Bayern Munich vs. Manchester City preview: Team news and predicted lineups
By Rune Gjerulff @runegjerulff
Here is our preview of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash between Bayern Munich and Manchester City, including predicted lineups.
| Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
"We have a mountain to climb tomorrow," Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel admitted at his pre-match press conference.
"We believe in ourselves, but we don't want to dream. It's in our hands, we have to give it our all. We are not alone, we have a good team and the fans on our side. We have to take it one step at a time. We'll try until the end.
At his press conference, Man City manager Pep Guardiola insisted that his team would not underestimate Bayern, despite going into the game with a comfortable three-goal cushion.
"I didn't say to the team: 'Be careful with Bayern Munich, you know how difficult they are, 3-0, don't relax'. They are not relaxed. Because they felt it. They know. They know what a good team they are. Like everybody knows," Guardiola told reporters yesterday.
Having scored just three goals in their last three games without Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Bayern could be boosted by the return of the veteran striker from a knee injury.
"We have to wait for the final reaction. I haven't decided yet. If his knee shows a good reaction then he's definitely an option for the starting XI. He's the number 9 in the squad. He gives us physicality and helps us in defensive and offensive set pieces," said Tuchel, who has no fresh injury concerns.
Sadio Mané is also back in the squad after serving a one-match ban handed out by the club against Hoffenheim following his dressing room altercation with Leroy Sané in the first leg.
Manchester City are expected to name the same starting XI as in the first leg. Like Bayern, they have no new injury worries.
Here are our Bayern Munich vs. Manchester City lineup predictions.