The upcoming Champions League last will see two acquainted faces sq. within the excavations when Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis face Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.
The pair typically met within the Bundesliga however have lately come nose to nose in England.
That is the way it has gone with Guardiola and Tuchel when their staff has fought in opposition to it earlier than.
“Sure … that is going to be troublesome.” | CHRISTOF STACHE / Getty Photographs
Guardiola was right here in the beginning of his Bayern interval, and the staff at his disposal was fairly big.
Philipp Lahm sat in entrance of the 4 backs with Toni Kroos and Bastian Schweinsteiger gave a bit of extra freedom, whereas Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller loved the broad with Mario Mandzukic in entrance.
Tuchel’s Mainz truly grabbed the opener by means of Shawn Parker, however Robben equalized earlier than Muller made twice on either side of Mandzukic’s effort.
Schweinsteiger opened the scoring DANIEL ROLAND / Getty Photographs
The return fixture turned out to be considered one of Tuchel’s final matches at Mainz, when he left at the tip of the season.
The deficit of defeat shrunk from the primary match and Mainz truly held out till the 82nd minute earlier than Schweinsteiger broke his resistance, substitute Mario Gotze quickly doubled the lead.
That victory meant that Guardiola solely wanted yet one more victory to finish the Bundesliga title. They did it with seven video games to avoid wasting with a 3-1 success in Hertha Berlin.
Everybody smiles simply earlier than the storm Boris Streubel / Getty Photographs
Tuchel’s subsequent job got here in Borussia Dortmund, the place he changed Jurgen Klopp who had seen BVB end seventh after two title victories and two second locations.
Dortmund have had an inclination to roll over and get their bellies tickled by Bayern through the years and that is what Tuchel noticed in his first style of Der Klassiker.
The ahead pairing of Muller and Robert Lewandowski tore Dortmund to shreds, every doing twice. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang managed to briefly cut back the rating earlier than every little thing received messy, with Gotze scoring fifth for Bayern after the hour mark.
An all-action deal ended goalless | Boris Streubel / Getty Photographs
This was hardly a fascinating competitors between Germany’s two largest golf equipment, nevertheless it gave Tuchel’s first league factors in opposition to Guardiola.
Good kind for BVB earlier than this battle had them within the title image, though the victory they wanted to take them inside two factors from Bayern by no means appeared to materialize.
Arturo Vidal hit the crossbar and Aubameyang examined Manuel Neuer twice, however the match ended goalless.
Celebration begins for Guardiola and Bayern | CHRISTOF STACHE / Getty Photographs
The third assembly between the 2 sides in 2015/16 got here within the DFB-Pokal last, and Bayern continued Guardiola’s undefeated run over Tuchel with a victory on penalties.
It was once more goalless in regular time, with Aubameyang lacking the most effective alternative, and Bayern gained on kicks when Neuer saved from Sven Bender earlier than Sokratis missed.
Guardiola ended their three-year keep in Germany with a second league and cup double, whereas the loss was Dortmund’s third defeat in a row within the DFB-Pokal last.
Chelsea face Leicester in FA Cup last | ADAM DAVY / Getty Photographs
Tuchel and Guardiola’s first assembly in England got here within the FA Cup semi-final, and it gave the previous its first ever victory over the latter.
Chelsea strengthened Man Metropolis in a 1-0 victory at Wembley, Hakim Ziyech made the winner whereas Tuchel’s facet stored the normally free aim scorers in examine.
From the downfall and gloom of the Frank Lampard period, Chelsea abruptly have the prospect to finish the 2020/21 season with two trophies and a prime 4 spot.
Alonso celebrates its winner | Shaun Botterill / Getty Photographs
This was most likely the purpose the place the chances of Chelsea successful the Champions League last 2020/21 started to drop. Apparently Metropolis are nonetheless favorites, however Tuchel has now overwhelmed Guardiola’s outfit twice along with his Blues.
Raheem Sterling’s end had put Metropolis forward simply earlier than half-time, however Sergio Aguero’s Penenka penalty was conveniently saved by Edouard Mendy earlier than strikes from Hakim Ziyech and Marcos Alonso ensured the guests left with all three factors.
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