Bayern Munich slipped to a narrow 3-2 defeat to Manchester City in the final International Champions Cup match of their summer tour of the US in Miami on Saturday evening.
Goals: 1-0 Shabani (15′), 2-0 Robben (24′), 2-1 Silva (45′), 2-2 Nmecha (51′), 2-3 Silva (70′)
While the English Premier League champions got off to the brighter start at the Hard Rock Stadium, their eye-catching passing and intense pressing did not create any clear openings. Bayern showed them how it was done with their first meaningful attack when Arjen Robben released Rafinha down the right and his cross was headed in by Meritan Shabani. Niko Kovac‘s side doubled their advantage moments later when Robben finished superbly past Claudio Bravo. However, just when it looked as if the Bavarians would take a 2-0 lead into the break, Bernardo Silva’s sweetly struck shot from the edge of the box reduced the arrears.
City carried that momentum into the second half and equalised early on when Lukas Nmecha tapped in the rebound after Ulreich saved Phil Foden’s drive from distance. The Citizens, under the watchful eye of former Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, continued to press and took the lead for the first time when Silva’s low shot squeezed in at the near post. Bayern rallied after that and Robben in particular was a menacing presence on the right, but ultimately the Bundesliga champions couldn’t find the net again.
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Bayern: Ulreich – Rafinha (Gnabry 46′), Richards, Alaba, Meier – Shabani, Will (Johansson 76′),- Robben, Coman, Ribery (Zylla 85′) – Wagner (Zirkzee 70′)
Subs: Früchtl, Wriedt, Martinez, Bernat, Zaiser, Batista-Meier, Jeong, Sanches, Stanisci, Hoffmann,
Absentees: Boateng, Goretzka, James, Hummels, Kimmich, Lewandowski, Müller, Neuer, Rudy, Süle, Thiago, Tolisso (all resting/on holiday after the World Cup), Martinez, Vidal (both knee)
Coach: Niko Kovac
Man City: Bravo (c) – Bolton (Bernabe 66′), Garcia, Laporte (Gomes 67′), Zinchenko – Humphreys, Luiz – Foden (Garre 86′), Diaz (Harrison 67′), Mahrez (Silva 28′) – Nmecha
Subs: Hart, Sane, Mendy, Adarabioyo, Roberts, Denayer, Grimshaw, Muric, Touaizi, Pozo, Dele-Bashiru, Matondo, Wilson, Ogbeta
Absentees: Aguero, De Bruyne, Delph, Ederson, Fernandinho, Gündogan, Jesus, Kompany, Otamendi, D. Silva, Sterling, Stones, Walker (all resting/on holiday after the World Cup), Danilo (ankle), Mangala (knee)
Coach: Pep Guardiola
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