In a high-level meeting, Manchester City overcame (3-0) a Bayern Munich team overwhelmed by the intensity and realism of the Mancunians. With this good result, Pep Guardiola’s men can see the door to the semi-finals before the return match in a week.
When the quarter-finals of the Champions League arrive, hope is rarely disappointed. Especially when worn by teams like Manchester City and Bayern Munich. It rained a lot on the Manchester City lawn on Tuesday evening, but spring was here in terms of the game with a party lit up by the 22 players. Perhaps more by the 11 Mancunians who emerged victorious from this big shock (3-0) which could have been a poster for the final.
Manchester City won the first leg, and the Pep Guardiola men were first rewarded with a superb first half which saw them have more control in the game, more initiative and more chances, too. While the first attempts had been framed Yann Sommer’s penalty area, it was on a masterful shot from the left from more than 20 meters that Rodri (27th) unlocked the game.
The quarter-final programme: Tuesday 11 April (Universal Time) Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox I subscribe 7 p.m.: Benfica (POR) – Inter Milan (ITA) Manchester City (ANG) – Bayern Munich (GER) Wednesday April 12 (Universal Time) 7 p.m.: Real Madrid (ESP) – Chelsea (ENG) AC Milan (ITA) – Napoli (ITA)
Bayern, shaken in the first 45 minutes, reacted well at the start of the second half, notably with three shots on target from Leroy Sané; and especially by a desire to put more intensity in the game.
Inter win in Lisbon
However, it was during a weak moment that Manchester City made the break, helped by an error by French defender Dayot Upamecano who lost the ball, allowing Haaland to find the head of Bernardo Silva (70th). 2-0, Bayern are knocked out and will have their heads down with a third achievement from the inevitable Erling Haaland (77th) who scored his 45th goal of the season, in 39 matches.
The Bavarians, who had won all their matches and conceded only two goals since the start of the Champions League season, are dominated like never before by a ruthless City side. And the returns of Sadio Mané, Thomas Muller and Joan Cancelo will not change anything. With this heavy score, Thomas Tuchel’s men, who arrived less than a month ago, will have to achieve an incredible “comeback” to hope to qualify for the semi-finals.
In the second quarter-final, Inter Milan, in bad shape in its championship, subdued Benfica in Lisbon (2-0). Nicolo Barella (51st) and Romelu Lukaku (82nd) were the executioners of the Portuguese.
This Wednesday, place at the other shock of the quarter-finals between Chelsea and the defending champion, Real Madrid.
Quarter-final results and schedule:
Tuesday April 11
Benfica (POR) – Inter Milan (ITA) 0-2
Manchester City (ENG) – Bayern Munich (GER) 3-0
Wednesday April 12
7 p.m. (UT): Real Madrid (ESP) – Chelsea (ENG)
AC Milan (ITA) – Napoli (ITA)