Dominik Szoboszlai and Andre Silva earned RB Leipzig a hard-fought victory over Manchester City and with it a place in the UEFA Europa League play-offs.

RB Leipzig 2-1 Manchester City
Goals: 1-0 Szoboszlai 24' (assist: Laimer), 2-0 Silva 71’ (assist: Forsberg), 2-1 Mahrez 77’ (assist: Zinchenko)

Despite already being eliminated from the Champions League, Leipzig asked plenty of questions of Pep Guardiola's Group A winners. Konrad Laimer was at the heart of their best work, the Austrian almost squeezing home at the near post only to be denied by ex-Fortuna Düsseldorf goalkeeper Zack Steffen. Laimer continued to pose as the unlikely threat for Leipzig, threading a ball through to split the visitors’ defence for Szoboszlai to round Steffen and slot in his second Champions League goal of the campaign. Emil Forsberg almost doubled their lead soon after, but Steffen kept him at bay. City had their American goalkeeper to thank again for denying Andre Silva at the end of a lovely Leipzig move. The returning Peter Gulacsi was kept quiet until the closing stages of the half where he produced an expert save onto the woodwork from Phil Foden’s effort. Shortly after, Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick was thumped away by the Hungarian to keep the hosts in front for the half-time whistle.

Into the second half and Leipzig were organised and well drilled as they continued to prevent their opponents from opening them up. The impressive Laimer was replaced by Tyler Adams just past the hour mark to aide his sides efforts to halt City’s constant press. The game continued to stay quiet with neither side creating many chances until a charging Forsberg opened up the City defence before squaring it to Silva to tuck it away with a neat finish. The visitors found their opener six minutes later through a delicious cross from Oleksandr Zinchenko, who found Riyad Mahrez to nod past Gulacsi and half the deficit. While Leipzig continued to keep their discipline despite conceding, Kyle Walker did not. The English right back swung needlessly at the heels of Silva and was shown a straight red. Leipzig held on for the remaining minutes - an impressive first victory under new interim boss Achim Beierlorzer.

Match stats

• Leipzig have reached the knockout stages of either the Champions or Europa League in three of their previous four seasons in UEFA competition.
• Silva is now up to six goals in all competitions for Leipzig.
• Szoboszlai scored his seven competitive goal for the club.
• Die Roten Bullen have now won their last three home games against English opposition.
• Angelino made six English Premier League appearances for Man City during the first half of 2019/20. He’s turned out 72 times and scored nine goals in all competitions since joining Leipzig, initially on loan, in January 2020.
• Guardiola, a three-time Bundesliga winner with Bayern between 2013 and 2016, faced Leipzig for the first time.

Line-ups

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Mukiele (Henrichs 79'), Klostermann (Simakan 46'), Gvardiol, Angelino - Laimer (Adams 63'), Kampl - Nkunku, Szoboszlai, Forsberg (Brobbey 79') - Silva (Moriba 86')
Unused subs: Martinez, Bonnah
Out: Haidara (unconfirmed), Halstenberg (ankle), Novoa (not included), Olmo (thigh), Orban (not included), Poulsen (calf), Saracchi (knee)
Coach: Achim Beierlorzer

Man City: Steffen - Walker, Stones, Ake (Dias 87'), Zinchenko - De Bruyne (Palmer 87'), Fernandinho (c), Gündogan - Mahrez, Foden (Sterling 46'), Grealish
Unused subs: Ederson, Carson, Egan-Riley, McAtee, Lavia, Wilson-Esbrand
Out: Cancelo (rested), Jesus (heel), Mendy (suspended), Rodri (rested) Silva (rested), Torres (foot)
Coach: Pep Guardiola

As it happened!

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