v Bayern Munich

A shorter than normal / straight to it blog posting…

v Bayern Munich

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 10/11)

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

Grealish___________________________________Silva

 

_________Gundogan____________De Bruyne________

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Ake______________________________________Walker

____________Dias_______________Akanji___________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Carson, Ortega, Gomez, Lewis, Laporte, Stones, Phillips, Perrone, Palmer, Mahrez & Alvarez.

Ederson keeps the gloves

Slight tweak to what has become a fairly regular back line? I think so. I’ve just got a feeling for this one that Kyle might get recalled to the starting line-up and, therefore, it’s Nathan, Ruben, Manuel & Kyle.

Rodders might find himself largely next to Ilkay in a dual deeper role with the German international being allowed to go further forward at times; Jack, Kevin & Bernardo are more advanced.

Erling ‘up top’

12 are allowed on the bench for this competition and we may well see a full dozen but I am, at least, going for 11 personnel on the side. Scott & Stefan are the reserve keepers; Sergio, Rico, Aymeric & John are the defenders in there. Kalvin, Maximo, Cole & Riyad are the midfielders / wingers on the bench, while Julian is the back-up striker.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.

-       Phil Foden – Still recovering from an appendix operation – possibly another week to 10-days, going off the initial assessment report at least.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Yep.

Result? There must have been a reason why the top-of-the-table German side decided to change managers recently and, without knowing exactly why that was, it might have been down to pressure from second-placed Borussia Dortmund and the fact that our visitors registered 7 draws and 3 defeats in 27-league outings, I dunno. Regardless, we face a tough side with a very experienced manager, of course.

I think it will be a close affair but one that I think we’ll edge in this first leg. It’s a City win for me…but it would be nice to go to Germany with a good lead.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result: 

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Quite a bit of rain and very, VERY windy. The high sides of the stadium should, at least, protect the play from the winds to some degree but nothing can be done about the wet stuff, of course. 9C is the temperature for the match.

Solidarity