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Bayern Munich vs Manchester City: Predicted Line Ups – Choupo-Moting to return?

April 19, 2023 6:00 pm

With a three-goal deficit to recover, Bayern Munich have a mountain to climb in tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg bout with Manchester City, and though the tournament is famed for producing astounding comebacks, the chances of this tie being turned on its head look slim.

With predator supreme Erling Haaland leading from the front, Pep Guardiola’s charges rampaged their way to a 3-0 victory over Bayern at The Etihad Stadium last week, further cementing their position as favourites to win the Champions League outright for the first time.

The disappointing Bavarians have been grinding through the gears this season and they dropped more points domestically at home to Hoffenheim on Saturday. That 1-1 draw was a far from ideal way to warm up for this evening’s second leg and a rampant-looking City will be smelling blood at the Allianz Arena later on.

Bayern Munich team news: is Choupo-Moting back from injury?

Bayern Munich were out-thought and out-gunned in Manchester last week and the German champions managed to muster just four attempts on target in the first leg, all of which were hit by former City winger, Leroy Sane.

Sane is expected to start against his former employers again today, though it remains to be seen whether fellow attacker Sadio Mane will be involved after the pair were involved in a sensational bust-up after last week’s defeat.

Bayern lacked a focal point in attack in the first leg, though veteran centre-forward Eric MaximChoupo-Moting, who is averaging nearly a goal per game in the Champions League this term, made a welcome return to training this week and the 34-year-old could be drafted into Thomas Tuchel’s XI to replace Serge Gnabry this evening.

With Manuel Neuer still injured for the long-term, January acquisition Yann Sommer, who made six saves last week, will continue between the sticks, while Alphonso Davies looks relatively unopposed at left back with Lucas Hernandez still sidelined.

Schemer Jamal Musiala, who was uncharacteristically peripheral in the first leg, will be determined to have more of an influence in today’s rematch. The 20-year-old is Bayern’s leading scorer in the Bundesliga this term with 11 goals, though he has notched only twice in the Champions League so far.

Manchester City team news: Foden back in contention

Manchester City’s squad was bolstered by the return to fitness of Phil Foden this week, leaving Pep Guardiola will a full complement of players to choose from ahead of the Cityzen’s test in Bavaria today.

Foden’s technical talents will add another potent option to City’s already enviable array of attacking talent, though the England international is unlikely to earn a start against Bayern this evening. Instead, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva are expected to occupy the advanced midfielder positions in Pep Guardiola’s side again.

All three played integral roles in City’s 3-0 win over Bayern last week, with wingers Grealish and Silva in particular, doing some real damage on the flanks. That pair pinged six key passes between them in the first leg and Portuguese dynamo Silva finished the contest with a goal and an assist for his efforts.

Behind them, John Stones could reprise his role as an unorthodox midfielder alongside Rodri. Pep Guardiola has been wheeling out some more unusual tactical tweaks this year, and shifting Stones into a hybrid role between defence and midfield has kept opponents guessing.

Further forward, Erling Haaland brought his recent tally up to 15 goals in his last eight appearances when the netted a brace against Leicester City at the weekend, and the Norwegian superstar should be fit and raring to go again this evening having been withdrawn at half time against the Foxes.

Haaland added gloss to last week’s first-leg scoreline with a well-taken third and bettors everywhere will be adding the 22-year-old to their coupons as an anytime goalscorer option again today.

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