Manchester City give Bayern Munich something to think about

Bayern Munich 2 Manchester City 3
Well, that was unexpected. Manchester City staged a remarkable turnaround in Bavaria, not only coming from behind to beat Bayern Munich but producing a performance of great assurance at times against a Bayern team that began like aristocrats but faded terribly as City took the points to finish second on goal difference in Group D.

James Milner made two and scored one at the home of the European champions and along with Javi Garcia, another dominant influence, drove a weakened City forward through a final hour that saw them come from 2-0 down to win deservedly 3-2. It is a result and a performance that will give Manuel Pellegrini enormous confidence for the knockout stage.

The Allianz was its usual boisterous midweek self on a chilly night, with City’s travelling minority – no doubt still warmed by the mass-tactical Glühwein ingestion staged from mid-morning onwards in Marienplatz – crammed into the top tier of another full house.

Always at best a half-dead rubber, this was a match that City needed to win 4-2 or better, or by three clear goals, to top Group D. With this in mind a good start seemed essential.

Instead a much-changed City dished up a terrible one, kicking off and almost immediately giving the ball to Franck Ribery before conceding an early corner thanks to a terrible piece of control by Joe Hart. With five minutes gone Bayern, who had utterly monopolised the ball, opened the scoring with a horribly simple goal.

Rolled past Hart
Dante's lofted pass down the centre found Thomas Muller all alone, his chest control took him away from Aleksandr Kolarov and the finish was rolled past Hart.

Five minutes of Bavarian tiki-taka later Ribery hit a post from an acute angle and from the corner that followed City managed to leave Mario Mandzukic in so much space he had time to control, turn and sidefoot past Hart.

At that stage it looked as though the final score was simply a matter of how far Bayern were willing to press the point, making a mockery of Pep Guardiola's fears in the build-up that his players would treat it as a Freundschafts-speil-charakter (the excellent German word for friendly).

Tactical changes
Manuel Pellegrini made tactical changes, playing Edin Dzeko as a lone striker in front of a five-man midfield with Milner, Micah Richards and Hart all included. You can tell it is a weakened team these days at City. The Englishmen get a game.

As the half wore on and City began to enjoy some possession, Milner drew a save from Neuer with a fine volley. And on 28 minutes they pulled a goal back: Milner, having a good game, headed back Jesus Navas’s cross for David Silva to prod home.

City could feel encouraged at half-time, if not by the 2-1 scoreline then by the manner of its arrival - and by the sight, at times, of Guardiola gesticulating on the touchline as City pressed higher up the pitch, leaving space behind them, but getting closer to Ribery.

After the interval City continued to press with Silva, playing up alongside Dzeko. City began to dominate possession before winning a penalty on 59 minutes as Milner ran on to Silva’s pass and was bundled over by Dante. Kolarov rolled the kick into the corner and City were level.

Within three minutes, as Bayern continued to look oddly dazed, they were in front. Navas crossed from the right, Jerome Boateng air-hacked and Milner finished brilliantly, passing the ball back beyond Neuer into the far corner.

City had scored three times without reply in the space of 26 minutes at the home of the European champions. "Football's coming home," sang the travelling fans, drolly.
Guardian Service