Reds fall to City

FC Bayern fell to a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the first match of the 2023 Audi Summer Tour. James McAtee scored for City in the first half, Mathys Tel levelling the scores with ten minutes to go, only for Aymeric Laporte to restore City's lead four minutes later. Antonio Tikvić and Frans Krätzig of the reserves made their first-team debut, as did sub Aleksandar Pavlović.

Bayern lined up with Yann Sommer in goal and Noussair Mazraoui, Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano and Alphonso Davies in defence. Joshua Kimmich and Konrad Laimer anchored a midfield featuring Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman, with Serge Gnabry up front.

Boss Thomas Tuchel shuffled his deck for the second half, keeper Sven Ulreich, Bouna Sarr, Josip Stanišić, Tikvić, Krätzig, Leon Goretzka, Ryan Gravenberch, Paul Wanner, Gabriel Vidović, Sadio Mané and Mathys Tel coming on. Pavlović and Arijon Ibrahimović took over from Wanner and Vidović in the closing stages.

Trailing at half-time

The 65,000 crowd in Tokyo saw an entertaining, up-tempo contest between two evenly-matches sides. Stones fired wide before Musiala saw an effort deflected behind and Sané hit the crossbar.

City took the lead when Sommer parried a shot, but McAtee was on hand to mop up the rebound. A Coman shot was blocked before Ederson denied Musiala and Coman, and Bayern were a goal down at half-time, ruing their missed chaces.

Tel's equaliser not enough

Clear-cut chances were at a premium after half-time, Stanišić making a crucial block against Rodrigo. The game sprang to life with ten minutes to, Ederson parrying against Wanner, but Tel netted the rebound to level the scores. Haaland and Cancelo saw their efforts blocked, but Laporte soon restored City's lead.

The Bavarians next face Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday before taking on Liverpool in Singapore next Wednesday.