Bayern Munich vs. Manchester City: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
In one of the more eye-catching ties of the opening round of Champions League fixtures, Bayern Munich host Manchester City at the Allianz Arena.
It’s set to be an engrossing clash between the domestic champions of Germany and England, with both teams looking to bounce back from respective disappointments in last year’s competition; City’s European adventure was cut short by Barcelona last season, while Bayern suffered an embarrassing 5-0 aggregate loss to eventual winners Real Madrid in the semi-final.
With Roma and CSKA Moscow completing what looks a very competitive group, both sides will be desperate to set a positive early precedent in their first game of the tournament. To ensure you don’t miss a second of what’ll be an intriguing battle, here’s all the information you need on where to catch the game via an online stream and on the television.
Date: 17 September 2014
Time: 7:45 p.m. (BST), 2:45 p.m. (ET)
TV Info: Sky Sports 5 (UK), Fox Sports 1 (US)
While both sides finished 2013/14 with domestic glory secured, neither team have begun the current campaign with any great conviction.
Focusing on Pep Guardiola’s side first, this summer was one of some excellent dealings in the transfer window. The signing of Robert Lewandowski had long been confirmed before its official completion, while the captures of Mehdi Benatia and Xabi Alonso add defensive steel to what is a massively multi-faceted side.
Preparations look to have been pretty meticulous for the German champions, too, as we can see here by their new training facilities, courtesy of Squawka:
But up to now in the Bundesliga, it’d be fair to say that Die Bayern haven’t really clicked into gear as of yet. Granted, they’ve won seven points from a possible nine, but the free-flowing football that was a patent of their success last season has been scarce.
Alonso has made a wonderful early impression, though, as noted here by the Bayern Munich Twitter account:
The Spaniard’s influence will be even more key in the Champions League, you suspect, especially when you consider the key role he played in Real’s triumph last season. And with the likes of Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski leading Bayern’s attack, Guardiola looks as though he has a formidable squad primed for a tilt at European glory.
But they must overcome a Manchester City side that emerged as 3-2 victors at the Allianz Arena last season, and the Premier League champions are a team that showcased many improvements in their first European season under the tutelage of Manuel Pellegrini. You suspect that this season, they're only going to improve further.
The Citizens had failed to get out of their Champions League group in the two seasons that preceded Pellegrini’s tenure, and while they will have been disappointed to be dumped out by the Blaugrana last season, they look well placed to mount a much sterner challenge on the European front this campaign with a balanced squad that's rife with experience.
Admittedly, City have also struggled for rhythm in their opening league games, taking seven points from a possible 12. But they were unlucky to drop points against Arsenal in their last match, a 2-2 draw at the Emirates. During that game the Citizens counter-attacked with aplomb, even without the surging, indomitable presence of Yaya Toure in the middle of the park.
But reassuringly for City fans, Pellegrini confirmed ahead of the Arsenal game that Toure would be ready for the trip to the Allianz Arena, per football blogger SamuelJayC:
With the home side likely to dominate the majority of possession, it’s vital that City can exploit the spaces left by Bayern by counter-attacking with effervescence and even more incisiveness. For all of Bayern’s obvious qualities, they do leave themselves a little short at the back on occasions as their stylistic principles encourage them to creep up the pitch.
With that in mind, this should be an intriguing tactical battle between two managers that have squared off many times. And while it’s likely that both sides will adopt completely different mantras throughout this clash, there’s a chance that with both teams still striving to find their fluid best, they could cancel each other out in this one.
Plus, if you consider the fact that it’s the first game of the group stage, perhaps both teams would settle for a draw. Expect an open game nonetheless and plenty of individual flair to keep us entertained, but for both teams to give as good as they get in this early season encounter and prioritise avoiding defeat over victory.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 1-1 Manchester City
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