Match report as Manchester City earned deserved 3-1 win over RB Leipzig within the Champions League; Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku on the right track for Pep Guardiola’s facet; Lois Openda had equalised for Leipzig in opposition to the run of play; City are high of Group G after two matches

Late objectives from substitutes Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku gave Manchester City a deserved 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig within the Champions League.

After back-to-back home losses to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup and Wolves in the Premier League, City travelled to Germany susceptible to struggling a 3rd consecutive defeat in all competitions for the primary time since April 2018, however that risk was shut down by the European champions on the Red Bull Arena.

They got a short scare when Lois Openda transformed Leipzig’s first shot on the right track shortly after half-time (48) to cancel out Phil Foden’s spectacular opener earlier than the break (25), but it surely was enterprise as common for Pep Guardiola’s facet as Alvarez, introduced on for Foden within the 79th minute, curled a surprising strike into the far nook to revive City’s lead (84).

Earlier, Foden hit the bar from an inswinging free-kick and Erling Haaland missed a number of possibilities as City dominated however struggled to attain a second, however Alvarez’s purpose made the distinction and the end result was put past doubt when he teed up fellow substitute Doku to calmly slot house a medical counter-attack in stoppage time (90+2).

The win places City high of Group G with six factors from two matches. Leipzig are second, two factors forward of Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys.

How City outclassed Leipzig in Germany

It didn’t appear as if City would require late heroics from the bench given their full dominance within the first half. The presence of Rodri, who’s at present serving a home ban, introduced a noticeable calm that was lacking in his absence in Saturday’s defeat at Molineux.

Yet it was Rico Lewis, enjoying alongside him in midfield, who caught the attention together with his willpower to win possession and a few driving runs. Lewis had City’s first severe alternative after a pleasant flip within the space however his shot was blocked.

City’s opener got here after 25 minutes from one other assault instigated by Lewis. The full of life teen pushed ahead and performed a one-two with Silva earlier than pulling again for Foden within the space. The England worldwide met it with a first-time shot that bounced past Janis Blaswich.

City pushed for a second earlier than the break, with Haaland twice breaking free on the left however the Norwegian first shot broad and was then denied by Blaswich.

It was not till the ultimate minute of the primary half that Leipzig had an effort on purpose when Openda’s long-range shot was deflected over and City reached the break having been fully untroubled.

All their good work was undone inside moments of the restart as Jack Grealish misplaced a cross permitting Leipzig to counter-attack. Yussuf Poulsen launched Openda and the Belgium worldwide raced by to beat Ederson with a low shot that went in off the bottom of the publish.

Haaland threatened to revive City’s lead when he fired broad after which spurned a fair higher likelihood when he missed the goal from a Foden cross. Foden went nearer when he curled a free-kick in opposition to the bar from a large angle however Haaland’s frustration continued as he shot at Blaswich and skewed one other effort over.

City had been caught on the break once more however had been reprieved when Emil Forsberg didn’t discover a team-mate within the field and Ederson wanted to punch clear after substitute Timo Werner broke free.

Guardiola’s modifications made the distinction as Doku teed up Alvarez to clip a wonderful shot over Blaswich from the sting of the realm. Doku then put the seal on victory when he completed off a fast break within the 92nd minute as Leipzig paid the value for pushing gamers ahead.

Pep: Everyone was good | ‘Lewis is excellent’

Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola informed TNT Sports: “We played a fantastic game in all departments. Everyone was perfect.

“The substitutes all got here off the bench with smiles on their faces, not complaining as a result of they didn’t begin.

“I will not judge my team on results. Both games previously were not the best results but it is not easy when both teams defend with 10 in the box. It happens. There are many games.

“Despite that, for those who suppose I’ll doubt my gamers, you’re fallacious. I depend on these guys unconditionally. They show it. We go to Arsenal subsequent, relaxation and hopefully in May we are going to arrive within the competitions.

On the efficiency of player-of-the-match Rico Lewis, Guardiola mentioned: “Wow! He is an amazing, outstanding player. I have been a manager for many years. To find a player who moves really well, difficult to find someone like him. He is 18 years old. He is a fantastic player.”

Foden: ‘Magical’ Alvarez modified the sport

Manchester City ahead Phil Foden informed TNT Sports: “The last two games have not been ideal for us. We came off the back of two rubbish results and we had to make that right.”

“We know what Leipzig are about. Last time we played them, we were very good in the first half and then they came out in the second and performed.”

On Julian Alvarez and Rico Lewis, Foden added: “Julian was magical. He has been top this season. He is someone we look to now to score the big goals. He came on and changed the game and he is a big player for us.

“Rico was sensible for us too. He broke a variety of traces. I’m glad for him and it’s good to have one other academy participant on the pitch with me.”

Rose: Leipzig studying from the most effective

RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose mentioned: “Manchester City deserved to win, even if it was 1-1 in the 83rd minute and we had hoped to hold on until the end.

“We did nicely after the break and bought our equaliser. It was then an open sport then however City put us below strain on the demise once more. We are studying from the most effective.”

Opta stats: Alvarez stars again for Man City

• Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez has scored four goals in his last three Champions League matches, having only scored two in his previous nine.
• Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 16 games in Europe, equalling the longest unbeaten run by an English side in all European competition (level with four teams).
• Manchester City’s victory ended their run of five consecutive away draws in the Champions League, with this their first victory on the road in the competition since 4-0 against Sevilla in September 2022.
• Rico Lewis got his first assist for Manchester City in 29 appearances in all competitions. Aged 18 years and 317 days, he is City’s youngest assister in the Champions League.

What’s subsequent?

Manchester City‘s subsequent task is a large Premier League conflict with Arsenal on the Emirates Stadium, stay on Sky Sports from 4pm on Super Sunday (kick-off 4.30pm).

Pep Guardiola’s facet then host Brighton within the Premier League on October 21 (kick-off 3pm) earlier than returning to Champions League motion on October 25 with a visit to Young Boys (kick-off 8pm).

Up subsequent for RB Leipzig is a house Bundesliga in opposition to VfL Bochum on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm). They then journey to SV Darmstadt 98 within the league on October 21 (kick-off 2.30pm) earlier than internet hosting Red Star Belgrade within the Champions League on October 25 (kick-off 8pm).