Manchester City have drawn German Champions Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter final. The clubs will play the first leg at Etihad Stadium on the 11th of April 2023. Bayern Munich will host the Citizens at the Allianz Arena on 19th of April 2023.
Manchester City face another German side after playing against RB Leipzig in the Round of 16. The match reunites Pep Guardiola with his former side Bayern Munich. The Spanish coach managed Bayern Munich between 2013 and 2016. Guardiola won 3 Bundesliga titles, 2 DFB Pokal, 1 UEFA Super Cup and 1 FIFA Club World Cup in his time in Germany.
It has been 8 years since the two sides played against each other in the UEFA Champions League. All in all, there has been 6 epic matches in the group stages with this being the first knockout game between the sides. Out of 6 games The Blues have won 3 times and lost 3 against the German side.
2011/12 Group Stage
In the current format of the Champions League, the first meetings between Manchester City and Bayern occurred in the 2011/12 Group A stages. The two sides first met at the Allianz Arena in Munich on 27 September 2011 in the second game of the groups. Both sides started positively exchanging blows but both teams failed to capitalize on their chances. However, despite a slow start by Jupp Heynckes’ men, Bayern took the lead late in the second half thanks to two goals by Mario Gomez in the 38th and 45+1 minute. Bayern grew into the game in the second half and continued pressing for a third goal. Heroics by Joe Hart in goal denied the Germans a third and fourth goal.
Manchester City played the second game at the City of Manchester Stadium on. Manchester City were in third position with 7 points behind Napoli with 8 points. The Blues needed a win and hope that Villarreal could hold or defeat Napoli. City dominated the Bavarians and won the game 2-0 thanks to goals by David Silva and Yaya Toure in the 36th and 52nd minutes respectively. Unfortunately, Napoli won, and Manchester City came third in the group moving to the Europa League. On the other hand, Bayern Munich went all the way to the finals. Sadly, Bayern Munich lost the final in the Allianz Arena 4-3 on penalties and Chelsea won their first Champions league title.
2013/14 Group stage
2013/14 was the next time that Bayern Munich and Manchester City were drawn together in the Champions League. Many changes had happened since the last meeting. Jupp Heynckes had won the Champions League the previous season and been replaced by Pep Guardiola in 2013. Manchester City had also sacked Roberto Mancini and acquired the services of Manuel Pellegrini.
Both teams were tipped to be group favorites and win group D. The first game was played on matchday 2 on the 2nd of October 2013 at the City of Manchester Stadium. Bayern Munich defeated Manchester City 3-1 thanks to goals Ribery, Muller, and Robben in the 7th, 56th and 59th minutes respectively. Manchester City scored a consolation goal in the 79th minute through Negredo. It was a dominant performance by the German side with 60% possession,471 completed passes and 13/20 attempts on target.
The second home game was played on match day 6 on 10th of December 2013 at the Allianz Arena. The Bavarians made a quick start with 2 goals in the first 15 minutes from Muller and Gotze in the 5th and 12 minutes. Manchester City came from behind first with a goal from Silva before half-time. The comeback was completed in the second half thanks to goals by Kolarov and Milner in the 59th and 62th minutes. The Blues finished the group with 15 points tied with Bayern Munich, but Munich were group winners due to goal difference. City were eliminated in the round of 16 by Barcelona while Bayern Munich were knocked out in the semi-final against Real Madrid.
2014/15 Group stage
2014/15 was the third season Bayern and Manchester City faced off in the group phase. Both teams were drawn together in group E with Roma and CSKA Moscow. The two teams played on match day 1 on the 17th of September 2014 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. In a tightly contested match Bayern won 1-0 thanks to a Boateng goal in the 90th minute.
The sides met again in match 5 at the Etihad Stadium on 25th November 2014. Sergio Aguero scored a hattrick to ensure a 3-2 victory against the German side at home. Manchester City had set up to defend and catch Bayern Munich on the counterattack. The first goal came in the 22nd minute through a Aguero penalty. Bayern Munich scored 2 goals despite being 10 men down thanks to goals by Xabi Alonso and Lewandowski in the 40th and 45th minute. City fought hard to come from behind and scored two late goals through Aguero to secure a comeback victory.
The Blues came second in the group and played against Barcelona in the Round of 16. Unfortunately, City could not defeat Barcelona both home and away and were knocked out. Bayern Munich were defeated in the Semi-finals by Barcelona and bowed out of the tournament.
