Manchester City are in top form, 8 wins in a row at an aggregate score of 31-3 shows quite how dominant they have been over this time. Guardiola’s 3-2-4-1 formation has been perfected by the City squad now and no team has worked out how to stop it yet. Bayern, on the other hand, are only in the early stages of Tuchel’s era and he is yet to fully imprint his vision onto his Bayern players.

Bayern’s most dangerous asset will be their pacey front line, against Freiburg at the weekend, Bayern played a team that featured Mane, Musiala, Gnabry, and Sane. At home, Manchester City are a different beast, they have only failed to win twice at home this season and have only lost once. According to Opta’s power rankings, Manchester City have moved up to now be rated as the best team in the world while Bayern have got worse, slipping down to second. Manchester City are only getting better and taking advantage of this home leg is so important, I expect them to win here.

Manchester City are an unstoppable goalscoring machine at the moment, they have averaged 3.875 goals scored per match over their last 8 matches and have scored at least one in all of their last 12 matches. Bayern are top scorers in the Bundesliga with 77 goals in 27 matches and like Manchester City, they concede around 1 goal a game even as the dominant team in their league. 2 of Tuchel’s 3 matches have seen over 2.5 goals, including an exciting 4-2 win against Dortmund. Manchester City’s matches against top teams have been entertaining, a 4-1 win over Liverpool, 3-1 against Arsenal, 4-2 against Spurs, and a 2-1 loss to Manchester United have all happened in the last few months and while sometimes first legs are a bit edgy and teams can play a bit safe, I think this match should see a few goals.

With Choupo-Mouting out injured, Tuchel turned to Gnabry at the weekend to start up front for Bayern and he was one of Bayern’s most influential players as he had 5 shots with 2 on target. This season Gnabry has averaged 3.83 shots per 90, even when playing out wide Manchester City do struggle with pace on the counter, Salah caused them issues and even Sulemana was very dangerous for Southampton due to his pace on the counter.

It is unknown who will start for Bayern but I think Gnabry did enough in his last match to earn a start here. Gnabry has all the qualities to cause issues against Manchester City so I think he should have at least 2 shots here.

Benjamin Pavard is a banker to start at right back for Bayern Munich in this match and the Frenchman has averaged 1.00 fouls per 90 so far this season and has committed 3 fouls in Tuchel’s 3 matches so far. Pavard is up against Grealish in this match, something that right-backs nearly always struggle with.

Grealish draws 3.44 fouls per 90 and the opposition right-back has committed a foul in the last 6 matches Manchester City have played. Opposition right-backs have averaged 2 fouls per 90 over these 6 matches and I expect Pavard to add his name to the list of right-backs to commit a foul against Manchester City.