With a 3-0 lead from the first leg last week, where Thomas Tuchel's Bavarian baptism of fire continued, the Premier League champions take off for Germany. Although a besotted Tuchel oddly claimed that he "fell in love" with his squad, there was no such infatuation from the ex-Chelsea boss over the weekend, as a first-half Rodri stunner preceded Bernardo Silva's header and an obligatory goal for Erling Braut Haaland in a Manchester mauling. Following a 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, where Andrej Kramaric cancelled out a Benjamin Pavard effort, Bayern maintains a two-point lead over Tuchel's former club Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table, and the Star of the South could end a season of transition with only the DFL-Supercup to their name. So far, the board's rash decision to fire Julian Nagelsmann has not been vindicated, as Tuchel has won just two of his first five games in charge, and Bayern has only one clean sheet in their last seven matches - not a reassuring statistic before facing Haaland and co, nor is a two-game winless streak at the Allianz Arena. However, it has been more than three years since the hosts failed to score in a competitive match at the Allianz Arena, drawing 0-0 with RB Leipzig in February 2020, but only four teams have ever progressed from a Champions League knockout tie after losing the first leg by three goals or more, and none since Liverpool's infamous Barcelona comeback in 2019. Guardiola's sky blue juggernaut is in full swing, with Man City travelling to the Allianz Arena on the back of their 10th successive win across all competitions - going unbeaten in their last 14 - and they have netted at least three goals in each of their last six fixtures. However, Man City notably failed to win any of their away games in this season's Champions League group stage against Dortmund, Copenhagen and RB Leipzig - drawing all three - but a stalemate would be satisfactory here, even if Guardiola is pining for a 100th Champions League victory as a manager; a feat only achieved by Carlo Ancelotti and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Following a spat on the pitch, attacking combination Mane and Sane were involved in an incredible dressing room brawl, in which the former allegedly left his colleague with a swollen lip from a punch, and he was pulled from the squad to face Hoffenheim at the weekend. Tuchel has confirmed that the Senegal international will be available for the second leg, which is more than can be said for long-term absentees Manuel Neuer (leg) and Lucas Hernandez (ACL), as well as youngsters Paul Wanner (jaw) and Gabriel Marusic (ACL).On a more positive note, striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting - an improbable success story with 17 goals this season - has returned to training after a knee injury, although it remains to be seen whether he will be cleared to begin the second leg. In terms of the traveling squad, Guardiola has surprisingly been able to welcome Phil Foden back from appendix surgery for the trip to the Allianz Arena, where he will sit on the bench. Guardiola denied Haaland a hat-trick by taking him off at half time, after his men had already put Leicester to the sword. Stones, Rodri, and Kevin De Bruyne were also taken off early in anticipation of the second half. With 11 continental goals to his name so far, one more strike for Haaland on Wednesday would draw him level with Ruud van Nistelrooy for the most Champions League goals in a single campaign by a Premier League player - the Dutchman netted 12 for Manchester United in 2002-03.

(Image by:SuperSport)