RB Leipzig fall victim to Erling Haaland show in UEFA Champions League
A Manchester City performance made in the Bundesliga and spearheaded by Erling Haaland condemned RB Leipzig to a chastening defeat in their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie.
After drawing the first leg 1-1, Leipzig knew a win in Manchester would send them into the quarter-final draw. However, their task was made a whole lot harder by a a quick-fire Haaland double. The former Borussia Dortmund striker converted a penalty after Benjamin Henrichs had been penalised for handball, and was first to react when ex-Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen midfielder Kevin De Bruyne rattled the crossbar from range. Janis Blaswich denied Ilkay Gündogan - another of City’s Bundesliga-reared stars - but was powerless to prevent Haaland completing his hat-trick with a poacher’s finish after Ruben Dias headed against the woodwork.
It got worse for Leipzig soon after the restart as City captain Gündogan exchanged passes with Jack Grealish, before nestling an effort past Blaswich. The Leipzig goalkeeper pulled off a superb double save from Bernardo Silva and Haaland, who was nevertheless able to convert the rebound for his fourth of the night. He added a fifth just short of the hour, firing in with aplomb after Blaswich had saved well from former Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji. Marco Rose sent on Andre Silva and Dani Olmo for the final 15 minutes, but the damage had long been done. De Bruyne got in on the act in added time to round off a punishing night for Die Roten Bullen.
Watch:Erling Haaland's best Bundesliga goals for BVB
Match stats
Leipzig were competing in the Champions League for the fifth time, having only been promoted to the Bundesliga in 2016.
Haaland scored 62 goals in 67 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund, but this was the first time at senior club level he hit five in one game.
Leipzig were unbeaten in five Champions League matches – their best run in the competition since a seven-game unbeaten run in 2019/20, when they reached the semi-final stage.
It was only the second time in their last 14 Champions League matches that Leipzig failed to score.
Gündogan won a Bundesliga-DFB Cup double under Jürgen Klopp in 2011/12. Sergio Gomez (also Dortmund) and Stefan Ortega (Arminia Bielefeld) also played in Germany's top flight.
Champions League Round of 16, second leg Round of 16, second leg Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Unstoppable Haaland downs Leipzig
Manchester City win 7-0 on a harrowing night for Leipzig, but the damage was really done by one man, Erling Haaland, who scored FIVE times - he now has 11 career goals vs RB. City progress to the quarter-finals, while the visits are left to lick their wounds as they look to bounce back in the Bundesliga this weekend.
There is little Rose can do here other than look ahead to the weekend's game against Bochum, and he makes three changes to allow some of his players to conserve some energy.
Haaland scores for a fourth time, firing home from inside the six-yard area. Leipzig just haven't been able to deal with the former Dortmund star tonight.
Leipzig kick us off in this second half. Remember, they need three goals to force extra-time.
Kick-off!
Leipzig blown away
It has been all City in this first half, as a Erling Haaland hat-trick sends the hosts into the break 3-0 up. It will take something special for Leipzig to recover from here.
Haaland lands a hammer blow, prodding home effectively on the line after Ruben Dias' header hit the post. That mountain Leipzig needed to climb just got bigger.
Some sloppy City play allows Konrad Laimer to play a ball into Werner, but he just get to it and it trickles harmlessly away from danger. A positive few minutes from Leipzig's perspective.
A double blow for Leipzig as City and Haaland score again! De Bruyne plants a fierce drive onto the crossbar, and the striker is quickest to the rebound as he heads home.
Haaland steps up to take the penalty and, although Blaswich dives the right way, he can't get a hand to it as it nestles in the corner. Work for Leipzig to do now!
Rodri heads against Henrichs' hand from that aforementioned corner, and a penalty is given following a VAR intervention. Blaswich held an Alassane Plea spot-kick at the weekend - can he do the same here?
19'
Leipzig survive a scare
Leipzig are riding their luck a little here! Grealish puts in a corner, and the Citizens have several chances to finish, but a combination of some brilliant last-gasp defending and poor shooting keeps the scores level.
16'
Grealish effort blocked
City are playing some good stuff here. Some nice build-up play makes its way to Jack Grealish, but his shot is blocked.
14'
First foray forward
A first real attack from Leipzig finds its way to David Raum on the left flank. He fires in a dangerous low cross, but nobody makes a front post run and Ederson claims it unchallenged.
0:22
Watch: Szoboszlai on Haaland friendship
We know all about Haaland from his Bundesliga days, but Dominik Szobozlai and the Norwegian go all the way back to Red Bull Salzburg.
11'
Haaland close
Great chance for Erling Haaland, who is played through on goal by a searching long ball from Nathan Ake. Blaswich, though, is equal to his toe poke. Still level!
6'
Positive set-up
City are dominating possession early on, but the visitors are pressing high up the pitch and are looking to win the ball at every opportunity.
3'
Huge chance!
Doesn't take long for City to find their first opening! Kevin De Bruyne swings a cross into Ilkay Gundogan, but the former Borussia Dortmund man can only fire his half-volley over the bar despite being in loads of space in the area. Leipzig need to be careful!
1'
And we're off!
City get us underway!
Kick-off!
10 minutes to go
Not long to wait until kick-off now!
3,000 Leipzig fans make the trip to Manchester
Plenty of Leipzig supporters have travelled to England for this huge clash, and some of them have been getting into the Etihad Stadium nice and early.
Man City went on a run of nine consecutive victories against German sides in recent years, but they have not prevailed in any of the last three (drew two, lost one). Will that run be extended to four tonight?
2:42
Watch: Nkunku, Leipzig's main man
Of course, Leipzig will be without top goalscorer Christopher Nkunku tonight, who misses out with an injury. This is just how important he is to 'Die Rotenbullen'
Head-to-head
This is the fifth time these two sides have faced off in the Champions League and, so far, they are evenly matched. City prevailed in the first encounter, winning 6-3 in 2021 - Christopher Nkunku bagged a hat-trick - but Leipzig won the return group-stage match 2-1. The last two meetings have ended in draws, meaning this could go either way tonight.
Man City team news
Untypically, Pep Guardiola brings in just one fresh face to the side that beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at the weekend. Phil Foden is the man who makes way, with Kevin De Bruyne replacing him - hardly a bad change to make!
Leipzig were impressive as they defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0 on Saturday, and Marco Rose makes just one change to that side as a result. Perhaps in an attempt to tighten up the midfield, striker Andre Silva makes way for the more defensive-minded Kevin Kampl.
Nyland, Nickisch, Simakan, Olmo, Poulsen, Klostermann, Andre Silva, Halstenberg, Ba
Handle on Haaland?
The former Borussia Dortmund strike star was kept very quiet in the first leg in Leipzig. Indeed, Leipzig became only the second side after Dortmund to stop Haaland scoring in this season's Champions League. The prolific marksman cannot be expected to be so subdued in Manchester, however, especially with pass master Kevin De Bruyne likely to return to the side after missing the first leg.
Josko Gvardiol added to his vital equalising header in the first leg with a goal in Leipzig's latest win against Gladbach. He is better known for his steely performances at the other end of the pitch, and he will be expected to put in a big shift against Manchester City's star-studded attacking ensemble.
Leipzig have contested three Bundesliga ties since the first leg in Germany. They have taken two wins, 2-1 against Frankfurt and 3-0 against Gladbach last weekend. Their only loss was a spirited 1-2 defeat against a Borussia Dortmund side in rich form. Manchester City have four wins since - 4-1 at Bournemouth, 3-0 at Bristol City in the FA Cup, 2-0 at home v Newcastle and a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend.
Welcome!
What an encounter we could have in store in the second leg of the Champions League last 16 tie. Leipzig kept their hopes of qualification for the quarter finals alive with a Josko Gvardiol header that levelled the first leg 1-1 in February. We'll keep you updated with all the action here.
2:22
Watch: The best of RB Leipzig so far this season
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First-leg report
Josko Gvardiol kept RB Leipzig's hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals alive with the equalising goal in their last-16 home leg against Manchester City.
Leipzig 1-1 Manchester City Goals: 0-1 Mahrez 27’ (assist: Gündogan), 1-1Gvardiol 70’ (assist: Halstenberg)
Leipzig frustrated City for long periods in the first half, with a tame Rodri header from a corner the only save of note for Janis Blaswich in the opening exchanges. However a lapse in concentration from Xaver Schlager allowed former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gündogan to play in Riyad Mahrez for the opening goal. Rodri and Jack Grealish failed to make the most of presentable chances to double City’s lead, and were nearly punished on the stroke of half time. Timo Werner - who was part of the Chelsea team that beat Man City in the 2020/21 Champions League final - was the beneficiary of some brilliant play by Emil Forsberg, but couldn’t steer his attempt past Ederson.
The introduction of right-back Benjamin Henrichs gave Leipzig far more impetus in an attacking sense, with the roaming right-back heading over from Marcel Halstenberg soon after the restart. The Leipzig substitute arrowed a low effort narrowly wide moments later, before Ederson made a big save in a one-on-one with Andre Silva. The Man City custodian was called on again to beat away a Dominik Szoboszlai piledriver, but was powerless to prevent defender Gvardiol heading in the resultant corner. Blaswich then made a magnificent stop from Gündogan to leave the tie all square ahead of the decisive second leg in Manchester on 14 March.
