The Hard Tackle lists three players who can turn the tie on its head when Bayern Munich and Manchester City clash on Wednesday.
The quarter-finals of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League will culminate on Wednesday with two eye-catching fixtures. The marquee match-up on the day will see Bayern Munich hosting Manchester City at the Allianz Arena, desperate to overturn a three-goal deficit from the first leg.
Bayern Munich cruised through the group stage and made short work of Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16. But the man who masterminded those triumphs is longer at the helm after the Bundesliga champions sacked him. Thomas Tuchel replaced Julian Nagelsmann a few weeks ago but has failed to galvanise the squad.
On the other hand, Manchester City did not break a sweat in the group stage before smashing RB Leipzig in the Round of 16. The Citizens have turned things around in the Premier League and have their fortunes in their hands. And after easing past Bayern Munich in the first leg, they have one foot in the semi-finals.
Manchester City cruised to a 3-0 win over Bayern Munich in the first leg and will be the favourite to reach the semi-finals. And ahead of the second leg, The Hard Tackle looks at three players who can singlehandedly turn the tie on its head on Wednesday.
Alphonso Davies
Our list features two Bayern Munich players, considering the visitors are behind the eight ball. And we start with a player who can trouble Manchester City’s right side to no end on Wednesday. We are, of course, talking about Alphonso Davies.
The Canadian international reinvented himself as a left-back after joining Bayern Munich. And he has gone from strength to strength at the Allianz Arena, a few fitness issues notwithstanding. Meanwhile, his performances for Bayern Munich have attracted several top clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester City.
The 22-year-old is a bundle of energy who boasts a dangerous change of pace. And Bayern Munich will be in contention to overturn the massive deficit if he plays at his best level. At the same time, Davies will need to put the hard yards off the ball.
The youngster can use his pace to make recoveries and keep the Manchester City attack quiet. All in all, Davies will have to show his multi-faceted nature to bring Bayern Munich back into the tie and reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva is magic 🪄
(via @ChampionsLeague) pic.twitter.com/RcKtA95pdH
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 14, 2023
The next candidate on our list was also in the “Key Players” piece for the first leg. He is a player whose long-term Manchester City future is up in the air, yet remains a pivotal figure. We are talking about Bernardo Silva.
The Portuguese international has been a playmaking extraordinaire for Manchester City since arriving from AS Monaco nearly half a dozen years ago. And Silva has become a world-class performer under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, who always reserves high praise for him.
The Manchester City manager has brought the best out of the 28-year-old while turning him into a combative midfielder. So Silva not only carries a threat in the final third but also presses high up the pitch. At the same time, he is not hesitant to put in no-nonsense tackles to keep the opposition at bay.
The former Monaco playmaker’s progress has captured the attention of several high-profile clubs, including Barcelona and Real Madrid. And while being keen on embarking on a new adventure, he remains focused on the job at hand for Manchester City this season.
Silva will decide his future at the end of the season amid interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. Until then, the Portuguese midfielder will look to guide Manchester City to the elusive Champions League crown. And a solid performance at the Allianz Arena will take his team to the next stage.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
👀 Believe… pic.twitter.com/ZWahMH0M9H
— Choupo-Moting (@Mr_choupo) April 18, 2023
Finally, we move to the other Bayern Munich ace we referenced earlier in this piece. This attacker’s return will give Thomas Tuchel the opportunity to unlock a new layer of attacking play. The player in question is Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
The 34-year-old has been on a roll since Robert Lewandowski left Bayern Munich last summer. And after showing positive signs in the 2021/22 season, the veteran striker has taken his game to the next level this term, often scoring goals for fun.
The Cameroonian international has found the back of the net 17 times, making him Bayern’s top scorer this season. That signifies how long he has come in the ongoing campaign. But Choupo-Moting will need to return with a bang after recovering from some niggling issues.
The experienced striker has the quality to trouble the Manchester City defence. And his movement can leave the visitors bent out of shape. Expect the 34-year-old to bring his A-Game to try to guide Bayern Munich to the next stage.
