The champions of Germany take on the champions of England as Bayern go to Manchester City on Tuesday looking to secure a good result in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, eight days before the return fixture at the Allianz Arena. Read about what facts are in Bayern’s favour ahead of the game…
1. A flawless campaign for record quarter-finalists
Bayern boast a perfect record in the Champions League this season, having won all eight fixtures. While it’s the second time the Munich club have achieved that feat, after 2019/20, no other team has ever managed to win their first eight games of the campaign since the removal of the second group stage in the competition. Germany’s most successful club are also into the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the 21st time, which is a record ahead of Real Madrid (19). Manchester City, meanwhile, are the only team to have been among the final eight for each of the last six seasons.
2. Honours even to date
Out of six previous meetings between Bayern and City, each side has managed three wins. All of those took place in the Champions League group stage, meaning this is the first encounter in knockout competition. The Germans have prevailed in five of their last six knockout ties against English clubs, with the exception the 2018/19 round of 16 against Liverpool. Bayern have also won four games in a row against Premier League sides for the first time ever, while they’re unbeaten in their last four visits to England (W3, D1). However, City boast a very good recent record at home to Bundesliga opposition with 10 straight wins in the Champions League by an aggregate score of 39-10.
3. Top defences face off
Bayern (two goals conceded) and City (three) boast the two meanest defences in this season’s Champions League. FCB have in fact kept seven clean sheets in their eight fixtures, with both goals coming against Sven Ulreich when already in control in the 4-2 win away at Viktoria Plzen. That is obviously the most shutouts in the competition for 2022/23 and is followed by the Cityzens’ five (same as Inter Milan and Club Brugge). However, our quarter-final opponents have allowed the fewest shots per game (6.0).
4. Müller can achieve Champions League immortality
Thomas Müller has emerged victorious in 99 of his 140 Champions League appearances to date. Another success in Manchester would see him become just the third player to achieve a century of victories in Europe’s top club competition. The only players to have so far achieved 100 wins are Cristiano Ronaldo (115 with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus) and Iker Casillas (101 with Real Madrid and Porto). The Bayern youth product would therefore also be the only player to have won 100 with just one club.
5. Tuchel’s Champions League debut with Bayern brings back memories
There are definitely easier jobs than making your Champions League bow as Bayern coach in the quarter-finals, but Thomas Tuchel definitely appears to have what it takes. The 49-year-old won the competition with Chelsea in 2021, beating Man City 1-0 in the final. That was the most recent of three encounters with Pep Guardiola for him in cup competitions, during which Tuchel’s sides are yet to concede a single goal. His Chelsea had previously beaten City 1-0 in the FA Cup semi-final in April 2021, while his Borussia Dortmund side lost the 2016 DFB Cup final on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes against Guardiola’s Bayern.
6. Top scorer vs. top provider
Man City boast the Champions League’s top scorer in 2022/23 with Erling Haaland (10 goals). The Norwegian’s scoring rate in the competition is nothing new, having netting 33 times in his first 25 Champions League appearances – that’s 13 more than anyone else has ever managed in their first 25 games in the competition. Bayern, meanwhile, have this season’s two best providers. City loanee Joao Cancelo has five assists, while Leon Goretzka follows with four (same as three other players).
7. Only tie of champions
Bayern against Man City is the only one of the four quarter-final ties this season between two reigning domestic champions. It also sees the top two in UEFA’s club coefficient go head-to-head. FCB currently lead that standing, level on points with City in second.
We’ve taken a closer look at our quarter-final opponent:
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