Guardiola's team is in full swing, having won their last 10 successive matches across all competitions and remaining unbeaten in their last 14 games. They have scored at least three goals in each of their last six fixtures. Despite failing to win any of their away games in this season's Champions League group stage, a stalemate would be satisfactory for Man City in this match.
Guardiola is also pining for a 100th Champions League victory as a manager, a feat only achieved by Carlo Ancelotti and Sir Alex Ferguson. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich is facing a season of transition and has only managed to win two of the first five games under Thomas Tuchel. The hosts hold just a two-point lead over Tuchel's former club Borussia Dortmund atop the standings in the Bundesliga, and they have just one clean sheet to show from their last seven matches.
While they have not failed to score in a competitive fixture at the Allianz Arena for over three years, they face a daunting task of overcoming a three-goal deficit against Manchester City.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
After a heated argument on the Etihad field, forwards Mane and Sane got into a surprising altercation in the dressing room, with the former allegedly punching his teammate and leaving him with a swollen lip. As a result, Sane was left out of the squad for the Hoffenheim match last weekend. However, Tuchel confirmed that Mane would be back in the squad for the second leg, which is not the case for long-term absentees Neuer and Hernandez (leg and ACL injuries, respectively), and young players Wanner and Marusic (jaw and ACL injuries, respectively).On a more positive note, striker Choupo-Moting, who has surprisingly scored 17 goals this season, has returned to training after a knee injury. It remains to be seen if he will be given the go-ahead to start the second leg. In a surprising turn of events, Guardiola has been able to include Phil Foden in the travel squad to the Allianz Arena after appendix surgery, although he will be on the bench for the match.
After watching his players dominate Leicester before half-time, Guardiola decided to rest Haaland by substituting him, along with Stones, Rodri, and De Bruyne, in anticipation of the second leg. Haaland, who has scored 11 goals in continental competitions so far, has the opportunity to tie Ruud van Nistelrooy's record for the most Champions League goals in a single campaign by a Premier League player if he scores one more goal on Wednesday. The Dutchman scored 12 goals for Manchester United in the 2002-03 season.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:Sommer; Pavard, Upamecano, De Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Choupo-Moting
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Ake; Stones, Rodri; Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland
EXPERT PREDICTION
Bayern Munich 2-1 Manchester City
Man City struggled in rival territory during the group stages, but Bayern's tendency to score many goals at the Allianz Arena might provide some hope for Tuchel's team, even if it is short-lived. Despite having experienced Champions League winners in their squad, Bayern's efforts were in vain at the Etihad, and the story may be similar against a well-rested and goal-hungry Man City team, who should comfortably progress to the final four after a convincing victory over the Bavarians.
