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English champions Manchester City host Bayern Munich at the Etihad stadium in the Champions League today, knowing that anything other than victory would mean elimination from the most coveted club football competition in the world. Manuel Pellegrini's men have endured a horrific campaign so far, amassing a paltry two points and sit at the foot of Group E.
However, City's fortunes lie out of their hands. Even if they manage to defeat the 2013 winners at Eastlands, they'll still have to hope that there's no winner in the match between Roma and CSKA Moscow.
On the other hand, Bavarian giants Bayern Munich have become the only team from the group to qualify for the group stages of the prestigious tournament after just four games. The German giants secured their qualification with a 2-0 victory over AS Roma. The Germans have enjoyed a superlative run of form, having gone 18 games unbeaten in all competitions and head into this fixture having won their last five games, scoring 15 goals and conceding only twice.
Venue and Kickoff
Etihad Stadium – 1:15 AM IST
Possible Lineups
Manchester City (4-1-3-2): Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Fernando, Navas, Milner, Nasri, Jovetic, Aguero.
Manchester City will miss the services of Yaya Toure and Fernandinho due to suspensions and that’ll be a big blow to them. Fernandinho has been the spine of City’s midfield whereas Yaya Toure is their anchor in the middle of the park. Former Porto midfielder Fernando has stepped up to the plate as and when required and will be entrusted with the central defensive midfield spot in the starting eleven.
Samir Nasri will take up the playmakers role in the centre of the park whereas the industrious James Milner occupies the left flank. City’s top goalscorer Sergio Aguero will look to continue his fine form by inflicting sorrow on Guardiola’s men whereas Stevan Jovetic will look to complement him ably in attack.
Bayern Munich (4-1-4-1): Neuer, Rafinha, Boateng, Benatia, Bernat, Alonso, Schweinsteiger, Ribery, Goetze, Robben, Lewandowski.
Bayern Munich thrashed Hoffenheim 4-0 during the weekend and will be looking to carry the same kind of form in this match too. Bernat has had to step in for Austrian David Alaba, who has been nursing a knee injury. Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has come back from injury and will start in midfield alongside Xabi Alonso.
Mario Goetze scored an absolute belter of a strike during the weekend for Bayern and will retain his spot in the starting eleven due to the influence he has on the proceedings. Robert Lewandowski will lead the line for Bayern and will be looking to add to his tally of goals for the Bavarian giants.
FACTS AND STATS
- The positive news for City is that Sergio Aguero and Stevan Jovetic have both been declared fit for the encounter against Pep Guardiola's men, inspite of the fact that the duo didn’t indulge in training this Monday.
- However, David Silva has been unable to overcome his injury problems in time for the must-win clash and will sit out along with Edin Dzeko and Alexandar Kolarov who are injured and, Fernandinho and Yaya Toure who are suspended.
- As for Munich, they'll be wihtout influential club captain Philip Lahm, who has been ruled out for three months after breaking his ankle in training, Alaba , Badstuber , Martinez, Pizarro, Reina and Thiago Alcantara all miss the trip to the Etihad too.
- Bayern will be happy with the morale boosting return of midfield maestro Bastian Schweinsteiger, after the German midfielder made his first start of the season against Hoffenheim this weekend.
- If football matches had to be decided on the base of stats, City would've already been eliminated. History suggests that only two teams with two points or fewer after four Matchdays have ever qualified from a Champions League group. (Porto and Locomotiv Moscow)
- Manchester City haven't won a single encounter after their win against Munich which came in December 2013, and, are winless in the previous six games. The English giants haven't gone winless for more than six matches in European competitions.
- Bayern Munich will be eager to join the group of teams who have finished the group stages with 18 points. Only Milan, PSG, Spartak Moscow, Barcelona and Real Madrid have achieved this feat and Guardiola will be looking to add another feather in his cap by bagging this achievement.
Key Battles
Sergio Aguero vs Jerome Boateng:
Manchester City’s talisman Sergio Aguero has been in scintillating form so far this season. The reigning Barclays Premier League Champions haven’t enjoyed a sensational start to this season, but that hasn’t deterred the prolific Argentine from exuding the best form of his career. The former Athletico Madrid forward has scored 14 goals in 17 appearences for City this season and given the importance of the match in question, there is no doubt that Aguero will be lethal to City’s hopes.
Jerome Boateng has shown massive strides of progress in his time at Bayern and has become a mainstay in the starting eleven. His solid physique, experience and presence of mind has helped him to evolve as one of the best in the business and the contest between him and Aguero will definitely be worth watching.
Robert Lewandowski vs Vincent Kompany:
The former Borussia Dortmund striker has settled into the Bayern eleven with consummate ease, and has found the net on 11 occasions already. Like Aguero, Lewandowski has been the focal point of everything Bayern have done in attack and will definitely be a man to watch out for.
Kompany on the other hand has been a rock-solid presence in the heart of the City’s defense and has been the driving force of a stuttering City side this season. He has found it difficult to find a defensive partner with Mangala still finding his feet in the side and Demichelis underperforming and showing concentration lapses. The battle between the Polish striker and Belgian captain will be physical, intense and a delight to watch.
Mario Goetze vs Martin Demichelis
The World Cup wonderboy for Germany has carried his rich vein of form into the domestic season and has become an integral part of Bayern Munch’s squad. Held in high regard by Guardiola, the German has been in magnificent touch so far this season and his brilliant strike against Hoffenheim this weekend was a testament to the kind of talent the 22-year old possesses.
Argentine defender Demichelis has not had the best of starts to a campaign this term and has exhibited mixed performances so far for the Citizens. His concentration lapses and poor tracking back have added to City’s defensive woes this season. However, he exuded a mature performance against Swansea City this weekend and that would definitely ensure that there wont be only one winner in this contest.
Match Official: Pavel Královec (CZE).
Prediction: Manchester City comes into this match desperate for three points and will look at every opportunity to exploit Bayern. On the other hand, Bayern has already won Group E and have nothing to lose. It will be interesting to see whether Pep Guardiaola will field a team full of superstars or will he give the fringe players an opportunity.
My final score prediction: City 2-1 Bayern. (Sergio Aguero with a brace and Arjen Robben to score for Bayern)
