Match Report: Manchester City 3-0 Bayern Munich (Champions League Quarter-Final First-Leg)

Manchester City and Bayern Munich met in an all-star encounter at the Etihad Stadium this evening, with Pep Guardiola coming out on top over Thomas Tuchel in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie by 3-0.

Predictably, Erling Haaland was at the forefront of the action. After having the first shot of the match just after the five-minute mark, the Norwegian striker came within inches of opening the scoring, as he closed down Bayern goalkeeper Yann Sommer and almost diverted the Swiss stopper’s clearance into the net.

Halfway through the first period, he had his first clear sight of goal, but couldn’t take advantage of Jack Grealish’s lay-off as he put it straight down the slot for the keeper.  Manchester City weren’t to be denied for long, however.

Collecting a Bernardo Silva pass, Rodri cleverly chopped past a Leon Goretzka challenge, then unleashed a powerful and curving effort off his left foot and into the far left corner. It was a goal befitting the stage, and came mere minutes after Ruben Dias had prevented the away side from taking the lead with an inspirational block on Jamal Musiala’s strike. 

It could well have been more for the Blues in the first half, with chances coming and going. Most notable amongst these was Ilkay Gundogan’s opening; Sommer dropped a Kevin de Bruyne cross at the German’s feet, but somehow recovered to save the City captain’s goal-bound effort with his outstretched left leg, meaning that it was an advantage of just one for Pep Guardiola’s side at the break.

The Bayern threat increased in the opening minutes of the second half, chiefly through the familiar source of Leroy Sane, playing his first match back at the Etihad since his transfer back to the Bundesliga.

The former City man tested Ederson three times before the hour mark, with the second save by the Brazilian particularly impressive. The pressure continued, as Dias and Nathan Ake were each required to put their heads in the firing line to block efforts.

Perhaps more worrying for Manchester City was the injury to Kevin de Bruyne, with the Belgian forced to withdraw in the 67^th minute after rolling over his ankle, albeit having played on for a brief time following the incident.

As it turned out, the fans inside the Etihad needn’t have worried. Hesitancy from Dayot Upamecano allowed Grealish to steal the ball on the edge of the box, before the Englishman’s nonchalant back-heel found Haaland.

Everyone expected the 22-year-old to go for goal from a tight angle, but he stood the ball up to the back post instead, where Bernardo Silva was lurking to head it through the grip of Sommer and into the roof of the net for 2-0.

The scoring didn’t stop there. A corner situation saw the ball drop to substitute Julian Alvarez out wide, with his pinpoint cross finding the head of John Stones. The defender’s header across the face was perfect, and who else was on hand but Haaland to apply the finish and put the tie firmly in City’s hands.

Further chances came and went for the hosts to put further distance between themselves and their well-beaten visitors, but Sommer prevented any further increases to the deficit facing Bayern when the sides meet again at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday.

Even so, the 3-0 victory represented an incredible performance from Manchester City, who will more than fancy their chances of progressing to a third consecutive Champions League semi-final.