FC Bayern face Manchester City in a pre-season friendly that has the feeling of a UEFA Champions League knock-out fixture but comes during the 2022 Audi Summer Tour on Saturday, 23 July in Green Bay, Wisconsin (6pm CDT/1am CEST on Sunday). It’s Bayern’s second match of the tour, three days after the 6-2 win over DC United in Washington, as Julian Nagelsmann’s team take to Lambeau Field to take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Here’s what you need to know about the English champions.
Premier League dominance
Manchester City FC took on its current name in 1894. Although the Cityzens’ trophy haul is less impressive than domestic rivals like Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, they do still look back on a proud history of eight league titles, six FA Cups, eight League Cups, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Their recent history is most impressive, having won the Premier League in four of the last five years. However, City and ex-Bayern boss Guardiola are still waiting for the big honour of the Champions League. They reached the final for the first time in 2020/21 but were beaten 1-0 by Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.
A strong season but with blemishes
Last year’s Premier League title went down to the final day as Guardiola’s City and Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool looked to grab top spot. In the end, it was the Manchester club who came out a point ahead. However, the Merseyside team got the better of the Cityzens in the FA Cup with a 3-2 semi-final victory. City also enjoyed a strong run in the Champions League but were unable to reach the final, falling at the penultimate hurdle to eventual winners Real Madrid in extra-time (6-5 on aggregate).
Excitement with Haaland
To try and make sure things do soon work out on the European stage, City have once again been busy in this transfer window. German goalkeeper Stefan Ortega from Arminia Bielefeld has been joined in the door by England international Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United and striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund. There’s also returning young forward Julian Alvarez, who the club signed back in winter from River Plater but loaned straight back to the Argentinians. These newcomers joining established key players like Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gündogan is how Guardiola – who won three straight Bundesliga titles in as many years as Bayern coach, plus two DFB Cups and the UEFA Super Cup – wants to push for silverware again this season. But first they face a top-quality friendly match against Germany’s most decorated club.
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