Champions League: Manchester City hammer Bayern Munich 3-0, Inter win 2-0 at Benfica in quarter-finals 1st leg

“Is it going to be their year?” was the overwhelming emotion after Manchester City came up with a commanding performance.

At home to beat German giants Bayern Munich 3-0 in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, April 11. The Premier League champions dismantled Bayern, who had travelled to Manchester with a 100 percent record in the European club competition this season.

A thunder strike from Rodri in the first half and two goals, one each from Bernando Silva and the invincible Erling Haaland set up what looks like a win that will take Manchester City to the semi-final of the Champions League for the 3rd successive season. A second leg against Bayern at the Allianz Arena awaits City but the Premier League giants seem to have taken the early advantage with a commanding show, especially in the second half at Etihad.

Pep Guardiola faced a familiar foe in Thomas Tuchel, who was in-charge of the Chelsea side that dashed City’s hopes in the Champions League final in 2020-21 season. However, on Tuesday, it was the Spaniard who was in complete control of the proceedings with his well-oiled machine working magic on the field.

Guardiola, who won the Champions League twice as coach of Barcelona, has so far failed to deliver the trophy to City, despite dominating English soccer during his seven years at the club.

He has won four league titles, one FA Cup and four League Cups, but Guardiola’s City has crumbled under pressure at the big stage. Last season, they were beaten in the semi-final by Real Madrid.

GUARDIOLA CALLS FOR 2 GOOD GAMES
Guardiola is aware of what it takes to make it past a side like Bayern, who had been on song in the Champions League, beating the likes of Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, all under former coach Julian Nagelsmann.

“Incredible result but I know a little bit what can happen in Munich. We have to do something new and a little bit more because we suffered too much with the quality they have. To knock out these teams you have to have two good games, not just one,” Guardiola said.

City went 1-0 up in the 27th minute, thanks to a stunning long-range effort from Rodri that beat the outstretched hand of Yann Sommer and flew into the top-left corner.

Haaland was in terrific form once again as the star striker set up Silva’s second goal before scoring the third and sending Etihad into euphoric celebrations. Haaland took his tally to 45 goals in all competitions this season, setting a new record by a Premier League player.

Sommer was kept busy throughout the game as the Bayern goalkeeper played a big role in limiting the damage. Leroy Sane had chances to equalize in the first-half but City kept the pressure with Edersom coming out of the hard-fought contest with a clean sheet.

INTER WIN 2-0 AT BENFICA
Inter Milan struck in the second half through Nicolo Barella and Romelu Lukaku for a 2-0 win at Benfica in their quarter-final, first leg on Tuesday which put them on course for a first last-four appearance since they won the trophy in 2010.

Barella headed home firmly at the back post in the 51st minute, rising unchallenged to get on the end of a superb cross from centre back Alessandro Bastoni, who was storming up the left side and delivered a pin-point ball. Substitute Lukaku then converted an 82nd minute penalty after VAR referred a handball by Benfica skipper Joao Mario for review by English referee Michael Oliver, who gave the spot kick after looking at the video monitor. (With Reuters Inputs)