Getting Started with the Bayern vs City Run-through
So, I finally got around to that FC Bayern versus Manchester City thing I was meaning to do. Been on my mind for a bit, wanted to see how things would play out, you know, with their current squads and all that. Didn’t have a ton of time, but figured I’d squeeze in a proper session.
The Setup – Or Lack Thereof Sometimes
First things first, I got everything loaded up. Took a minute, as usual. I was thinking of running it on the main console, but ended up using my old PC rig ’cause the big screen was taken. The controller felt a bit sticky, probably need to clean that thing. Anyway, I went into the team management. Man, sorting out the lineups took longer than I thought. I tried to get them as close to reality as possible, but you know how it is, there’s always some player rated weirdly or someone out of position by default. I just wanted to get on with it, really.
I decided to play as Bayern for this one. My plan was to try and dominate possession, classic Bayern style, but against City, that’s always a tough ask, even in a simulation. I fiddled with the custom tactics for a bit, trying to get that high press working without leaving myself too open at the back. Always a balancing act.
Kicking Off and Early Struggles
Alright, game on. And yeah, City came out flying. Just like you’d expect. Their virtual Haaland is a nightmare, seriously. He was making runs, bullying my defenders. I spent the first twenty minutes basically pinned in my own half. My passing was sloppy, couldn’t string more than three passes together. Frustrating stuff. I was yelling at the screen a bit, not gonna lie.
- City’s press was just relentless.
- My defenders felt slow to react.
- Lost the ball in dangerous areas way too often.
Managed to weather the storm, somehow. Neuer, or his digital ghost, made a couple of decent saves. I think I got lucky once or twice with shots hitting the post too. You take what you can get, right?
Trying to Fight Back – And Some More Drama
Towards the end of the first half, I finally started to get a bit of a foothold. Musiala had a good chance, but fluffed the shot. Classic. Then, just before halftime, City scored. A bloody counter-attack! I was fuming. Pushed too many men forward, got caught out. De Bruyne with the assist, of course. It’s always him.
Second half, I made some changes. Brought on Coman for some pace on the wing and tried to be more direct. It sort of worked. We were creating more, but City’s defense is just so solid, even the AI version. Then, a moment of magic, or maybe just luck – Kane bundled one in from a corner. 1-1. Game on!
The rest of the game was pretty end-to-end. Both teams had chances. I nearly conceded a silly penalty, my defender went flying in, but the ref waved play on. Phew. Then, with about ten minutes to go, Sane cut inside and smashed one into the top corner. 2-1 Bayern! I was jumping around, thought I’d nicked it.
The Inevitable Twist and Final Thoughts
But no, City being City, they didn’t give up. Last few minutes, they threw everyone forward. And in the 92nd minute, a bloody deflection. Goal. 2-2. Couldn’t believe it. Absolutely gutted. It felt like a real match ending sometimes, with that kind of late drama.
So, yeah, the practice ended in a draw. Learned a few things, though. My high press against a team like City needs a lot more refinement. And relying on individual brilliance isn’t gonna cut it. Need more teamwork, even if it’s just me controlling all the players. It’s funny how these simulations can still teach you stuff, or at least make you think about the real game differently.
Next time, I’m playing as City. See if I can replicate their dominance. Or maybe I’ll just watch the actual teams play and take notes from the pros, haha. This was a decent session, though. Frustrating, but decent.
