FC Bayern Munich meets Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
With which line-up does Thomas Tuchel start the mission?
Munich – So there it is, the really big game – and that in the quarter-finals.
Bayern Munich meets Manchester City in the Champions League.
Not only Sport Director Hasan Salihamidzic was of the opinion on Monday afternoon before leaving for the north-west of England that this meeting could well be a final.
City against Bayern, Pep Guardiola against Thomas Tuchel, England against Germany – not much more is possible.
Manchester City – Bayern Munich |
Champions League Quarterfinals |
Tuesday, April 11, 9 p.m. (CEST) |
Etihad Stadium |
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain) |
Bayern line-up against Manchester City: Choupo-Moting is missing
The biggest games also include the biggest players - and that's why the neutral football fan in particular should be happy that Erling Haaland is fit again.
The Norwegian celebrated an impressive comeback at the weekend and has already sent side kicks to Munich.
Everyone in the Bavarian capital knows about it, defender ace Matthijs de Ligt scored something similar at the weekend and is already looking forward to the giant duel.
It could be one of the key pairings in this Champions League quarterfinals.
Less positive from Bayern's point of view: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will be out.
Knee problems prevent the attacking man from playing, who already had to miss out on Saturday in the Bundesliga.
Sadio Mané represented him - once again without scoring.
So how will Tuchel line up his Bayern against City?
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Meets with FC Bayern on Manchester City: Thomas Tuchel.
© Ulrich Gamel/Kolbert-Press/dpa
Bayern line-up against Manchester City: Choupo-Moting is missing – a superstar comeback seems certain
Yann Sommer is of course in goal, but in the defense line there is already the first case of hardship.
With Joao Cancelo, Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Matthijs de Ligt and Alphonso Davies there are five players for four positions.
It's quite possible that Tuchel will first choose the defensively safe option and therefore leave Cancelo on the bench - even if he, as a loan player from Manchester City, is of course eager to play against his old colleagues.
In central midfield, Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich were given preference over Leon Goretzka.
The latter is likely to return against City - simply because of his physical presence.
This was already suggested by Tuchel's statements on the PK.
He added relatively meaningfully that Goretzka and Kimmich are the players who absolutely want to take responsibility.
And when is such quality needed more than in a knockout game in Manchester?
Bayern line-up at Manchester City: Coman comeback?
Musiala on the bench?
Mueller always plays
Musiala might be able to play a more offensive role.
With Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller and Sadio Mané, there are five other candidates for only four positions - so it will be even tighter than in defence.
Who will play for sure?
Clearly: the driver.
Thomas Müller is made for these games.
For him, as you can always hear from Tuchel, there is no other position than ten or the hanging point.
You could also hear this place in the starting eleven in the PK.
Who flanks Müller?
Many constellations are conceivable.
For example, a duo of Sané and Coman would be possible.
The Frenchman, one of the more consistent offensive players for months, had to watch Freiburg for 90 minutes because he was apparently slightly injured.
It hardly seems realistic that Tuchel will leave him on the bench again.
Because: Representative Gnabry made an effort during the guest performance in Breisgau, but did not deliver anything countable.
Lattek, Heynckes, Tuchel: All Bundesliga coaches at FC Bayern
Lattek, Heynckes, Tuchel: All Bundesliga coaches at FC Bayern
Who will replace Choupo-Moting in Manchester?
Sadio Mané probably has the best cards
What remains is the position at the top.
Tuchel emphasized at the PK that he would also trust Gnabry with this role.
It is more likely that Mané will be preferred again.
That would mean: Gnabry and Musiala, who also recently recovered from an injury, would first have to go to the bench.
Possible starting line-up for Bayern Munich at Manchester City:
Sommer – Pavard, Upamecano, De Ligt, Davies – Kimmich, Goretzka – Sané, Müller, Coman – Mané.
Champions League quarter-finals: Manchester City relies on Erling Haaland
And Manchester City?
There, of course, they rely entirely on Erling Haaland.
His role model told the
tz
that he was only missing one ability at world-class level.
Of course, the "Skyblues" have a number of other top players in their squad.
Either way, there will be two top teams on the pitch.
List of rubrics: © Ulrich Gamel/Kolbert-Press/dpa
