Champions League preview: Bayern Munich vs Man City, Inter vs Benfica
Bayern Munich vs Man City
Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane had a lively disagreement in the wake of Bayern’s 3-0 defeat to Man City last week. Will the pair be in more fraternal mood at the end of Wednesday’s second leg?
It’s do or die for the hosts – but will this match offer Deutsch dynamism, or more of a damp squib?
Bayern are still finding their way under new coach Thomas Tuchel; in the Bundesliga, the side could only draw 1-1 against Hoffenheim on Saturday.
But if ever there was a match to warrant a special performance, this is it. Bayern’s pedigree in the Champions League is renowned. The German giants have won the competition six times, most recently three years ago.
And while Man City are a truly formidable team that have added an additional dimension to their game with the acquisition of the best striker in the world – well, Pep’s not perfect.
We’re trying to avoid the “overthinking” tag, but it is undeniable that Guardiola sometimes twists when he should stick. Could the City boss’s attempts to flummox the opposition actually give them a chance on Wednesday?
Even if Guardiola goes with a more orthodox approach, his side may not have it all his own way against a Bayern that can still be brilliant. The side have not conceded a goal at home in the CL this season, beating the likes of Barcelona, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain to nil – home and away, in fact.
City will never be complacent under Pep but the side still get it wrong on occasion. Enough to mean Bayern can turn this tie round, though? That sounds a little fanciful.
We’re hopeful that FC Hollywood can at least find the net on home turf. And perhaps the slightly unglamourous Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is the man to catch City out. He has four Champions League goals so far in this campaign, and also four goals in his last six outings in all comps.
He’s been absent with injury for Bayern’s last three but is reportedly fit to play on Wednesday. The former Stoke man has 17 goals in 28 appearances this season. He could be the man to get Bayern believing. Choupo-Moting is 9/5 to score for the hosts.
Inter vs Benfica
Benfica lost their home leg 2-0 to Inter last week, and the Italian side seem reasonably solid at the San Siro, not conceding a goal in their last three CL games played at home.
But quirkily enough, the Milan club have lost their last three home games in Serie A – all by a 1-0 margin. Can Benfica target that apparent frailty to pull off a famous comeback on Wednesday?
It’s something to focus on for the visitors – who definitely need some good news. The Portuguese side are suffering their worse spell of the season, losing three games on the bounce this month.
Prior to the loss to Inter, Benfica were beaten at home by Porto. This weekend they also lost away to Chaves. They’ve scored one goal in that run, too.
Yet they’ve enjoyed an impressive CL campaign; Roger Schmidt’s side were unbeaten in 12 games this season, beating Juventus twice, and holding Paris St-Germain to two 1-1 draws.
Last season Benfica scored three goals against Liverpool at Anfield to make a game of it against the Merseyside club, who had won the first leg 3-1.
If a repeat of that performance is possible, this tie is not as cut and dried as it looks on first glance. But Benfica surely need to rediscover some swagger.
Perhaps Goncalo Ramos can help in that regard. The 21-year-old already has 24 goals this season, and is 9/4 to find the net.
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