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*In legendary boxing announcer Micheal Buffer's voice*
In the powder blue corner, the challenger for progression to the Champions League elimination rounds: The Citizens! Manchester City FC! Winners of England's Premiere title in '37 and '68, and FA Cup winner in 2010.
And, in the red corner, die Roten! (And the crowd goes wild!) The Rekordmeisters of Deutschland! Winners of 22 Bundesliga titles, 15 Pokal titles, one Europa League title and four Champions League titles: FC Baaaaaayerrrrnnnn Muuuuuuuenchen!
*Cue "Champions League Anthem"*!
Last weekend, the Citizens dismantled a hapless Norwich side 5-1, with goals scored by Aguero, Nasri, Yaya Toure, Balotelli and Johnson. The win saw them move a dominant five points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Before that, City had a nervy victory against Arsenal in the Carling Cup, a loss to Napoli in the Champions League and a win against Newcastle United, 3-1.
Roberto Mancini has a full squad to pick from - no one is sick or injured - so expect to see a brutal starting XI comprised of: Hart - Richards, K. Toure, Kompany, Clichy - Y. Toure, Barry - Silva, Nasri, Johnson - Aguero.
On the other side of the pitch, over the weekend a ho-hum Bayern Munich side defeated Werder Bremen, who looked inexplicably unprepared for the match. Braces by the Traumduo, Ribery and Robben, saw Bayern go back on top of the Bundesliga after the Borussia derby ended in a 1-1 draw. Prior to that, the Reds lost two consecutive Bundesliga matches; against Mainz, 3-2, and Borussia Dortmund at home, 0-1. And won against Villarreal 3-1 to seal top spot in the Champions League Group of Death.
A curious thing has been happening in Munich of late: Players are dropping like flies. Neither Robben nor Kroos made the flight to England, as both are out with the flu. And, of course we are still sorely missing Schweinsteiger with a broken collarbone. We can, at least, thank our lucky four stars that Tymo is allowed to start this match, as he has been serving a suspension in the Bundesliga. The horrific Alaba / Gustavo experiment at DM does thankfully not apply here.
It seems Jupp Heynckes has decided, with Kroos and Robben out, to field a "B" squad after all; giving some starting players desperately needed rest. (Anyone else psyched that it's almost Christmas break?) City fans, you are getting what you wished for. Now what are you going to do with it?
As far as I've been able to piece together, Munich's starting XI will be: Neuer - Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Contento - Gustavo, Tymoshchuk - Mueller, Alaba, Olic - Gomez. However, if we are getting bossed, you can expect to see van Buyten, Ribery and Lahm in the second half.
Alaba in the playmaker's slot is interesting to me as the only thing he did right in his time at DM was lay-on a very pretty ball for Ribery's first goal this past Saturday. Playing Thomas Mueller on the opposite side might shake a goal out of him. He has been playing well, off the ball, but strangely has not been able to finish. And, Ivica Olic will be playing for a job elsewhere as he's decided to leave Bayern, if not in the winter transfer window then definitely at the end of the season.
I always thought, that if we could field a full squad, we could travel to the Eastlands and win. I'm not so sure what to think now. Perhaps it will come down to what's going on in the Napoli - Villarreal match. If Napoli goes up a couple goals early, it would certainly deflate a City side that needs points from the Spaniards to progress.
Or, perhaps it will come down to the indomitable will of Bayern Munich: Something special seems to happen when we play English sides. (City would do well to remember what Bayern did to Manchester United at Old Trafford.) Plus, the chance of an 800,000 Euro payday. And a shot at leaping over Chelsea to take the 3rd spot in UEFA co-efficients.
The English - German aggression always makes for highly entertaining football. And banter. And finally, on that note... While I think it's hilarious to be insulted over the internet, some others do not. In this case, I am specifically referring to my "I laugh at your Group of Death" entry. So, I'm asking you to play nice-ish, boys and girls. Be snarky, be funny, argue your point to the death. But, please do not make me have to start editing / approving comments. I like to just let them flow.
In the words of Michael Buffer: Let's get ready to rumble!
You can follow Susie on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/fussballsusie
Comments
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Posted by ren on 12/06/2011
hi susie
think we can still win/draw tomorrow without robben, kroos, or schweinsteiger?
mia san mia!
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Posted by Susie on 12/06/2011
Ren---
On paper it certainly doesn't look like it. However, I'm keeping the faith. Mia san mia, indeed.
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Posted by Det on 12/06/2011
Fc Hollywood don't need to win, and it sure looks like Jupp is resting the players for the BL what is more importend then a win @ city
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Posted by Victor on 12/06/2011
Hi Susie
By the way great introduction ala Michael Buffer! How do you think of the Group of death in EURO 2012 feat. Germany, Holland, Portugal and Denmark and who do you think along with Germany will qualify to the next round?
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Posted by Phil on 12/06/2011
Is Badstuber eligible? Wasn't he red-carded during the 2nd Napoli Match?
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Posted by Suleiman kano on 12/07/2011
Susie, will usami get to play. I think the coach should give him a try.
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Posted by Shekhar on 12/07/2011
I don't think we'll win, but then again Bayern have pulled off unlikely victories in the past.
Mia San Mia
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Posted by Adithya on 12/07/2011
Hello Susie, first time I'm posting, but I'm a regular reader of your articles. I personally think your blog and the Man City blog are the best on this site (though with very different styles and levels of bias, but I enjoy both!) I'm sure we'll have a great game tonight. I think the key factor for Bayern is going to be keeping possession, just as it was at the Allianz Arena. Last year City were an effective counter-attacking side but this year they are by far the most technically competent team in England and so they've been picking other teams apart slowly. This appears to have affected their counter-attacking skills a bit and I haven't seen great counters from them apart from their late blitz in the 1-6 victory over United. That said I'm not too familiar with the ability of Bayern's reserve players. Cheers, and good luck!
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Posted by Kody on 12/07/2011
City have injuries to Richards and Zabaleta. Savic will start at RB.
No chance Johnson ever starts an important game for Mancini. Especially over Dzeko/Balotelli
Also, Bayern are 2-7-7 in their last 16 visits to England.
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Posted by Johno on 12/08/2011
Make that 2-8-7
All for naught though
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Posted by john on 12/08/2011
who put the ball in the munichs net? YAYA FUCKING TOURE!!!!!! you got egg on your face susie? alright you went through an we are now in the euro b cup but C'MON BLUES i just want to say that the bayern fans who make the trip to manchester was great thank you for a enjoyable game an a good group of death
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Posted by Stefan on 12/08/2011
Well Done Man City for bating Bayern's reserve team, in other news the one regular 1st team player in that team was Badstuber and he was probably the worst player on the pitch. What is wrong that no one can see how poor a defender he is he literally costs us atleast 1 goal every game with his poor defensive skills, lack of pace,poor positioning and limited physical presence. Boateng and Van Buyten shd be the central pairing.
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Posted by Stefan on 12/08/2011
Well Done Man City for beating Bayern's reserve team, in other news the one regular 1st team player in that team was Badstuber and he was probably the worst player on the pitch. What is wrong that no one can see how poor a defender he is he literally costs us atleast 1 goal every game with his poor defensive skills, lack of pace,poor positioning and limited physical presence. Boateng and Van Buyten shd be the central pairing.
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Posted by Dan on 12/08/2011
Actually this wasn't Bayern's B team. A B team is when you rest 3 or 4 players. When 7,8 or more players are not playing that's not a B team that's a C team folks. I saw Silva celebrate as if he had won the CL.
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Posted by Mark on 12/08/2011
For all the chirping Ovic has done about his play time, he didn't impress me very much. He had a couple of moments, but that's about it. City beat a Bayern team that just tried not to get injured or get infected with the flu. Still.... on to our next victims in the Sweet 16
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Posted by Dan L on 12/08/2011
I just heard some bafoon on Talksport, a German football analyst, who arrogantly claims Man City would not have beaten them Tuesday if there was anything to play for. Whatever... I am an Arsenal fan. The Gunners handled Dortmund just fine three weeks ago after Dortmund had just beaten Bayern. To speculate so arrogantly is BS. I am not a City fan, but I hate Bayern. I really want to see an Arsenal/Bayern match in the CL. We are all very lucky that City struggled early.
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Posted by Mike on 12/08/2011
Dan, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I honestly believe that Bayern would have beaten City if there was anything to play for as well. I believe currently, Bayern are alongside with Barcelona and Real Madrid as the top 3 teams in the world, and had that game meant an advancement to the next round Bayern would have set up shop. I think taking 13 out of the first 15 points in that group proves that. They're out to win the CL, and I agree...a Bayern-Arsenal match up would be orgasmic, and would love to see RVP get put in his place. Bis spaeter, auf gehts Bayern!
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Posted by Kory on 12/08/2011
I'd love a Bayern/Arsenal paring. Bayern would put the whipping of a lifetime on those poor Gunners. Lets me honest here. Arsenal currently have 1 world class player RVP. Bayern have Lahm, Scweinstager, Neuer, Robben, Ribbery. I'd even count Muller and Gomez as world class. Gunners best start investing some of that money they got off Fabregas, GLichy, and Nasri. The scrap they picked up at the deadline isn't going to cut it in Europe.
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Posted by Stefan on 12/09/2011
haha so what Arsenal beat BVB they struggled in both games against them and Dortmund lost two key players against Arsenal before Arsenal could win not to mention BVB have been overall shocking in UCL. Bayern have always beaten Arsenal in the past and this time Bayern have the strongest team I have seen them have in a decade. So Bayern shd easily win. Neuer, Lahm, Ribery, Robben, Muller, Gomez, Kroos and Schweini... come on that's too much for an Arsenal team built on 1 player.
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Posted by DanUS on 12/13/2011
Kory, of course you'll count Muller as world class, with 20 years of age he won best young player and best scorer of the last world cup. Gomez, according to Castrol Football rankings, is only 2nd to Messi and a couple of places ahead of CR. Of course gomez is world class, this dude is a goal machine. In CL he is only matched by Messi. Also before this season Kroos has always been the "talent of the century", however the way he's played this season for Bayern and the national team you can go ahead and count him world class as well.
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Posted by DanUS on 12/13/2011
@ Dan L: trust me you don't want to see Bayern vs Arsenal in the CL. I'm a huge Bayern supporter but I like Arsenal. Because I like Arsenal I wouldn't want Bayern to take apart Arsenal. You argument is very faulty because weaker teams beat stronger teams often. Remember when pool beat Inter a couple of years ago and then liverpool lost to some 3rd division side, that side was joking around how now they are better than Inter. Not true. There is a big black hole in your logic. Also if Dortmund had come out to play like against Arsenal we would have destroyed them. Against us, unlike Arsenal, they parked the bus.
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Posted by Ambar on 02/24/2012
I was gtiteng more than frustrated with Muller. If he had just dropped deeper to pick up the ball it would have given us more options. I still don't understand why he didn't (was it specific instructions from Jupp, or what?). It's a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.
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About
Susie Schaaf is a footie-obsessed German-American with a Brazilian passport. She promises to be completely biased whilst eliciting as many chuckles from you as she can. When she’s not writing, you can find her pouring pints at her local or on an airplane to anywhere. If you’d like to swear at or praise her, she can be reached at susie.schaaf@gmail.com |
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