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

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Nice and slow, not toe to toe.

As slow as we can afford to be. They'll start the first ten to fifteen minutes at a hundred miles an hour. I promise you that. I expect them to have a couple of shots on target. We need to keep it very tight.

 

[domalino]

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.

I like Akanji, but I just think that an in-form Walker coming back into the side makes us pretty close to unbeatable. His speed and ability to shut down wingers is going to be vital if we're going to play Madrid with Vinicius, Milan with Leao, Napoli with Kvaratskhelia, Brighton with Mitoma, Arsenal with Martinelli, United with Rashford etc. in the run in.

I think he's got at least one more good run in him. Seems like he was off the nauty step on Saturday, so we have 3 weeks to get him back in form and up to speed.

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

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.

As Pep says ‘keep the ball in fridge’ he has implemented that in big games in the past. When we walloped Liverpool at Anfield in 2021 the game purposefully went down to snails pace as it’s suicide getting into end to end stuff with them.

Hopefully we can do this again, them trying to come after us for goals potentially opens up a lot of space for Haaland as an out ball. We saw this last Tuesday when they went looking for an equaliser which led to where we are now in the tie.

What a potential week from Wednesday, progression in two cup competitions available and an opportunity to drag Arsenal back towards us in the league.

 

[Maine Rd]

I’m still slightly worried about this back 3 and going one on one with their attackers. Akanji I still think could be a weak link there, Bayern got in a few times on his side in the first half and also at Soton away in that first half too. (Mainly due to Mahrez being poor and losing possession). I’d much prefer Walker over Akanji and play a back 4.

 

[Bellamy's Caddy]

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.

They caused us problems at times, however their shots were mainly from distance and if their keeper hadn't made some fantastic saves the scoreline could have been higher.

I rate Walker highly and in the past have been an advocate for him starting in these type of games, but at present I feel that the box midfield Stones, Rodri, Gundogan and KDB gives us more control and will help keep them pinned back. Bayern coming out to attack us, which they have to do, will provide space for us to counter attack, something that doesn't happen all to often.

There's merits in both approaches and I won't be unhappy with whichever Pep goes for, it should be enough to get the job done, particularly will the 3 goal cushion. My personal preference is to trust what worked so well for us last time out though.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I like Akanji, but I just think that an in-form Walker coming back into the side makes us pretty close to unbeatable. His speed and ability to shut down wingers is going to be vital if we're going to play Madrid with Vinicius, Milan with Leao, Napoli with Kvaratskhelia, Brighton with Mitoma, Arsenal with Martinelli, United with Rashford etc. in the run in.

I think he's got at least one more good run in him. Seems like he was off the nauty step on Saturday, so we have 3 weeks to get him back in form and up to speed.

Yep, much as Akanji played superbly against Bayern, I think there does come a time where the quality of the opponent kills you in a blink of an eye.

All those players you mention can do that and that's why I was going with Kyle, simply because he would have to play against Madrid and the Finalist, should we get there.

He has never let us down when we have needed him and but for him breaking down at Madrid away last year, we would have gone to the Final.

Kyle's continued showings against Mbappe and at the World Cup tell me he will always rise to the occasion.

A phenomenal buy and brilliant servant. We need him to show up badly these last few weeks.

 

[St.Pauli support]

Turpin hasn’t refereed Manchester City since a 7-0 win over Schalke in 2019.
The only other match was a 2-1 group phase away win 2015 in Moenchengladbach.

 

[Saddleworth2]

I’m still slightly worried about this back 3 and going one on one with their attackers. Akanji I still think could be a weak link there, Bayern got in a few times on his side in the first half and also at Soton away in that first half too. (Mainly due to Mahrez being poor and losing possession). I’d much prefer Walker over Akanji and play a back 4.

He was (again) weak in the air for the Leicester goal too. I thought he played very well against Bayern but if Mueller starts he will be tested.

 

[SebastianBlue]

2 minuets of crap adverts at the start for anyone who is going to watch.

You mean, you’re not interested in playing virtual football!?

 

[MadchesterCity]

Ederson
Walker-Dias-Ake
Stones-Rodri
Bernardo-Gundo
Alvarez-Haaland-Grealish