The unlikely ‘hero’ of the fantastic derby match between Manchester City and Bayern Munich is not Erling Haaland, or Kevin De Bruyne, or Thomas Muller, or Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, it’s Dayot Upamecano. Munich’s defender just experienced two worst games of his career in a span of just one week. First he was the guilty party for two goals in a 3-0 City win at Etihad, and then he directly help Erling Haaland to score a goal in a 1-1 game. In a typical Harry Maguire type of performance, Upamecano showed a complete lack of poise and concentration and showed to everyone that he is in deep crisis. On the positive side, it could have been even worse, since the Frenchman got a red card and was guilty for a City penalty, all in just 20 minutes! The only goal for City was scored by the Norwegian international, who missed a penalty in the 37th minute, but redeemed himself 20 minutes later. Erling Haaland has scored 35 goals in only 27 Champions League appearances. With tonight’s goal, he became the quickest and youngest player to score 35 Champions League goals, surpassing Mbappe’s age of 23 years and 260 days.No player has scored more Champions League goals for a Premier League club in a single season than Erling Haaland for Man City in 2022/23. 🤖#UCL pic.twitter.com/Gkp1ntQ6dw— Squawka (@Squawka) April 19, 2023 Leroy Sane could have been a hero in the first half with potential two goals. The German international had great chances in the 17th and 20th minute, but the first shot went flying near the post, while City keeper Ederson saved with his fingertips. And after that, it was Upamecano time. Bayern’s defender was the ‘star’ of the first leg with two costly mistakes, and today he made two in the 45 minutes but was miraculously saved. First he fouled Haaland as the last man in defense and got the straight red card, only to be saved by offside call, and then handballed in his penalty area. This time he got ‘help’ from Haaland, whose powerful shot went of the bar and the score remained 0-0. Bayern had another chance, but again Ederson saved the day after Coman’s shot. Bayern were so superior in the first half that they even won the battle for possession (60-40%). HAALAND SAT UPAMECANO DOWN🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/QnLUGyiH4Y— Culers Media (@lewyball) April 19, 2023 Haaland seeing Upamecano in the Bayern Munich starting XIpic.twitter.com/32a2lbkaKy— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) April 19, 2023 The second half was dull until the 57th minute, when Upamecano continued its solo-effort to secure City’s win. The ball came to Haaland and when he needed to face him, the French international just slipped and fell, allowing the Norwegian striker score the winner with a powerful shot, which Sommer couldn’t stop. The dynamic of the game dropped significantly until the 12 minutes from time, when first City stopped an own goal with a goal line clearance, and then Mane’s cross hit Akanji’s outstretched arm in the penalty area and Kimmich was precise from the penalty spot for the final score 1-1 and City’s rematch with Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEQuarter-final, second legTuesdayChelsea – Real Madrid 0-2 (0-0) /first leg 0-2//Rodrygo 58, 80/Napoli – Milan 1-1 (0-1) /first leg 0-1//Osimhen 90+3 – Giroud 43/WednesdayInter – Benfica 3-3 (1-1) /first leg 2-0//Barella 14, Lautaro 65, Correa 78 – Aursens 36, Silva 86, Musa 90+5/Bayern – Man.City 1-1 (0-0) /first leg 0-3//Kimmich 83 (p) – Haaland 57/
