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Manchester City took total control of their Champions League quarter-final tie with an emphatic 3-0 first-leg win over Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri’s curling shot from distance in the first half gave Pep Guardiola’s side the lead against the German champions before Bernardo Silva headed in a second after the interval. Leroy Sane tested Ederson repeatedly in between but Bayern’s defensive frailty was clear.
Erling Haaland, without so much as a draw in seven games against these opponents as a Borussia Dortmund player, exposed that fragility in volleying home the third goal as Bayern, and the struggling Dayot Upamecano in particular, began to wilt under City’s pressure.
The fourth goal did not arrive but for all this team’s travails in the latter stages of this competition, City will surely expect to progress to the final four after this result. A hugely impressive performance that underlines their status as the favourites for the trophy.
How Man City won it on the night
In blustery conditions that had the rain swirling around the stadium, Jack Grealish lifted the crowd in an instant with a purposeful run and there were two chances for Haaland in those early stages – both on his left foot, both far from his best.
But the game turned City’s way on two phases of play midway through the first half. Jamal Musiala’s low shot looked to be heading for the bottom corner of Ederson’s net only for Ruben Dias to produce a sensational block. City went down the other end and scored.
Musiala might have done more to prevent Rodri turning inside but he could not have anticipated what followed. The midfielder set his left-footed shot wide of the far post but the ball curled beautifully into the top corner with Yann Sommer scrambling in vain.
Guardiola famously omitted the Spain international from his starting line-up for the 2021 Champions League final defeat to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, but this was a less surprising selection and it was the German coach who struggled to find the solutions.
Sane came close, locked in a personal battle with Ederson that saw the Brazilian goalkeeper deny him three times from distance early in the second half, and that proved significant soon after when Upamecano’s error allowed City to double the advantage.
It was superb by the in-form Grealish to dispossess the defender and then flick the ball through to Haaland. Just as good by the Norwegian to pick out the pass to Silva as the crowd urged him to shoot. Sommer got a hand to his powerful header but could not keep it out.
Jay Bothroyd describes the moment Bernardo Silva doubled Manchester City’s lead
Upamecano’s error for the third was less conspicuous but just as damaging – presenting Haaland with the freedom of the box to latch onto John Stones’ header and cushion the shot beyond the goalkeeper. It was his 45th goal of the season.
He and his team might not need another to see off Bayern in Munich, such was the job done by the reigning Premier League champions in front of their own fans. There is work to do, of course, but Manchester City’s hopes of a treble are growing.
Erling Haaland scored Manchester City’s third goal of the game against Bayern Munich
What’s next?
The second leg takes place in Munich on Wednesday, April 19 at 8pm. But up next for Manchester City are Leicester City back in the Premier League this Saturday at the Etihad Stadium, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 5.30pm.
Saturday 15th April 5:00pm
Kick off 5:30pm
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich host Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, also on Saturday; kick-off 2.30pm.
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