We don’t necessarily have to emulate cup competitions in Europe, but we all have to come together to create a better version of the Super Bowl, Prabhakaran said by phone from New Delhi on Tuesday.
Four days before the main round, involving 16 teams from the Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League, the games were played in nearly empty stadiums in Kozhikode and Manjeri in Kerala, a state passionate about soccer.
Playing a match after the ISL and I-League led to a drop in interest, said a club official who asked for anonymity given the sensitive nature of the issue. Other than an AFC Cup semi-slot, there’s nothing in this competition, East Bengal coach Stephen Constantine said. Gokulam Kerala FC complained that the qualifying matches were not televised, saying it was unfair to the nine I-League teams that participated. AIFF’s marketing partners, who also run the ISL, are responsible for the broadcast.
All three I-League qualifying matches between Gokulam Kerala, Churchill Brothers, Aizawl FC and Srinidhi Deccan will begin at 5 p.m. The 5 p.m. games mean that people who observe Ramzan will not be able to attend, as it is a time of interruption of fasting, Gokulam Kerala FC fans noted. ISL teams and I-League champions Roundglass Punjab will start earlier.
Man City and Bayern meet for the seventh time in European competition, in this UEFA Champions League match at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night. In six previous meetings, City and Bayern have each scored three victories, all in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola will face his former team, where he spent three seasons as head coach from June 2013 to June 2016, before taking over at Man City that summer. Although he won the Bundesliga in all three seasons with Bayern, he never won the UEFA Champions League-his only two Champions League trophies as manager were won with Barcelona in 2008-09 and 2010-11.
After firing Julian Nagelsmann last month, Thomas Tuchel will lead Bayern in this game and will face Guardiola as manager for the 11th time. It was Tuchel who outplayed Guardiola in the 2021 Champions League final, when his Chelsea team beat Man City 1-0. A month earlier, Tuchel had also knocked Guardiola’s Man City out of the FA Cup semi-finals with a 1-0 win at Wembley Stadium. The two met again in the Premier League in 2021-22,and Guardiola took revenge of sorts with two 1-0 home and away victories that season.
Manchester City has eight wins in all competitions, and has not won in each of its last 12 matches (W10 D2) since a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Premier League on February 5.
Bayern have alternated wins and losses in their last five matches (W3 D0 L2), losing 2-1 to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and at home to Freiburg in the DFB Pokal midweek.
Bayern will be without Eric Maxime Choupo-Moting, the striker will miss the game due to a knee ailment, while Manuel Neuer remains long-term absent. City have no injured for this game.
Both Manchester City and Bayern have not won the UEFA Champions League this season. In the second match of the evening, Benfica will evaluate their chances of claiming the Champions League against Inter Milan.
The Portuguese grandees have not known defeat this season and are scoring goals for fun. Inter, meanwhile, have not won in six matches and are struggling to hit the goal line.
Benfica will be without four key players: Julian Draxler, Alexander Bach, Goncalo Guedes and Mihajlo Ristic, although without fresh problems.
Inter Milan will keep an eye on the fitness of Milan Skriniar and Hakan Calhanoglu ahead of the match. Romelu Lukaku is unlikely to be in the starting lineup, with Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko being preferred.
When will Manchester City v Bayern and Benfica v Inter Milan play in the UEFA Champions League?
Manchester City vs. Bayern and Benfica vs. Inter Milan are scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. MSC on Wednesday.
Where will the Champions League matches Manchester City – Bayern and Benfica – Inter Milan be played?
Man City will take on Bayern at the Etihad Stadium and Benfica will face Inter Milan at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Wednesday.
Which TV channels will broadcast the Manchester City vs. Bayern and Benfica vs. Inter Milan matches in India?
All Champions League matches for the 2022-2023 season will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network in India.
How to watch Manchester City vs Bayern and Benfica vs Inter Milan live in India?
Football fans can watch live Uefa Champions League matches on SonyLIV.
