On-fire Haaland shows Bayern what they are missing

When Erling Haaland takes the field for Manchester City on Wednesday in Munich, the Norwegian will face the club who tried to sell the farm to buy him but failed.

Bayern’s late first-leg capitulation in Manchester means the six-time winners need to overcome a 3-0 deficit to make it through to the semis.

Not only must Bayern do so against Europe’s form team, but they need to somehow find the goals that the toothless front-line have lacked in 2023.

Midway through the second half at the Etihad, Bayern, 1-0 down after a Rodri wonder goal, were dominating possession and had carved out several chances, but failed to put any away. Then, in a six-minute period, the brutally efficient Haaland showed what Bayern were missing up front, setting up a goal and then scoring another to put City on course for the semi-finals.

While Haaland’s flurry likely sunk Bayern’s Champions League hopes then and there, the seeds for their struggles were planted late last season, when the German champions tried and failed to sign the Norwegian.

Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic was not alone in his desire to sign Haaland, but his open courting of the Nor-wegian put noses out of joint, particularly that of star striker Robert Lewandowski.

In 2021, a clip emerged of Salihamidzic on the sidelines of a Bayern-Dortmund clash, speaking with an assistant coach after Haaland scored twice in seven minutes.

“How good is Haaland? He’s a machine. I’ll call his agent tomorrow.”

Bayern were willing to tear up their carefully constructed salary structure to sign the Norwegian in the summer of 2022. Ultimately, Bayern’s wandering eye cost them both Haaland and Lewandowski.

After Lewandowski’s signed with Barcelona, then Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann sought to spread the Poland striker’s goals across a dynamic front line. While the approach had immediate effect, the goals dried up.

Sadio Mane has not scored since October and is returning from a one-match suspension for hitting Leroy Sane in the face after the first-leg loss. Instead, Serge Gnabry will likely lead the line, the same Gnabry who said in November he did not consider himself a striker “but it’s better than sitting on the bench.”