Man City edge out Leipzig in thriller!

Defeat in Manchester despite strong showing.

The RBL boys looked to keep things tight from the outset. Xavi had the first real chance of the game, as his shot from outside of the box was inches away from giving us an early lead (5'). RBL kept trying to exploit the gaps in City's defence and got their reward in the 13th minute. Janis Blaswich played a long ball forward to Lois Openda, who beat Manuel Akanji for pace and was through on goal. Our top scorer found himself one-on-one with Stefan Ortega and made no mistake to put us in front.

The Cityzens almost levelled things up through Ruben Dias' header and Rico Lewis also went close for the reigning European champions (16', 30'). Leipzig weren't phased by the chances and carved out another opportunity of their own. Once again, it was Lois Openda with the ball at his feet, as he slipped past Ruben Dias, before sending Josko Gvardiol the wrong way in the box and firing the ball into the bottom corner to put Leipzig 2-0 up!

The Sky Blues dominated the ball after the half-time break, but didn't create anything clear cut until the 54th minute. Phil Foden played the ball through to Erling Haaland and the Norwegian got one back for City. The hosts searched for an equaliser, but RBL didn't give them much room to manoeuvre. Eventually, City's pressure led to a chance for Foden, who slotted the ball home to level things up (70'). Leipzig responded well through Benjamin Sesko, who tested Stefan Ortega immediately after the equaliser (72'). In the closing stages of the game, Julian Alvarez put City in front from close range (87').
 

Champions League | Manchester City – RB Leipzig

LINE-UPS

MCI: Ortega Moreno - Walker (C, 54' Alvarez), Akanji, Dias (46' Ake), Gvardiol (93' Gómez) - Rodrigo, Lewis, Bernardo Silva, Foden, Grealish (54' Doku) - Haaland

RBL: Blaswich - Klostermann, Simakan, Castello Jr. - Seiwald, Schlager (88' Kampl), Raum, Haidara (74' Carvalho) - Forsberg (C, 60' Baumgartner), Xavi (74' Poulsen), Openda (60' Sesko)

MCI unused subs: Ederson, Carson - Phillips, Stones, Bobb

RBL unused subs: Gulacsi, Lenz, Henrichs

GOALS

0-1 Openda (13'), 0-2 Openda (33'), 1-2 Haaland (54'), 2-2 Foden (70'), 3-2 Alvarez (87')

Yellow Cards

Ruben Dias (21')
 

OFFICIALS

Referee: Glenn Nyberg

First assistant: Mahbod Beigi

Second assistant: Andreas Söderqvist

Fourth official: Adam Ladebäck

Video assistant: Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez

ATTENDANCE

50,000 at the City of Manchester Stadium
 

5th minute: Xavi from range

RBL look to attack City straight away and have the first real chance of the game. Xaver Schlager wins the ball back in the middle of the pitch and gives it to Xavi, who dances inside and tries to curl one into the bottom corner. The Dutchman’s shot is centimetres away from giving us the lead.
 

13th minute: Openda scores!

RB Leipzig strike first! Janis Blaswich plays the ball forward to Lois Openda, who slips past Manuel Akanji and bares down on goal. He coolly slots the ball past Ortega and into the bottom corner to put us in front at the City of Manchester Stadium!
 

16th minute: Dangerous header from Dias

Ruben Dias causes chaos in the RBL box, as he heads goalwards from a Bernardo Silva free kick, but his effort goes just over.
 

30th minute: Lewis goes close

Rico Lewis brings a high ball down brilliantly and dances into the Leipzig box. He finds some space and gets a shot away, but it sails over the bar.
 

33rd minute: Openda at the double!

Madness! We're on the counter again and Lois Openda breaks away from Ruben Dias down the line. He finds himself in the box, glides past Josko Gvardiol, before firing the ball past Stefan Ortega to put RBL 2-0 up!
 

45th minute: Chance for Haaland

There are four minutes of injury time at the end of the first half, and City manage to fashion another chance. Erling Haaland gets the better of Mo Simakan in the air, but Janis Blaswich has no problem gathering his header.
 

54th minute: Haaland reduces the deficit

Phil Foden plays a wonderfully weighted pass to Haaland to put him through on goal and the Norwegian makes no mistake to get one back for the Cityzens.
 

60th minute: Leipzig looking good

RBL haven’t looked phased since City got one back. The boys have been keeping things tight in midfield and are looking to strike on the counter. City are dominating possession, however.
 

70th minute: Foden equalises

Phil Foden controls Josko Gvardiol’s ball into the box perfectly and places it into the bottom corner, giving Janis Blaswich no chance.
 

77th minute: Carvalho just offside

RB Leipzig have the ball in the back of the net again, as Fabio Carvalho slides the ball past Ortega and into the back of the net, but the flag is up.
 

87th minute: Alvarez completes City’s comeback

Julian Alvarez receives the ball in the box and has far too much time and space to get his shot away. The Argentinean finds the back of the net to give the Cityzens the lead.