In Focus: Sane setting aside Mane spat to lead Munich miracle

Leroy Sane will hope to have a far more successful evening against his former club Manchester City tonight than he managed last week.

The Bayern Munich winger was part of the side that were thumped 3-0 away at the Etihad in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

To make matters worse, he was reported to be involved in a dressing room row after the game that led to him being punched by his team-mate Sadio Mane. 

Ahead of this evening's second leg at the Allianz Arena, we take a look at Sane’s performances this season and consider what the future holds for him. 

Impossible mission

Sane and his colleagues need a miracle if they are to make the final four. 

History shows that it is not impossible, though. Liverpool, for example, lost 3-0 in the away leg of their 2018-19 semi-final against Barcelona before winning 4-0 at Anfield. 

Yet with City having won each of their last 10 games in imperious fashion, Bayern's chances would appear to be very slim — particularly as their own form is uninspiring. 

Since appointing Thomas Tuchel as manager, the Bavarian giants have only won two from five games, drawing once and losing twice. 

Sane has started in every game, with the new coach switching the forward between flanks as he tries to find a winning formula.

Improving numbers

Sane has failed to score under Tuchel and only assisted one goal, but his overall numbers for the season are looking pretty healthy. 

After joining the Bavarians in the summer of 2020, he scored 10 goals and assisted 12 in his debut campaign. In 2021-22, those numbers swelled to 14 goals and 15 assists.

So in terms of output, Sane looks on target to have his best season yet, having already scored 13 in 2022-23. He only has eight assists so far, but that would seem a natural consequence of playing in a team lacking a striker. 

Some four goals and one assist of his tally have come in the Champions League, with the 27-year-old finding the net against both Inter Milan and Barcelona. 

Sane was by far the most threatening player for Bayern in the first leg and he looks to be their best hope of salvaging something from the return fixture. 

Tuchel committed

As encouraging as Sane's numbers have been since joining Bayern, he has not always had an easy time at the club. He was often used as a substitute by former manager Hansi Flick.

And though things initially improved when Julian Nagelsmann deployed him in a central attacking midfield role, he soon found himself shuffled back out wide after a formation change.

Tuchel has been playing with a 4-2-3-1, but has so far resisted using Sane in the middle. The new coach does at least seem committed to having the former Schalke star in his line-up, though.

That could prove crucial to his future in Germany, with rumours of the electric winger leaving this summer and his wife said to have already moved back to England. 

Instead, it could be Mane departing. His ill-judged actions last week have reportedly convinced the Bundesliga leaders to cash in on him when the season concludes.

For now, Bayern's aims are purely short-term. After the City clash, it is likely that their sole priority will be retaining their German title. 

Going forward, Sane could be part of a new revamped forward line under Tuchel — and a positive display this evening would certainly help his case.