July 26, (THEWILL) – Manchester City emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Bayern Munich on Wednesday during their pre-season tour in Japan.
The European champions claimed a 2-1 win, thanks to goals from James McAtee and Aymeric Laporte. The match was a rematch of last season’s UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, where City had triumphed 4-1 on aggregate. With this victory, City continued their impressive form after clinching the Champions League title last month by beating Inter Milan 1-0 in the final.
The intense face-off between the two football powerhouses began cautiously in the stifling conditions at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo. Leroy Sane made a dynamic attempt for Bayern against his former team in the 17th minute, but Nathan Ake blocked his shot. Two minutes later, Sane’s free-kick hit the crossbar. However, it was McAtee who broke the deadlock for City in the 21st minute after capitalising on a rebound from Rico Lewis’ initial attempt.
In the second half, both teams fielded fresh lineups, and Bayern managed to equalise with a goal from Mathys Tel in the 81st minute. Nevertheless, Laporte secured the victory for City five minutes later, guiding the ball into the net after a deflection from Phil Foden.
Manchester City’s next challenge will be against Atletico Madrid in Seoul on Sunday, followed by a high-profile clash with Arsenal in the Community Shield upon their return to England. Meanwhile, Bayern will play one more game in Tokyo against J-League side Kawasaki Frontale before heading to Singapore to face Liverpool.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
