Manchester City beat RB Leipzig 3-2 at the Etihad after a stunning second-half comeback to secure top spot in Champions League Group G.
RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda stunned the Etihad after hitting two goals in 40 minutes to put his team one goal ahead of City at the top of the group. A slew of squandered chances further contributed to the sense that this might not be City’s night.
After the half, Phil Foden, who had been quiet in central midfield, set up Erling Haaland before scoring the equalizer with 20 minutes remaining. He also had a hand in the winner, as Julian Alvarez – a game-changer for City off the bench alongside Jeremy Doku – finished off an 18-pass fluid play.
City struggled in the first half, committing two terrible defensive errors that led to the goals, but recovered to avoid going three games without a win. They secure first place with a game to spare, but Leipzig must settle for second place in Group G.
How City turned it around to win the group
Man City dropped to the top of the Premier League after back-to-back draws, with the treble winners’ recent success encouraging clubs around them that they can be challenged.
Manchester City beat RB Leipzig 3-2 at the Etihad after a stunning second-half comeback to secure top spot in Champions League Group G.
Guardiola emphasized the necessity of clinching first place in Group G as soon as feasible before Leipzig’s arrival. He understands that having the last-16 second leg at home might be key in City’s effort to defend their Champions League title.
However, there appeared to be a hangover following the 1-1 draw with Liverpool. Leipzig’s defence five and compact four in midfield hampered City’s space, which the Germans exploited.
City were caught off guard by a simple ball over the top, with Openda stroking a clinical finish past Stefan Ortega following a disastrous error by Manuel Akanji. Ruben Dias headed over unmarked minutes later, the first of a run of squandered City chances.
Guardiola yelled at his teammates during a break in play, but his words had no effect, as Leipzig scored again moments later when Rico Lewis fired over from within the box. Openda strikes again, leaving the Eithad stunned.
Dias was guilty of charging in on his man, who twisted him around midway before sitting down Josko Gvardiol and finishing at the near post, making Leipzig the first team this season to score two goals against City.
At this point, City was one goal away from having Leipzig seize control of Group G going into the final game. The terror at the Etihad intensified when Haaland blazed across before the break.
Guardiola acted immediately at halftime, replacing the booked Dias with Nathan Ake. But it was his second intervention before the hour that actually changed the game. Doku and Alvarez, who were the undoing of Leipzig in the reverse fixture, delivered once more.
A minute after the substitution, Haaland equalized, with Alvarez helping in the buildup. Leipzig’s determination collapsed, and Foden’s brilliance opened the defenders as he finished through the legs of Lukas Klostermann.
As City found their footing, the third became unavoidable. City recovered from an uncommon low in the first half to produce some of their finest football of the season in the second half. Alvarez’s winner came after eighteen passes as City claimed first place with a game to spare.
