'Rest' rooted in Pellegrini's plans for the Allianz.
A first class tie will adopt a second class feel on Tuesday night as Group D qualifiers Bayern Munich and Manchester City prepare to reward their star players with a break before important weekend ties.
Manuel Pellegrini's minions will lock horns with Arsene's Arsenal on Saturday in a delcious looking top of the table clash, whilst Pep Guardiola's Bundesliga bosses entertain 13th placed Hamburger SV in an attempt to solidify their four point lead at the top. Although the blues can still statistically take top spot, a minimum of an unlikely three goals are required to knock the reigning champions off their perch.
Both sides go into the game boasting 100% league records on home turf, however, Bayern's record away from the Allianz somewhat ridicules Manchester City's homesickness on their travels this season. The European Champions are yet to lose in the 2013/2014 Bundesliga campaign, recording a glistening 41 points from 15 games including 17 points from a possible 21 on the road. A 7-0 thrashing of Werder Bremen at the weekend will have their mid-week visitors quaking, but it's a feat that Manchester City have matched in the Premier League this year. Under Guardiola, the Germans have acquired a fierce appetite for retrieving the ball and the work rates of wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry have indubitably amplified. At the other end of the pitch, Manuel Neuer, reportedly due to be the subject of a £40m transfer bid from City in January, has kept an incredible 9 clean sheets in the league from a possible 15 and has ensured that Bayern Munich have only seen 7 goals slip past them this season.
The reverse fixture between the budding finalists proved to be a German lesson for the 2012/2013 Premier League runners up when Manuel Pellegrini's side were bullied in their own back yard. Goals from Franck Ribéry, Thomas Müller and Arjen Robben effectively sealed Joe Hart's withdrawal from the side and not even an exquisite consolation goal from Álvaro Negredo could draw smiles on the 2nd of October. Since then, the blues have been victorious in 10 out of 13 fixtures and the form of Sergio Agüero, Álvaro Negredo and Samir Nasri has left mouths watering at the Etihad.
Samir Nasri has been in fine form for the blues this season.
Unfortunately, the flashiest fixture of the week will be missing its major performers, but the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Jack Rodwell and James Milner will be hopeful of manouevering themselves into their respective manager's plans on Tuesday.
2-1
Line-Up
Manchester City welcomed David Silva back into training last week after the Spaniard suffered a four-week spell on the sidelines with a calf injury, however, his brilliance may be saved for the crucial clash on December 14th. Joe Hart will return against the side that tormented him two months ago and the Englishman will be relishing the chance to prove to both Manuel Pellegrini and Roy Hodgson that he is the man to lead both Manchester City and England to glory in Europe and Brazil.
Joe Hart will start for City on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger will both miss Tuesday's tie after being ruled out until after Christmas with respective knee and ankle injuries. Stevan Jovetić and Matija Nastasić are expected to return to action after Saturday's tussle with Arsenal.
Key Players
Xherdan Shaqiri
The Swiss international will be looking forward to Brazil 2014 but hasn't seen as much game time as he would have liked to for Bayern Munich this season. His speed and skill on the wing have attracted Liverpool who are poised to make a loan move for the winger in January.
Jack Rodwell
The English midfielder is an injury magnet and will be hoping that his manager will give him the chance to redeem himself on Tuesday night. Even without a full strength side, Bayern's dominance will come through the middle and Rodwell will need to plug the gaps.
