Bayern Munich will try to repair the 3-0 deficit against Manchester City with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and João Cancelo in the base. Choupo-Moting has recovered sufficiently from his knee injury and replaces striker Serge Gnabry, who disappointed at the Etihad Stadium. At Manchester City, nothing changes in the line-up compared to last week. The match starts at 9 p.m. and can be viewed on RTL 7 and Ziggo Sports Football.
Choupo-Moting has been Bayern’s first striker since the departure of Robert Lewandowski. The lack of the former, who has been ailing with injuries for a month, was palpable at the club. In the left back position, Alphonso Davies will be replaced by Cancelo, who is rented from Manchester City, just like on Saturday against TSG Hoffenheim (1-1). Besides Choupo-Moting, the Portuguese back is the only new name in Thomas Tuchel’s team. The Bayern coach is therefore sticking to Dayot Upamecano. Matthijs de Ligt’s defense partner played a lousy first leg in the quarterfinals of the Champions League and lost possession
After the 1-1 draw against TSG Hoffenheim, the 3-0 defeat at City and the affair surrounding Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane, Bayern is ready for some positivity. Although City are the favorites to reach the semi-finals after a convincing victory in Manchester, history shows that Bayern are not faced with an impossible task. Four times before, a defeat of three or more goals in the return has been restored in the knockout phase of the Champions League. However, even after Tuchel’s appointment, things are not going as they had hoped at the Bavarian top club. In addition, Bayern scored only three times in its last four matches. In that respect, the return of striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is excellent news.
Unlike Bayern, which is struggling with some long-term injuries, Pep Guardiola has a fit selection. City’s coach sees no reason to change and sends the same eleven names onto the field as a week ago. Guardiola could not have wished for a better preparation for the duel in the Allianz Arena, although the Catalan knows that Bayern is very strong at home. Bayern won all of its home matches in the Champions League this season, without conceding a goal. On the other hand, City is doing very well against German opposition in the billion dollar ball. It lost only one of the twenty games, in December 2021 at RB Leipzig (2-1). With City’s win, Guardiola records his hundredth Champions League victory as a trainer. Only Alex Ferguson (100) and Carlo Ancelotti (105) are higher on that list.
Lineup Bayern Munich: Summer; Pavard, Upamecano, De Ligt, Cancelo; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Choupo-Moting.
Manchester City line-up: Ederson; Akanji, R. Dias, Ake; Stones, Rodri; Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland.