Manchester City vs. Bayern Munich: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Manchester City are still in with a shout of qualifying for the latter stages of the Champions League despite a shocking campaign thus far, but they will likely need to beat Bayern Munich at home on Tuesday to stand any chance.
The Sky Blues have two further group games to play having picked up just two points from four matches and they will need to up their performance massively at the Etihad against the already-qualified Bayern.
The German champions have breezed through their campaign so far and are assured of top spot in Group E, but that is unlikely to make Manuel Pellegrini's job any easier in attempting to pick up three points.
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Read on for a full preview of a huge night for City as well as all the scheduling, live streaming and television details.
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 25
Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT, 2:45 p.m. ET
TV Info: ITV (UK), Fox Sports 1 (US)
Live Stream: ITV Player, Fox Soccer 2Go
Preview
Not only do City likely need a victory on Tuesday against one of the best club sides in the world, but they will have to do it without three of their key players.
David Silva is out with a knee injury, while Yaya Toure and Fernandinho will both be missing through suspension after being sent off in the 2-1 loss to CSKA Moscow earlier this month.
This is a huge disadvantage as that trio of players would have been key in wrestling the midfield control that will be needed if City are to pick up the necessary three points.
As football writer and tactics expert Jonathan Wilson alluded to, City could be overwhelmed up against the likes of Xabi Alonso, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, with James Milner likely to have to shoulder a great deal of responsibility:
Equally, Fernando will have an essential role to play in defensive midfield as a ball-winner and added protection for the back four, while Frank Lampard's experience could also be vital.
As boss Pellegrini noted, City's squad depth will be tested to its maximum on Tuesday and needs to pass with flying colours, per The Guardian's Jamie Jackson:
"We are without three very important players but that’s why we have a squad. We know we must win against Bayern and must have the personality to go and be aggressive from the beginning. This is our last chance to progress in the Champions League.
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The fact that Bayern have already qualified does mean the German side may be lacking in intensity on Tuesday but, with the quality Pep Guardiola has at his disposal, there is no way they will simply roll over.
The Bundesliga leaders will be aiming for a perfect record in the group stage having won four from four so far.
They will aim to keep the ball as much as possible, as they have succeeded in doing thus far in their Champions League campaign, per SuperSport:
Unless City can disrupt Bayern's possession game, they will find it tough to get on the ball, let alone create chances and that effectively rules out any possibility of winning the game.
For Pellegrini's men to succeed they will need to press Bayern and be diligent with the ball. Fortunately, the Sky Blues have one of the world's top finishers in Sergio Aguero who can take advantage of the chances he gets—he has scored 12 goals in 12 Premier League games so far this season, per WhoScored.com.
City will be buoyed by their weekend performance which saw them win 2-1 against Swansea from a losing position, but Bayern also go into Tuesday's encounter on the back of a 4-0 win against Hoffenheim.
A final factor which could be key at the Etihad is the atmosphere, which is often accused of being muted on European nights in the past.
City's fans need to get behind their side in a big way or it could spell the end of Champions League football at Eastlands for another year.
The Sky Blues need a victory to give themselves the best chance of a last-16 spot, but they are hampered by injury and the quality of the opposition, and thus they need a special display—from players and fans—to be in with a chance.
