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The football pre-season is in top gear for all the major clubs in the European leagues right around this time. Qualifications for the major club competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League are also currently on; as teams try to prepare themselves for the new league season.
In the International Champions Cup taking place in the USA, Bayern Munich and Manchester City played out an entertaining five-goal thriller in Miami, with Manchester City running away 3 – 2 winners against the German Champions.
The Niko Kovac led Bayern Munich had been leading by 2 – 0 after just 25 minutes against a very youthful Manchester City side, devoid of key players still observing their holiday after the 2018 World Cup.
Bayern Munich’s Meritan Shabani had given the German champions the lead with a header, before former Chelsea forward, Arjen Robben doubled their lead following a pass from Franck Ribery.
It got even worse for Manchester City as their new £60m signing, Riyad Mahrez picked up an ankle injury early on in the first half, and was replaced after 28 minutes. Bernardo Silva who came on as his replacement pulled a goal back for City, before the half-time whistle.
In the second half, 19-year old teenager Lukas Nmecha got the equalizer for Pep Guardiola’s side which featured six teenagers in the starting lineup. Bernardo Silva sealed the winner for City 20 minutes from time when he shot brilliantly from 15 yards out to make it 3 – 2 to Manchester City.
Despite the sad development of losing Riyad Mahrez to an injury likely to keep him away for some time, Manchester City can take a lot of positives from the game which showcased the talented youngsters they possess in their ranks for the future.
City who have been poor in their pre-season tour of the United States – with two loses in their two previous games against Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool - will now return to England to prepare for the Community Shield fixture against Chelsea next Sunday.
With Riyad Mahrez a huge doubt for the Manchester City’s league opener against Arsenal on the 12th of August, Pep Guardiola may have to reshuffle his intended line-up to accommodate some of the youngsters who distinguished themselves creditably against Bayern Munich.
Guardiola’s youthful contingent featured the likes of 18-year-old Brahim Diaz, and the Spanish drew some love from the crowd with his dazzling display that came close to giving him a goal in the 36ht minute of the game.
German born Lukas Nmecha, who has been prominent in England’s national youth team set-up also had a chance saved by Bayern Munich’s Sven Ulreich and subsequently struck the post when the game was still goalless.
Another teenager who performed laudably was Luke Bolton, 18, who displayed a confident string of attacking runs on the right flank for Guardiola’s side. England’s Under-17 Phil Foden also hand a hand in Lukas Nmecha’s goal; as his shot which was spilled enabled Nmecha to score.
The winning goal from Bernardo Silva was assisted by a 17-year old Adrian Bernabe who came on as a substitute. In all, Manchester City supporters and owners got a glimpse of what the future could be for the club, with regards to the young crop of players growing confidently within their ranks.
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