blocked in the box by Ruben Dias. The visitors had the final chance of the half when ex-City man Leroy Sane’s strike from distance went just wide of Ederson’s far post.
The second period began in a similar manner, with Sane shooting towards goal on three occasions, only for Ederson to deny every single effort from the winger. Bayern were on top at this stage and in the 54th minute Matthijs de Ligt and then Kingsley Coman saw goalbound headers blocked.
But City responded well with Haaland’s shot blocked by Pavard in the Bayern box after a defensive mix-up, before Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias forced smart stops out of Sommer. And at a vital stage in the game Silva grabbed a second for the Premier League champions.
City pounced on some sloppy play from Bayern, as Grealish dispossessed Dayot Upamecano and slipped the ball into the path of Haaland. The Norwegian then lofted it up to the back post where Silva ran onto the cross and headed it past Sommer to double the Blues’ advantage.
The introduction of Julian Alvarez gave City new life and the World Cup winner forced Sommer into an excellent save to keep out a low, curled effort, before his cross set up City’s third goal. Alvarez picked out John Stones with a brilliant cross and the centre-back’s header was met by Haaland in the box, who tapped home to score his 45th goal of the campaign, the most by a Premier League player in a single season.
City continued their dominance into the latter stages, with Alvarez and Greaish shooting over, while Sommer was called into action one last time to stop Rodri’s header with a superb full-length sprawl. Here’s how we rated the City players...
1. Ederson- 7
Made some good saves to deny Sane early in the second half, a period when City struggled most on the night.
2. Manuel Akanji- 7
Did well, especially in the first half, as he stopped Sane on a number of occasions. The defender linked well with Silva down the right wing.
3. John Stones- 6
Had a tough role dropping into centre-back but pushing forward in possession. Stones did have a few awkward moments but improved as the match went on.
4. Ruben Dias- 7
Defended well and gave little away at the back. Dias also made a few important blocks during the game.