Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match between Manchester City and Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Well this isn't a bad fixture to feast your eyes on, is it? Manchester City have been searching for a match to show the rest of Europe that they deserve to be considered as contenders for this competition. There won't come a more ideal opportunity than against the European champions on your home patch!

The team news is already in from the Etihad Stadium. Bear with me just a moment, and I will have it for you in full...

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Hart; Richards, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy; Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Nasri; Aguero, Dzeko

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Lescott, Milner, Garcia, Silva, Negredo

BAYERN MUNICH XI: Neuer; Rafinha, Dante, Boateng, Alaba; Ribery, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Robben; Muller

BAYERN MUNICH SUBSTITUTES: Starke, Contento, Kirchhoff, Van Buyten, Gotze, Mandzukic, Shaqiri

There's plenty of significant team news coming from the home dressing room. Arguably the most notable inclusion is Sergio Aguero, who has recovered from a knock picked up in the Manchester derby to regain his place in the starting lineup, but I'm sure the selection of Micah Richards has come as a surprise to many City fans. He has been picked ahead of Pablo Zabaleta.

Spanish playmaker David Silva has also returned to the Manchester City squad for the first time since the international fixtures at the start of September. He has been named on the bench, but I'm sure we will see him at some stage later in the evening.

The big news coming out of the Bayern camp is that striker Mario Mandzukic has been relegated to the bench, with midfielder Toni Kroos coming into the side. That should see Thomas Muller operate from a more central position in attack.

City are playing in just their third Champions League campaign, but this is already the second time that they have been drawn against the German champions. The two teams first met in Munich, with City falling to a 2-0 defeat in a game that hit the headlines for Carlos Tevez refusing to come on as a substitute during the second half.

The return match in Manchester saw City earn a 2-0 win, but it wasn't enough to see him qualify for the knockout stages. There are as many as seven City players from that fixture who will also start this evening.

Many of you will be aware how City have been performing in the Premier League (for those that don't - 10 points from their opening six games), but what about Bayern? The defending champions have picked up 19 points from seven games, with their only dropped points coming away at Freiburg. However, it's worth noting that several players were rested in preparation for the European Super Cup final with Chelsea.

Another added ingredient to throw into the pot for this evening is Pep Guardiola. The former Barcelona coach was frequently linked with a move to England after his departure from Camp Nou, but he will be making his first appearance on these shores since opting to move to Germany.

Talking of Guardiola, he will be very familiar with City's boss Manuel Pellegrini, after meeting the former Malaga manager on eight occasions. However, I've got some bad news for you, City fans - Pellegrini has never defeated a team managed by Guardiola. I suppose he was in charge of the best team in the world though...

The other match in this group has already been played, with CSKA Moscow edging to a 3-2 triumph over Viktoria Plzen in Moscow. You can read how that went down by clicking here.

The result in Moscow should turn out to be pretty irrelevant, providing that both City and Bayern compete to their full potential for the remainder of the group. Both will be expecting a minimum of 10 points from their four fixtures with CSKA and Plzen, with a trip to Russia the only match that should provide any kind of threat to either outfit.

PREDICTION! This match could go either way, with much of it depending on how City react to hosting the defending champions. Player-for-player, City can match Munich, but it's whether the home side can match Bayern's greater unity. I fancy Munich to nick a 2-1 win.

There are six other fixtures taking place this evening, most notably Manchester United's trip to the Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk. That's not the kind of game that you want when you are under pressure!

The two teams are getting ready to emerge from the tunnel. You look at the players lining up alongside each other and you realise how much quality is going to be on show tonight.

Both sides walk out to a picturesque Etihad Stadium. City are welcomed with the image of 'MCFC 1894' taking up the whole of one of the ends behind the goal, while the Munich supporters are on their feet in unison, with their side's scarves raised above their heads.

City get us underway.

It's a fast start from City, who immediately set about putting Bayern under pressure, but the German side manage to stem the tide by earning a free kick in midfield.

CHANCE! Bayern create the first opportunity. Ribery plays in Alaba down the left, but his cross is headed well wide by Robben.

It's a fast response from City, who earn a free kick from about 35 yards out. The ball is drifted in for Kompany to head back across goal, but Bayern manage to deal with the threat of Aguero. From the resulting corner, Richards sees an header go straight at Neuer.

That's a huge setback for City. When Ribery received the ball, he looked to be in a fairly innocuous position, but after slowly advancing forward, he unleashed a drive from 25 yards that Joe Hart could only divert into the top corner. The strike had plenty of power, but the critics who have already slated Hart this season will no doubt be out once again.

Bayern are beginning to boss the play now, whether that be spaying the ball about across their backline or making inroads down either flank. They manage to earn a corner on the right, but City do well to negotiate the threat.

OUCH! Kroos is down, and I'm not surprised - he has been knocked into next week by Micah Richards. Both players were contesting a high ball but the right-back's superior strength left the midfielder in a heap on the floor. He looks like he can continue though.

City just can't get a hold of the ball, and they are almost chasing shadows at the moment. City manage to clear another corner but it only sets up the German side's latest attack, which comes to an end when Hart gathers a low shot.

Hart continues to look jittery, and despite coming out to punch clear, the ball goes straight to Kroos, who sees his volley deflected wide with the England stopper beaten. Moments later, Alaba tries his luck, but he can't get a proper connection on the ball and it flies over.

The home faithful are already getting restless, either with their own side or with the referee being over-eager to blow his whistle. Pellegrini needs to change things up, because Munich are treating this as a home fixture so far.

More pressure from the visitors, who manage to work the ball out wide to Robben. The former Chelsea winger cuts inside but his shot is well blocked by the City backline.

City finally show some intent in an attacking sense, but Navas disappoints when he has the chance to run at Alaba, and his cross goes over the crossbar. There are still 15 minutes left before the break, and I think Pellegrini would be overjoyed to get his side in with just the one-goal deficit.

CHANCE! Once again, City are clinging on. Robben drifts past Nastasic in the penalty area but his low delivery across the six-yard just fails to make connection with Muller's boot. Bayern have made 172 passes compared to City's 50...

CHANCE! If this was a boxing match, the referee would be considering a stoppage. This time, it's Alaba who eases into the box, and after his first effort is blocked by Hart, his second is deflected into the grateful grasp of the goalkeeper.

City move up the other end to create a half-chance for Aguero, but his snap-shot curls wide of the far post. It never threatened Neuer's goal, but it says it all when that's probably been Man City's best moment of the half.

Bayern have a superb chance to double their lead after Nastasic pulls down Muller to concede a free kick around 20 yards out. Schweinsteiger takes it, but the wall does its job.

Just five minutes remaining before the break. The simple question is - can Manchester City manage to keep it at 0-1?

BOOKING! Sergio Aguero goes into the book after clattering into the back of Rafinha. He appears to bring his foot down the back of the Brazilian's leg, and it's a fully deserved yellow card.

BOOKING! Kroos takes out Navas with the most cynical of challenges to give City a free kick on the right touchline. The home side work a nice situation for Navas to cross, but it's headed clear. There will be one minute of added-on time.

City leave the pitch to a smattering of boos, which is probably a little harsh, but they have been completely dominated by an impressive Bayern Munich side. It's been men against boys, and manager Manuel Pellegrini has a lot of work to do during the break.

The opening seven minutes were evenly contested, but that all changed when Franck Ribery netted from 25 yards. It was a poor goal for Joe Hart to concede, especially from a player considered to be England's number one. Since that goal, there has been only one team in this, and City should count themselves lucky not to be a few goals behind.

Manchester City managed just two shots on goal during the opening 45 minutes, compared to Bayern Munich's nine, while the German's had over 70% of the possession.

The Spanish duo of David Silva and Alvaro Negredo are options for Pellegrini, but other than that, the Chilean chief will have to rely on the players that he currently has out there.

Bayern get us underway for the second half. What can City do to stay in this match?

Early corner for Manchester City. This is better already. Nasri's delivery is only half cleared, but Richards and Dzeko get in each others way when contesting for a high ball.

It's Fernandinho's turned to break down the right, and he wins another corner for his side, but remarkably, Dzeko and Richards get in each others way once again!

Bayern have by no means started this half slowly, but City earn their third corner. They are struggling to win the resulting cross though, and Munich clear again. This is much more encouraging, and City have won the crowd back.

CHANCE! How has that missed?! Robben looks to work the ball onto his left foot, and he succeeds, but his curling effort takes the smallest of deflections and it's enough to see his shot goes centimetres past the post.

Disaster for City! Dante plays the ball over the top of the City defence and Gael Clichy is ball-watching. That allows Muller to creep in and get clear on goal, and after taking the ball around Hart, he slotted the ball into the empty net.

That second goal brought about an immediate chance for City, who have introduced Negredo in place of the disappointing Dzeko.

This is quickly becoming embarrassing for Manchester City. They lose the ball in the centre of the pitch and Bayern quickly break. The ball finds its way to Robben, who waltzes into the penalty area before firing the ball in at the near post. Again, Joe Hart could, and perhaps should, have done a lot better.

Hart is forced into action to prevent a low Robben drive making it four. City clear, but Bayern break clear in numbers again. Kroos sees a shot well blocked by Hart, before Robben volleys over the rebound. The Germans look immense.

Remember Bayern's domination of Barcelona at Camp Nou last season? Well this is very similar. A team of star-studded players are being made to look very ordinary.

I don't think Manchester City have touched the ball in a couple of minutes. Bayern must have put together about 50 passes in succession over that period.

It might be worth Pellegrini withdrawing the likes of Toure and Aguero. They both look run in to the ground. Nasri picks up a booking.

SUBSTITUTION! Well I got one of them right! Aguero and Nasri have been replaced by David Silva and James Milner.

Silva has looked inventive during his first contribution to the match, but he has already picked up a knock. He's back on his feet though. Bayern have regained possession, and this is going to be a long final 15 minutes for the home side.

BOOKING! Ribery bursts clear of Richards, but his effort is easily saved by Hart. Milner picks up a booking for a needless foul to take City's tally up to four for this evening.

WOODWORK! Munich go mightily close to a fourth when Muller strikes the post with a volley, but City move up the pitch to create their best chance of the night, Milner seeing a volley tipped over by Neuer.

Bayern have made a couple of substitutions over the past few minutes, bringing on Shaqiri and Kirchhoff.

Where has that come from?! I was just about to comment on Negredo hardly touching the ball since his introduction, but he has just curled the ball into the net from 20 yards. Game on...?

City looked like they were about to get on top after that goal, but Bayern broke to earn a free kick from 25 yards out. Ribery's set piece went straight into the wall, but it was enough to halt City's momentum.

RED CARD! Jerome Boateng has been sent off for a professional foul on Yaya Toure, and City have a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. They just couldn't, could they...?

WOODWORK! So, so unlucky! David Silva whips the ball over the wall, but it cannons off the bar and bounces clear.

CHANCE! It's all City now. I didn't think that I would be writing that 15 minutes ago! Milner does superbly down the left, but his cross is headed marginally wide by Negredo.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

Silva nicks in at the near post, but his header goes harmlessly over. That looks like being the last bit of action.

Bayern Munich move to the top of Group D with a comprehensive victory over Manchester City. Barring the late rally from the home side, it was one-way traffic, and the German outfit looked a class above Manuel Pellegrini's men.

City were never in it from the moment that they conceded the first goal. Munich never gave them an opportunity to string together any period of play that might have brought about an equaliser. The only positive thing that Pellegrini could take from this match is that David Silva impressed during his 20-minute cameo on his comeback from injury.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again for the Europa League fixtures tomorrow evening. Goodbye for now.