Munich – There are still three months left until the final of the Champions League on May 29th in Istanbul – but the mind games have already started.
Pep Guardiola, the coach of Manchester City, did not want to know anything about the status of title candidate number one after the 2-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Instead, he pushed this role to his ex-club. “You have to play perfectly in this competition in order to progress,” said Guardiola: “When I see FC Bayern, I don’t think we’re the favorites.”
Hamann raves about ManCity: “That is the ultimate dominance”
British-Catalan understatement. After all, ManCity has won 19 (!) Competitive games in a row and is sovereign at the top of the Premier League. “It’s the best ManCity since Guardiola was here. It’s no longer a run, that’s the ultimate dominance,” enthused Sky expert Didi Hamann. And Lothar Matthäus said with a look at the title contenders: “The momentum speaks for Manchester City.”
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The boss is back: this is Müller’s comeback plan
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But Guardiola knows: In the position of Bayern hunter it is easier to work. The pressure at City is high anyway, so far Pep has never led the Abu Dhabi-financed club to the semi-finals. And this season? In addition to ManCity and FC Bayern, who rolled over Lazio 4-1, other teams have a chance of winning the title. An eight battle for Europe’s crown is announced.
After the first leg of the last 16, AZ does the form check – from 16th to 1st.
16. Lazio Roma: After the 1: 4 in the first leg, the Romans would need Asterix and Obelix to make progress against Bayern. “The embarrassing Lazio defense surrenders to the Munich stars,” wrote “Tuttosport”. Nothing works anymore, niente!
15. Borussia Mönchengladbach: For the foals, the situation after the 2-0 draw against ManCity is also hopeless. Pep Guardiola’s team is at least one class better.
14. FC Barcelona: A few years ago the Catalans would always have been in the top three, but those days are over. 1: 4 against Paris Saint-Germain, last season 2: 8 against Bayern – Barça is only mediocre.
FC Bayern: Miroslav Klose will probably remain assistant coach under Hansi Flick – …
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Juve loaner Costa: “I liked earlier Bayern football better”
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Bergamo and Leipzig are as good as out – there are problems with Juventus
13. FC Sevilla: Things are hardly going better for Seville. Fourth place in the league, in the first leg of the first leg a 2: 3 against Borussia Dortmund. The end threatens.
12. Atalanta Bergamo: The brave Italians were very unlucky that they had to play against Real Madrid (0-1) early with ten men. It is hard to imagine that Atalanta will turn things around in the second leg.
11. RB Leipzig: The team of coach Julian Nagelsmann was expected to have a surprise in the run-up to the game against Liverpool, but then it was 0: 2. In England, RB need a perfect game.
10. Atlético Madrid: Atlético dominates the Spanish league, while development in Europe is stagnating. 0: 1 against Chelsea, it will be difficult to progress.
9. FC Porto: The Portuguese permanent guest in the premier class surprised Juve, winning his home game 2-1. The away goal could help the Italians.
8. Juventus Turin: In the league, Italy’s subscription champion is only third, and there are also problems in Europe. But: On a great day, Cristiano Ronaldo’s team can be dangerous to any opponent.
FC Bayern in Matchday mode: Munich’s records are breaking in the premier class
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FC Bayern: Record man Robert Lewandowski in ever new spheres
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Liverpool is weak, how much is in it for Tuchel and Chelsea?
7. Borussia Dortmund: BVB is the surprise egg among the secret favorites. With the strong offensive around Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus even the semifinals are possible – but also the end in the second leg against Sevilla.
6.FC Chelsea: Thomas Tuchel has stabilized the Blues again, under the new coach the English are unbeaten. And thanks to the top squad a candidate for the final.
5. Real Madrid: Like Bayern, Los Blancos are always there when the Champions League is all about it. Tradition simply obliges. If the injured come back like striker Karim Benzema, anything is possible for Real.
4.FC Liverpool: While the team of coach Jürgen Klopp is weak in the league, things are going well in the premier class. Sovereign victory against Leipzig, the quarter-finals beckon. As long as the Reds finally play consistently.
Paris and Bavaria sovereign, but the favorite is ManCity
3. Paris Saint-Germain: With new coach Mauricio Pochettino, the mood at PSG is better than under Tuchel. The 4-1 win in Barcelona was an exclamation point. Paris, the Bayern final opponent of 2020, finally wants to win the pot. And has the potential to do so in the squad.
2. FC Bayern: When the people of Munich show their premier class face like in Rome, they can hardly be stopped. “The Champions League is something special, especially for our players,” said successful coach Hansi Flick. You can feel that. Therefore: the title defense is possible.
1. Manchester City: Pep can stack as deep as he wants – City has the best squad in Europe, the best form and one of the greatest greed. Just have to play along with your nerves.
