City make it two from two in Japan with late Bayern victory

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In a goal made by our Academy, James McAtee opened the scoring midway through the first half after excellent work from Rico Lewis in the build up.

After Mathys Tel had equalised for the Bundesliga champions in the 81^st minute, City responded through Aymeric Laporte to seal a second victory in as many games in Japan.

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In the sweltering heat of the Japanese summer, Pep Guardiola made ten changes in total.

It was again a sold-out crowd at the Japan National Stadium for this meeting of two European heavyweights, just three days after attracting a capacity crowd to the same venue for our 5-3 win over Yokohama F. Marinos.

In fact, the 65,049 packed into the arena set a new record attendance for football at the National Stadium, opened in 2019.

We’ll now move on to the South Korean capital of Seoul to face Atletico Madrid at 12:00 (UK) on Sunday.

What happened

Both sides named strong lineups, with Bayern only making two changes from the side that lost at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final last season. There were five changes to City’s side from that April tie.

Donning the freshly released electric-feel PUMA third kit for the 2023/24 season, City had all the possession in the opening stages.

Our first chance was almost a carbon copy of City’s first goal against Yokohama F. Marinos on Sunday, with Julian Alvarez laying the ball off to John Stones on the edge of the box.

However, where he found the top corner three days earlier, the England man this time dragged his shot wide.

Bayern are Bundesliga champions and perennial Champions League challengers.

They showed that level of quality as the first half wore on, pouncing on some loose passing from a City side still shaking off the rust of a six-week break.

One such occasion saw former City man Leroy Sane race towards goal, only to be ushered away by Ederson.

The German winger dug out a pass inside that would have seen Jamal Musiala score the opener but for Nathan Ake’s outstretched leg.

Sane was the danger man again moments later, hitting a free-kick from 25 yards that clattered against the crossbar.

It was a burst of pace from Rico Lewis, playing in the advanced right position of the midfield box, that brought about the opening goal.

The 18-year-old glided beyond Dayot Upamecano and picked out Julian Alvarez.

The Argentine struck his first-time shot well, but Yann Sommer in the Bayern goal used a strong right arm to keep it out.

However, James McAtee was the quickest to react to tap into the empty net.

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Kingsley Coman had two chances to level before the break, but was denied by despairing dives from Lewis and then Ederson.

Indecision from Sommer almost saw Alvarez steal the ball off him just yards from goal, but the Swiss international managed to scramble it clear in the nick of time.

Having made the change to replace Ake for Manuel Akanji on the half hour mark, eight substitutions followed at half-time with only Bernardo and Ederson of the starting XI reaching the second period.

City could have doubled our lead with the first major chance of the second half. After slaloming through the Bayern defence, Bernardo found himself on the byline before hitting a cross that was half cleared.

That attempted clearance ended at the feet of Rodrigo around 10 yards out, but the Spaniard’s first time shot ricocheted around and was eventually hoofed away.

Oscar Bobb, one of the brightest sparks in the second half against Yokohama F. Marinos, was again a threat.

The Academy graduate was positioned out on the right wing, moving inside on to his left foot as much as possible.

It was that tactic that saw an opportunity open up for a shot shortly before the second half water break, which he sent just over Sommer’s goal.

Bayern remained content to sit back and attempt to catch us on the break.

At the same time, the intense heat appeared to have an impact on the energy levels of both sides.

Tuchel’s tactics eventually paid dividends. With less than 10 minutes to go, half-time substitute Mathys Tel followed up an impressive reflex Ederson save to hammer home from close range.

That sparked City back into life and, after peppering Sommer’s goal, we were back in front thanks to a swing of Aymeric Laporte‘s right boot from close range.

With less than five minutes remaining, the defence that was the foundation of last season’s success was not willing to buckle a second time.

Teams

CITY XI: Ederson, Walker (C) (Cancelo 45), Stones (Rodrigo 45), Dias (Laporte 45), Ake (Akanji 29), Lewis (Bobb 45), Kovacic (Phillips 45), Bernardo (Perrone 71), McAtee (Foden 45), Grealish (Gomez 45), Alvarez (Haaland 45)

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, De Bruyne, Palmer

BAYERN XI: Sommer (Ulreich 45), Mazraoui (Sarr 45), Pavard (Tikvic 45), Upamecano (Stanisic 45), Davies (Kratzig 45), Kimmich (Goretzka 45), Laimer (Gravenberch 45), Musiala (Vidovic 45), Gnabry (Tel 45), Sane (Mane 45), Coman (Wanner 45)

Subs: Hulsmann, Pavlovic, Ibrahimovic

Pep Guardiola Reaction

“Two great teams. Every time we lose the ball in the positions, the pace that Bayern have is something incredible. It was a good test. No injuries. Minutes in our legs for the next weeks.

“The result is not important. We know each other quite well. Satisfied for the performance. Thank you Tokyo. Tomorrow we are leaving for Korea and our last game before we go back to Manchester.”

Lung-busting Lewis

Rico Lewis is capable of playing in many positions, and Pep Guardiola trusts him.

The teenager and Academy graduate first broke into the senior side as a right-back during last summer’s tour of the US. He’s come a long way in 12 months.

While he’s featured most in the full-back positions, he has shown how comfortable he can be stepping into midfield.

In this game, he was asked to play in the advanced right role of the midfield box that the boss favoured in the second part of last season. It saw him reach a lot of areas on the pitch that we’re more familiar with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva operating in.

It was that high starting position that allowed him to burst into the Bayern box and set up McAtee’s goal.

That didn’t prevent him for performing his defensive duties though, with a diving block just before half-time ensuring a Kingsley Coman shot didn’t reach the goal.

Whether it’s something Guardiola is considering once the competitive action begins, only time will tell.

What’s next

We’ll fly to South Korea on Thursday ahead of facing Atletico Madrid at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday 30 July.

That match will start at 12:00 (UK) and is available to watch globally on CITY+ or Recast (except South Korea).

It will be our third and final pre-season friendly before next Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal.