Bayern Munich vs Manchester City

In Tokyo's National Stadium, Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and treble winners Manchester City are set to collide in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.

The last friendly encounter between these two football giants saw Manchester City emerge victorious with a slim 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the USA, exactly 12 months ago, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal.

Bayern Munich has established Bundesliga dominance as they secured their 11th successive title last season. Under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel, the Bavarian giants clinched the title on the final day of the 2022-23 campaign, a mere two months after Tuchel took over as manager, succeeding Julian Nagelsmann in the dugout.

Now, Tuchel is gearing up for his first full season in charge and faces the task of assembling a Bayern squad capable of maintaining their supremacy in the German top-flight while also mounting a serious challenge in the UEFA Champions League.

In the previous season, Bayern experienced a disappointing 4-1 aggregate defeat against eventual Champions League winners Manchester City in the quarter-finals. The Germans suffered a 3-0 loss in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium, which led to a dressing room altercation between Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane. The second leg ended in a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena.

Seeking redemption, Bayern will aim to overturn their recent record against Manchester City, as they have failed to secure a victory in their last four meetings, including two friendly losses. This pre-season match provides an opportunity for Bayern to gauge their progress and strengthen their squad ahead of the upcoming challenges.

In their early pre-season campaign this summer, Bayern showcased their prowess with an astounding 27-0 victory against ninth-tier side Rottach-Egern. The match saw outstanding performances from Jamal Musiala, Marcel Sabitzer, and Mathys Tel, who each netted five goals.

Following the friendly against Manchester City, Bayern's pre-season schedule includes matches against Kawasaki in Tokyo on Saturday and Liverpool in Singapore four days later. They will conclude their preparations back in Germany with a match against Monaco on August 7, just five days before facing RB Leipzig in the DFL-Supercup.

Manchester City's pre-season tour of Asia commenced with a thrilling 5-3 victory against Yokohama F Marinos. After falling two goals behind in the opening 37 minutes, the Citizens made a remarkable comeback with John Stones and Julian Alvarez finding the net in quick succession before halftime. Erling Haaland continued his impressive form from the previous season, scoring two goals in the second half, while Champions League hero Rodri also contributed to the scoring.

Although Pep Guardiola acknowledged the "good challenge" posed by Yokohama F Marinos, he emphasized that there are "many things" his team can improve upon before the new season begins. Guardiola, preparing for his 13th encounter against Tuchel, is determined to secure his eighth win over the German manager.

After the clash against Bayern, the Premier League champions will travel to Seoul to face Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Subsequently, they will return to England for the Community Shield against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 6, just five days before their top-flight opener against Burnley at Turf Moor.

In conclusion, the highly anticipated pre-season friendly between Bayern Munich and Manchester City promises to be a captivating contest. Both teams, renowned for their footballing excellence, will use this match as an opportunity to fine-tune their strategies and assess their squads' strengths and weaknesses. As the football world watches closely, the clash between these two powerhouses offers fans a glimpse of the excitement that lies ahead in the upcoming season.

BAYERN MUNICH VS MANCHESTER CITY - NDESHJA KËTU!