Haaland initiates the race to catch up
RB Leipzig squandered a 2-0 lead at Manchester City
November 28, 2023, 11:03 p.m
RB Leipzig caused great astonishment in the Champions League for 45 minutes. The Bundesliga club is comfortably in the lead at half-time at Manchester City. But then the Skyblues turn up the heat and disillusion the Saxons with a world champion shortly before the end.
Marco Rose congratulated a grinning Pep Guardiola, then the coach consoled his players after a self-sacrificing battle for the defending champions at the Etihad Stadium. In the end, this was not rewarded: RB Leipzig narrowly missed revenge for the 0-7 debacle in the Champions League when they returned to the place of disgrace. Despite leading 2-0, the DFB Cup winners lost 3-2 to Manchester City, who had overwhelmed the Saxons at the same place eight months earlier.
City striker Erling Haaland (54th), Phil Foden (70th) and Julian Alvarez (87th) turned the game around for Guardiola’s team, who secured early group victory with their success. Unlike the humiliation in the second leg of the round of 16 last season, Leipzig’s team held out impressively for a long time in Manchester this time, with Lois Openda’s brace (13th/33rd) initially putting RB in the lead. The two teams had already secured their ticket for the knockout round before the duel.
“We want to show ourselves there, prove ourselves”
“It’s not easy here at any stage,” said RB keeper Janis Blaswich on DAZN: “After the 2-1 win, the stadium woke up again, but before that we had actually silenced them quite well.” Coach Rose had emphasized in advance that the trip to Manchester would be “not a school trip”: “We want to show ourselves there, prove ourselves.” The RB coach had to do without striker Timo Werner; the recently injured Benjamin Sesko and Kevin Kampl initially took a seat on the bench.
The Leipzig team, who had lost the first leg 3-1, took Rose’s words to heart and bravely attacked the hosts. The first shot still belonged to City, but Bernardo Silva’s shot was blocked (3′). RB also had a good opportunity a little later in a lively opening phase, Xavi Simons’ attempt went wide to the right (5th).
City dominates, RB defends itself
RB was by no means hiding from the defending champions and Openda struck: After a long ball from keeper Janis Blaswich, the striker evaded City defender Manuel Akanji and slotted in down the right. Manchester tried to equalize, Rico Lewis shot over the goal from close range (30th). Instead, Openda appeared again in the opponent’s penalty area. The Belgian left ex-Leipzig player Josko Gvardiol standing and increased before the break.
Leipzig initially remained attentive in the second half, but City continued to push RB deep into their own half. Manchester dominated the game, Leipzig continued to defend vigorously. But Haaland finally managed to score after a pass from Foden, and a little later the assist provider was successful himself. Shortly afterwards, Simons caused another moment of shock on the Leipzig side: the offensive player remained lying down after a collision with Akanji and had to leave the field. Fabio Carvalho’s goal did not count due to an offside position, but shortly before the end world champion Alvarez struck