Bayern Munich 1 Man City 2: Unknown star helps fire Pep Guardiola’s men to friendly win over European giants
KYLE WALKER captained Manchester City to victory – against the club that is trying to sign him this summer.
Bayern Munich are hopeful of luring the England ace to Germany in the coming days but the treble winners want to keep him.
And as if to show he remains very much a City player, Pep Guardiola handed him the armband for this game in Japan.
The former Spurs man now add to Audi Football Summit to his long list of honours thanks to a late winner from defender Aymeric Laporte.
Ironically the defender is another player whose Etihad future is in doubt with the new season just over two weeks away.
Despite reports in Germany, Walker would be left out of this one, he started it as skipper.
But it was another man who has played for both clubs who almost opened the scoring.
Former City wide man Leroy Sane thumped a free-kick against the bar with Ederson struggling to get across.
But midway through the half, Rico Lewis got away down the right and cut back for Julian Alvarez whose shot was saved by Yann Sommer.
However the ball dropped nicely for James McAtee to prod over the line from close range.
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The England Under 21 ace impressed during a loan spell at promoted Sheffield United last season – but Guardiola wants to have a proper look at him in the Far East.
Both managers made wholesale changes at the break with Thomas Tuchel swapping all 11 of his Bayern players.
Guardiola made eight – with Walker having a rest but one of the replacements was Erling Haaland who scored twice in his first appearance of the season here on Sunday.
But the Norwegian hitman did not get much of a look-in – much to the disappointment of the 65000 crowd in the Japan National Stadium.
And inside the last 10 minutes, the Germans equalised as French teen Mathys Tel scrambled home a loose ball.
Joao Cancelo – who spent the second half of last season on loan at the Allianz Arena – saw a shot blocked as he looked for the winner.
But four minutes from time a shot from Phil Foden was only parried and Laporte was on hand to fire home.