TUCHEL PUT TO BED ERLI
Three-up City in dreamland
THERE will be talk of it being only half-time in this Champions League tie and every other cliche that comes with it.
But make no mistake, Manchester City are surely cruising into the semi-final as Pep Guardiola’s side will take a three-goal lead to Germany next week.
Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel claimed to have sleepless nights before this game – he will have had nightmares about it if he finally got some kip last night.
City terrorised his Bayern side and with a dominant first-leg display at the Etihad.
And on this form, that’s bad news for anyone in their way of the Treble this season.
The City machine has well and truly clicked into gear and it is eating up teams that step in front of them just at the right time.
The goals came from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland – of course. It was another record-breaking night for the goal machine as he reached 45 for the season – the most ever by a Premier League player in a single campaign.
Yet it could have been more for him and his team-mates. That’s how good City were.
Guardiola’s side were lethal, taking the hope away from the German champions in ruthless fashion inside six second-half minutes.
Bayern had dared to threaten after the restart with City leading at the time just by Rodri’s first-half stunner. But by the time Haaland found the net in the 76th minute, any belief of a turnaround had vanished.
Tuchel knew this would be tough. He said before he was struggling to sleep wondering how to stop Haaland.
He couldn’t have dreamt of a way to do it when they’re in this mood.
The German boss had wrecked City’s Champions League dreams before.
Tuchel was managing Chelsea then when they upset City in the Porto decider in 2021.
City are still hurting from that night. You could see the desire of those in blue to ensure that they don’t suffer yet more European heartache this season.
The opener was a moment of magic. Silva, who dominated on the right, slid one into Rodri. The Spanish midfielder wrapped his left boot into it and it found
the top corner. His first Champions League goal and one to remember.
Former City winger Leroy Sane had two early second-half chances but Ederson proved capable against his old team-mate.
They were wake-up calls to City as the rain finally subsided on a soaking wet night but the hosts would soon see off the threat.
Haaland was the provider for the massive second goal which swung the momentum back in his side’s favour.
It was some hesitant defending from Dayot Upamecano which allowed Jack Grealish to nick the ball from him.
The City winger’s clever backheel found Haaland and his cross was perfect for the pint-sized Silva to head home. Then John Stones nodded across the box and the Norwegian goal monster fired home.
The records keep tumbling for Haaland. But for Yann Somm er in the Bayern goal it could have been more.
The Treble is now well within the sights of this scintillating City side.
MAN CITY (3-2-4-1): Ederson 7; Akanji 7, Dias 7, Ake 7; Stones 7, Rodri 8; SILVA 8, De Bruyne 7 (Alvarez 68, 6), Gundogan 7, Grealish 8; Haaland 8.
BAYERN MUNICH (4-2-3-1): Sommer 7; Pavard 6, Upamecano 5, De Ligt 5, Davies 5 (Cancelo 81); Goretzka 7, Kimmich 6; Coman 6, Musiala 6 (Mane 69, 5), Sane 7; Gnabry 5 (Muller 80).
REFEREE: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain) 6.