CITY HUMBLE BAYERN IN COMMANDING 3-0 VICTORY

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in cruise control after a vital 3-0 win over 2020 winners Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Rodri’s magnificent long range strike opened the scoring before Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland got in on the action.

Manchester City make a huge statement in the Champions League after crushing German giants Bayern Munich at the Etihad. They outclassed Thomas Tuchels side in every way possible and could have scored many more. A lacklustre performance from Bayern who were the creators of their own downfall, a lack of concentration at the back and a lack of urgency in attack which Manchester City were able to capitalise on.

Rodri opened the scoring with a wonderful left-footed strike which curled into the top corner. The half ended 1-0 although it should have been more. Bayern came out fighting in the second half but all their efforts went to waste as they allowed Bernardo Silva to double the lead. Erling Haaland finished off his opponents with a poachers finished shortly after the second went in.

A big win for the English side, who are looking to win their first ever Champion League title, but you have to say, it was a win Bayern could have easily prevented.

Man City knocking on the door

Manchester City were dominating the game early on, Yann Sommer almost gifted his opponents the lead, City’s high press caught Bayern out and had no other choice but to force the ball back to Sommer, Erling Haaland hunted down the Swiss goalkeeper who had less time than he originally thought, Bayern luckily escaped without conceding.

Less than 10 minutes later, Haaland nearly broke deadlock for a second time, Grealish’s cheeky flick found the City talisman, his low drilled strike was too close to Sommer. It was a good strike, but he couldn’t quite get his body over it properly to give it the sting it usually has to beat the opposing goalkeeper.

Rodri's remarkable strike gives City the advantage

Rodri broke deadlock just before the half-hour mark with his first ever Champions League goal, and what a way to do it! Bayern were just starting to build momentum, however that all disappeared as City took the lead.

Bernardo Silva claimed easiest assist of his career, Rodri received the ball and nonchalantly chopped the ball past Musiala, there were no good options, therefore the Spaniard opted to listen the the shouts around the ground and go for goal himself. left footed curled shot, no chance for Sommer flies past him and into the top left corner.

Sommer's incredible reflex save denies Gundogan

A remarkable save by Sommer prevents City from doubling their lead. Bayern centre-back Dayot Upamecano totally misjudged Kevin De Bruyne’s cross meaning Sommer had no choice but to race off his line and punch the ball away.

Unfortunately for him it fell to Gundogan who volleyed the ball goal-ward, Sommer stuck out a foot and diverted the German midfielders strike over the crossbar; he didn’t seem to know much about it until the very last moment, making it a very impressive save to keep the score line 1-0 before heading down the tunnel for half time.

That was the last real action of the half, it had been a fixture that wasn’t disappointing at all, both sides were playing well but Bayern lacked the penetration that City have used to punish them up the other end of the pitch.

Sane's hat-trick of chances

§ An unhappy Thomas Tuchel must have given his Bayern players a stern talking to at half time, as they had all the chances at the beginning of the second half. Former Man City winger Leroy Sane had three chances in five minutes.

The first was moments into the second half, his dipping strike almost caught out Ederson, he forced the Brazilian keeper to make an awkward save to prevent his old teammate levelling the score line.

Shortly after that, Sane forced another save from Ederson, this time the German struck the ball hard and low, Ederson was equal to it once more, Serge Gnabry chased in for the rebound but Nathan Ake beat him to it and cleared ball away from danger. A strong save but Bayern we’re now asking questions.

With a point to prove on his return to Manchester Sane burst forward again and tested Ederson with a powerful strike; again the Brazilian international came out on top and pushed the ball away from danger.

Bernardo Silva doubles City's lead

§ Bernardo Silva doubled the lead with 20 minutes to go! He was involved in the goal that put them ahead initially, and helped his side even more with a bullet header to extend City’s lead. Bayern Munich were causing their own problems as their defence was caught in a jumble again.

Upemecano lost possession to an in form Jack Grealish. He played another audacious back-heel pass through to Haaland. The City striker looked as though he was going to take the shot on himself, but instead lifted ball over to Bernardo Silva, who headed home. Sommer got a hand to the header but not enough to prevent City making it the score 2-0.

Erling Haaland seals the deal

§ Erling Haaland put the game beyond doubt for Manchester City, three goals ahead in a Champions League quarter-final. Guardiola’s side had scored for a third time and had surely taken a big stride toward the semi finals.

Alvarez picked up the ball in the middle of the park and lofted it over to Stones waiting at the back post, Stones nodded it down to none other than Erling Haaland - everyone at the Etihad knew what was due to happen next. The Norwegian’s outstretched leg knocked in the third, a typical poachers finish that would give his side an enormous advantage heading into the second leg in Germany.

Searching for another in the final minutes

Substitute Julian Alvarez almost made it four for Manchester City in the final 10 minutes of the game. Jack Grealish again drove forward down the left flank before finding Alvarez. He attempted to replicate Rodri’s wonder goal from the first half with a long range effort of his own. However his attempted wasn’t as successful as it whistled just wide of the post.

The final action of the fixture fell to City who at this point were all over Tuchel’s Bayern side like a rash. It was clear the German giants were desperate for Jesus Gil to blow for full time. Rodri met a corner with a powerful headed attempt on goal, however Yann Sommer denied him a brace in the dying moments with an acrobatic save to keep his sided somewhat in the tie.

Thomas Tuchel's side will head back to Germany with a lot to think about, City are flying and were unstoppable tonight. In the return fixture, they'll have to come up with something pretty special to make it through to the semi-finals.

Bayern only had themselves to blame this evening, the defence lack confidence and concentration for the entire 90. Although Sommer was part of that, he made some terrific saves and prevent the score line getting too embarrassing.

Guardiola's side have one foot in the door thanks to that special performance, will this be the year they go all the way?

Line-Ups

Manchester City (3-2-4-1) – Ederson, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne (Julian Alvarez 68’), Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland

Goals - Rodri (28'), Bernardo Silva (70’), Erling Haaland (77’)

Bookings - Bernardo Silva (48')

Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1) – Yann Sommer, Alphonso Davies (Joao Cancelo 80’), Matthias De Ligt, Dayot Upamecano, Benjamin Pavard, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala (Sadie Mane 69’), Serge Gnabry (Thomas Muller 80’)

Goals - N/A

Bookings - Alphonso Davies (49’), Benjamin Pavard (88’)

Man of the Match – John Stones

Attendance – 52,257

Referee – Jesus Gil

Written by Isabelle Newnham