Bayern Munich (A) - Wed 19th April, 20:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[hihosilva]

Same starting eleven as last week. Bayern will need to gamble at some point & i see us picking them off.

 

[blue61]

I agree, it’s the team I’d pick. Pep won’t though, he will play Akanji

I would prefer to see a more conventional backline, certainly with Walker and Ake as the full-backs.

Don't think we should allow them the wide areas and be exposed to that obvious threat again.

We don't need to overload the midfield for this one and Stones can still play us out of the press.

Our win in the first leg affords us the luxury of playing counters and picking our moments.

Expect Mueller and Mane to play, so we need to prevent the wide deliveries.

I'm also leaning towards the template for a semi we would need against Madrid, where Walker would absolutely need to start up against Vinicius.

................Ederson.....
Walker...Stones..Dias...Ake..
Bernie......Rodri...Gundo..Grealish..
..................Kev...
.........................Haaland

I would like to see Alvarez playing behind Haaland and moving KDB on the right ahead of Walker.
Bernardo in the position of Gundo, lots of energy and cover in both wide and central positions

 

[supercity88]

Great to see that intensity and rhythm against Leicester and a good rest then for Gundogan, Rodri, Stones, De Bruyne and Haaland. We're going to have to dig in and deal with a lot of intense pressure for long periods so that energy will be needed. I think Pep got it spot on at the weekend. Ilkay needed the rest, the others will benefit from only playing 45-60mins and whilst Bernardo played the whole game, he can sit out the FA Cup semi final instead and play knowing a week off is coming.

First 10 minutes are vital. Where a three goal lead has been overcome in the CL there's been a goal in the first 10 minutes. Barca v PSG. Liverpool v Barca. Roma v Barca. Deportivo v Milan. Ride the storm, mute the crowd and see the game out.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

We cannot underestimate the sheer fear factor that Erling now brings. Even if he only jogs around, Bayern cannot come gung-ho at our us because they'll be wary of the break. KDB and Håland in the side means two raking passes, Erling in — and goal, potentially.

 

[LucahArchie10]

We score its over as simple as that

We will get at least 6 decent chances, take 1 of them & we are in the Semi

They won't get 4-5 goals

 

[shevtheblue]

We're playing in the 3rd kit............

 

[domalino]

We're playing in the 3rd kit............

When was the last time we played in the away kit? Feels like the 3rd kit has become the defacto away kit.

 

[tonea2003]

We're playing in the 3rd kit............

no need they are all in red, bizzare

 

[shevtheblue]

no need they are all in red, bizzare

I guess the shirt sales are down

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I get the points you make, but personally I want to see us play to our strengths and let the opposition worry about us. Which, after the last game v Bayern, they will be.

My only criticism of Pep in the last few years, in this competition, is that at this point in the season, he's changed things to nullify the opposition, rather than backed our players to outplay them. When we're at our best I firmly believe we're the best team in Europe, let's give the players the chance to prove that. Full strength from the off, no mercy.

Whilst true, the three goal margin affords us the luxury of being more conservative.

Bayern were very good the other night, whatever others may say.

They had the majority of possession and could make us pay on another day, certainly with the amount of space we tactically allowed Coman and Sane.

Make no mistake, we need to keep it tight in the first half hour because a goal for them changes the mentality.

They had zero threat across the penalty area but Mueller and Mane will be showing for the centres this game.

The longer we can control the tempo, the more opportunities we will get as they become further desperate.

City don't need to play it like a basketball game until we have to.

Nice and slow, not toe to toe.