Manchester City 3, Bayern Munich 0 – Champions League Quarter Final 1st Leg
Erling Haaland notched a record 45th goal for Manchester City as they thrashed Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri scored with a 20 yard curling shot to put City into the lead against Bayern after 27 minutes.
The Germans found themselves up against an impenetrable City wall, and even after improving in the second half Leroy Sane couldn’t beat Ederson.
City could have had a second goal but could not score despite a myriad of errors in the Bayern defence.
But Bayern were coming back and Sane was twice denied by Ederson and Kingsley Coman also saw his effort blocked.
City weathered the storm and scored two great goals through Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland to stun the Germans.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, Bayern Munich 0 – Champions League Quarter Final 1st Leg
Ederson: 8. Had to be alert but had a lot of protection, saw a Leroy Sane shot whistle past his back post after Jack Grealish lost the ball. Couple of swift runs off his line to collect the loose ball and brilliant saves to deny Leroy Sane twice and Kingsley Coman.
Manuel Akanji: 8. Unfamiliar right back role but he did a solid job there, a lot of danger came down his side from Leroy Sane but he dealt with it.
Ruben Dias: 8. Superb block to stop a shot from Jamal Musiala and started the attack that ended with Rodri’s goal. Had an effort palmed over the bar by Yann Sommer and another big block in the second half.
Nathan Ake: 8. Jamal Musiala on toast and a block to prevent Joshua Kimmich from releasing him. Headed clearances and blocks kept City ahead while he also had a shot saved by Yann Sommer.
John Stones: 8. Shuttled between midfield and central defence. Very few errors and his cushioned header down allowed Erling Haaland to make it 3-0. Worrying moments late on after he blocked out Leroy Sane from having a clear shot on goal and went don.
Rodri: 9. Neat midfield passer and curled a beauty in past Yann Sommer when he found himself in space after City broke. Saw a late header palmed over the bar by Yann Sommer.
Bernardo Silva: 9. Made a complete pest of himself on the right flank, coming back and defending and making it hard for Alphonso Davies to attack. Tireless pressing and ball retention even while Bayern were having a good spell and scored a fully deserved second goal for City with a fine header from 8 yards out.
Kevin De Bruyne: 7. After a slow start his balls into the box were a menace to Bayern but the wind in the stadium meant some shots were overhit and his final ball wasn’t the best even when the wind died down. Injured himself trying to keep the ball in play in the second half and wasn’t happy when subsequently replaced by Julian Alvarez.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7. Headed an early chance over and had a great chance blocked by Yann Sommer.
Jack Grealish: 8. Early weaving run got City into a great position. Laid on a great chance for Erling Haaland. Wiped out by Sommer. Got back to defend too when Ruben Dias found himself out of position on a Bayern break. Intensity lowered in the second half but he had enough in the tank to steal the ball off Dayot Upamecano and back heel it to Erling Haaland who set up the second goal for Bernardo Silva.
Erling Haaland: 8. Fired over early on and was presented was a great chance to score but he couldn’t quite turn the back pass past Yann Sommer. Had a superb chance to score but shot too close to Sommer. Kept working hard and got more involved in the second half through. Unselfishly set up Bernardo Silva with a cross from the left after Jack Grealish released him and then scored a superb volley to hand City a 3-0 first leg lead.
Julian Alvarez (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 68): 6. Almost made it 3-0 but for fingertip save by Yann Sommer and saw a long range effort for 4-0 go wide.
GOALS – Manchester City 3, Bayern Munich 0 – Champions League Quarter Final 1st Leg
Man City 1, Bayern Munich 0: 27. Rodri curled a beauty in beyond the reach of Yann Sommer when left free 20 yards from goal and released with a square pass by Bernardo Silva.
Man City 2, Bayern Munich 0: 69. Bernardo Silva headed home City’s second after an unselfish cross by Erling Haaland set him up after Jack Grealish’s back heel had beaten Dayot Upamecano to release the Norwegian.
Man City 3, Bayern Munich 0: 76. Bernardo Silva’s cross to the back post found John Stones and his cushioned header down was finished with aplomb by Erling Haaland with a volleyed finish from 5 yards out.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, Bayern Munich 0 – Champions League Quarter Final 1st Leg
Man City: Ederson, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Stones, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne (Alvarez 68), Gundogan, Grealish, Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Carson, Walker, Phillips, Laporte, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Perrone, Palmer, Lewis
Booking: Bernardo Silva 48 (foul on Jamal Musiala)
Goals: Rodri 27; Bernardo Silva 69; Erling Haaland 76
Bayern Munich: Sommer, Pavard, Upamecano, De Ligt, Davies (Cancelo 80), Goretzka, Kimmich, Coman, Musiala (Mane 69), Sane, Gnabry (Muller 81)
Bayern Munich Subs not used: Ulreich, Schenk, Sarr, Blind, Gravenberch, Tel, Mazraoui, Stanisic
Bookings: Davies 49 (foul on Jack Grealish); Pavard 88 (foul on Jack Grealish)
Referee: Jesus Gil