Manchester City defeat RB Leipzig 3-1

Defeat to Manchester City!

RB Leizpig were beaten 3-1 at home by Manchester City on matchday 2 of the Champions League group stage. This defeat marks the end of our side’s seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions and is our first ever loss at home to the Cityzens.  

Pep Guardiola’s team quickly got their passing game going, although the home team kept things tight at the back in the early exchanges. The first dangerous moment came in the 14th minute when Phil Foden’s shot went wide from Rico Lewis’ ball in. City ramped up the pressure and the majority of the first half was played in the Leipzig half. This resulted in the reigning Champions League winners going ahead after 25 minutes. Lewis put the ball into the box and Foden found the back of the net for 1-0. Erling Haaland had his first opportunity in the 42nd minute, only to be denied from a tight angle by Janis Blaswich. Lois Openda had the final chance of the first half, winning a corner with his effort.

The second half began brilliantly for RBL! Yussuf Poulsen played the ball into some space for Openda, he was quicker than Manuel Akanji and then remained calm in front of goal to equalise! (48’) This goal gave the hosts a boost and saw us win more tackles and have more of the ball. In response though, City stepped things up and put together several good attacks. Haaland couldn’t connect with a ball to the back post (57’) and Blaswich tipped a Foden free-kick onto the bar (63’). Despite a passionate performance from RBL, they could do nothing about Julian Alvarez’s curling effort with six minutes left of regular time. Christoph Baumgartner fired just over late on, but Jeremy Doku sealed the win for last season’s treble winners in injury time.  

5th MINUTE: A lot of possession for City

The visitors are letting the ball do the talking with a lot of short passes and are inching their way upfield. RBL are switched on at the back, though, and look to get the ball forward whenever they win it back.
 

12th MINUTE: City have the ball in our half

City are dominating the ball in the Leipzig half. However, they’re struggling to get it up the pitch or create danger, as we’re continuing to run hard and close down the space.

14th MINUTE: First City chance

The first real danger in the Leipzig box! Rico Lewis sets off down the right-hand side, picks up the ball, and drives into the penalty area. The ball lands at Phil Foden’s feet, but his shot is narrowly wide.
 

25th MINUTE: FODEN gives City the lead

Bernardo Silva is given too much space on the right wing and easily threads the ball through to Lewis. The youngster plays a whipped ball into the box which finds an unmarked Foden, who gives Janis Blaswich no chance.
 

34th MINUTE: Leipzig cannot keep possession

City continue to push us back into our own half. Leipzig aren’t winning enough tackles and can’t gain control of the game. On top of that, a lot of passes are being misplaced.
 

42nd MINUTE: HAALAND’s first chance

City get into Leipzig’s box once again and this time it’s Erling Haaland with the chance. The striker shoots from a tight angle, with Blaswich able to parry it. Thankfully Grealish and Lewis can’t get on the end of the rebound.
 

44th MINUTE: OPENDA from range

Now we’re on the counter! Yussuf Poulsen gets onto the ball in the middle of the pitch and plays Lois Openda through. The Belgian doesn’t hang around and lets fly from 20 yards out, but the ball is deflected out for a corner.
 

48th MINUTE: Level again!

A textbook counterattack! Openda goes for a quick one-two with Poulsen and finds himself through on goal. The attacker gets the better of Manuel Akanji as he makes a beeline for the City box. His goal sneaks past Ederson, hits the post, and trickles over the line.
 

55th MINUTE: Things looking more competitive

RBL are fully back in the game. We’re looking much more aggressive in 50-50s than we did in the first half. City aren’t finding it as easy to hold onto the ball.
 

57th MINUTE: Haaland at the back post

The Cityzens have their first chance of the second half. Foden’s cross from the left-hand side is towards the far post, where Haaland is ready to pounce, but he cannot get on the end of it.
 

63th MINUTE: Free-kick hits the bar

City almost take the lead again. It’s Foden once more, whose dangerous-looking free-kick is heading goalwards. Blaswich is there to tip it onto the bar with his fingertips.
 

76th MINUTE: A fierce contest

City are coming forward, but we’re standing our ground! The boys are throwing themselves into tackles, though the game’s mostly being played in our half once again. Maybe there’ll be another chance on the counter?
 

83d MINUTE: KLOSTERMANN at the last second

Another nervy moment, as Lukas Klostermann pinches the ball off Haaland at the very last second.
 

84th MINUTE: ALVAREZ scores

Doku lays the ball off to Alvarez on the edge of the box and the Argentinian curls home beautifully to put City back into the lead.
 

90+2nd MINUTE: DOKU seals it

City break quickly and Doku is through on goal. The substitute makes no mistake and slots it past Blaswich.
 

Champions League | RB Leipzig – Manchester City

LINE-UPS

RBL: Blaswich – Simakan, Poulsen (75’ Baumgartner), Forsberg (C, 70’ Sesko), Seiwald (85’ Haidara), Klostermann, Openda (70’ Werner), Xavi, Raum, Castello Jr., Schlager

MCI: Ederson – Walker (C), Akanji (72’ Doku), Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis, Rodrigo, Bernardo Silva (87’ Nunes), Foden (79’ Alvarez), Grealish (72’ Ake), Haaland  
 

RBL bench: Gulacsi (GK), Lenz, Haidara, Werner, Baumgartner, Sesko, Carvalho, Kampl

MCI bench: Ortega Moreno (GK), Carson (GK), Phillips, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb

GOALS

0-1 Foden (25’), 1-1 Openda (48’), 1-2 Alvarez (84’)

YELLOW CARDS

Schlager (73’), Raum (78’) | Akanji (66’)
 

Officials:

Referee: Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)

First assistant: Paulo Alexandre Santos Soares (Portugal)

Second assistant: Pedro Ribeiro (Portugal)

Fourth official: Fabio Melo (Portugal)

Video assistant: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins (Portugal)
 

Attendance
45,228 in the RB-Arena (sold out)

Kick-off
21:00 CEST