Manchester City 3-0 Bayern Munich: Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland all score to earn commanding first-leg lead

Manchester City ripped apart Bayern Munich to win 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, with Erling Haaland scoring the final goal of a statement victory.

A more unlikely name, Rodri, opened the scoring, curling a left-footed shot into the top corner from 25 yards out to score in the Champions League for the first time and give his side a 1-0 lead at the break.

It could have been more, but for a sensational Yann Sommer reflex stop to deny Ilkay Gundogan.

Bayern were the better side early in the second half, with former Man City man Leroy Sane thrice stinging Ederson’s palms.

However, that Bayern momentum came to a crashing halt when Bernardo Silva doubled City’s lead from Haaland’s cross as the home team pounced on some slack defending.

Bayern then fell apart and Haaland ensured City will take a three-goal lead to Germany when he scored his 11th Champions League goal of the season from close range.

Manchester City have never won the Champions League and Pep Guardiola has not lifted the trophy since he left Barcelona more than a decade ago, but this performance, against a team who previously had eight wins from eight games in the competition, will add to the belief in the blue half of Manchester that this might be their year.

TALKING POINT – Pep doesn’t overthink it

Guardiola has often been accused of overthinking things in the Champions League knockout rounds, with defeat to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea in the 2021 final a prime example. That was decidedly not the case on this occasion.

Instead Guardiola made just one change from his last starting 11 in the Premier League, sticking with what has been a winning formula. That meant John Stones stepped into midfield when City had the ball and only adopted an orthodox centre-back position during prolonged spells of Bayern possession, which was crucial to the outcome of this match.

Rodri’s goal came in part from Stones’ presence in central midfield giving him the freedom to move further forward, join the attack on the edge of the opposition box and get the better of a player more accustomed to attacking than defending, before unleashing an excellent shot.

On top of that, City defended really well, and the four at the back they adopted when needed worked a treat, with Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji both handling Bayern’s tricky wingers without incident. Plus the one player Guardiola did bring in, Silva, was highly impressive and scored the second goal. Now the question is, can Guardiola resist the temptation to tinker in the second leg and any ties which follow?

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

Silva was simply too good for Alphonso Davies and consistently had the beating of his marker, giving City a numerical advantage down the right. That helped created the first goal, while Silva took the second well following good work on the opposite flank from Jack Grealish, who also impressed. Silva more than vindicated the decision to bring him into the City team.

PLAYER RATINGS

Manchester City: Ederson 7, Akanji 7, Dias 8, Ake 8, Stones 7, Rodri 7, Gundogan 6, De Bruyne 6, Silva 8, Grealish 8, Haaland 7. Subs: Alvarez 7.

Bayern Munich: Sommer 7, Pavard 5, de Ligt 6, Upamecano 5, Davies 3, Kimmich 6, Goretzka 5, Musiala 5, Sane 7, Coman 5, Gnabry 4. Subs: Mane 5, Muller 5, Cancelo 5.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

HAALAND MIGHTY CLOSE 14′ – Sommer takes his sweet time a yard from goal, with Haaland closing him down, and the forward gets a foot on the ball when Sommer finally does pass. Luckily for Bayern it does not ricochet into the net.

DIAS MAKES KEY BLOCK 26′ – Bayern’s first real chance falls to Musiala, after Sane does will on the left and cuts the ball back, but Dias makes a super block.

RODRI SCORES A STUNNER 27′ – Rodri bends a shot into the top corner from 25 yards, after spinning clear of his marker to give City the lead! That’s a brilliant goal.

SOMMER MAKES INCREDIBLE SAVE 34′ – Bayern’s defenders fail to deal with a deflected cross, Sommer only half clears as he collides with Grealish and Gundogan then stabs goalwards – but Sommer redeems himself with a brilliant reflex save, made with his leg.

CITY DOUBLE ADVANTAGE 70′ – Grealish picks Upamecano’s pocket, moves the ball to Haaland and he then crosses for Silva to head home.

HAALAND MAKES IT THREE 76′ – Haaland has a goal and it’s 3-0! More pathetic defending though, as Stones is allowed to head back across goal far too easily and Haaland converts once the ball arrives at his feet.

KEY STAT

Bayern had only conceded two goals in eight Champions League games this season before this encounter. Now City, with three goals conceded, have the best defensive record in the competition.