Leipzig-Manchester City. In ambush in the league behind Arsenal, Manchester City resumes its quest for the European title in Germany against a supposedly inferior Leipzig. Follow with us, from the kick-off, the match between RB Leipzig and FC Manchester City, live commentary.
It’s like attacking Everest from the north face in the middle of a storm, armed with a simple ice ax and a polar. Shortly before the World Cup, fate had not been kind to Leipzig when it came to choosing his opponent. Certainly a round of 16 in the Champions League is never easy, especially when you finish second in your group, but falling against Manchester City can almost be like a double penalty.
A problem named Haaland
A few months after this draw, which we still do not know if it will be happy or unhappy, the Germans have been able to measure the task ahead of them and feel ready to take up the challenge. “We just want to take our chance against one of the best teams in the world. We want to play a brave game and solve all the problems that come our way.”explained Marco Rose on the eve of this shock.
One of the main problems his team will have to solve is called Erling Haaland. The Norwegian massif came to reinforce the Mancunian workforce last summer and fill in what was sorely lacking, namely a scorer capable of finishing the actions and scoring at any time. And it is an understatement to say that its integration was a success. In 31 matches played this season with the Citizens, the striker has found the opening 32 times, thus redefining the standards, particularly in the Premier League where the 40-goal mark could fall at the end of the season. Marco Rose knows the threat for having had the striker under his command at RB Salzburg and Dortmund. However, the technician does not focus only on his former player and sees the danger everywhere against a team in control of the ball and above all built to stifle his opponent. “I told my players that they will have to know how to suffer but by taking pleasure in it. We will have to be able to close the spaces and break their ball circulation”he reveals.
Last season, Leipzig did well at home where they dominated City (2-1). It is on this memory, more than on the rout of the return (3-6), that it will be necessary to build this unbalanced round of 16 on paper, especially since the German club risks having to do without Christopher Nkunku17 goals this season, in the recovery phase after his knee injury which deprived him of the World Cup.
Guardiola suspicious
If City appears logically favorite, Guardiola wants to be cautious. It must be said that his team has been alternating between the very good and the less good lately, like their match last weekend at Nottingham Forrest where they failed to kill the match at the height of their domination before to be taken back in the last minutes. If City can crush their opponents, stun them, they can also miss themselves. The Spanish coach is all the more vigilant as he will have to do without two strong elements of his group this Wednesday evening. Patients, Aymeric Laporte and Kevin De Bruyne were forced to forfeit, like John Stones. If the Spanish international is a pillar of the Mancunian defense, the Belgian is his master to play, through whom all actions pass. A loss which should allow Bernardo Silva to shine in the company of Gündogan and Rodri.
“We know their quality. For many years this club has had a culture for young players, recruitment, physicality, clear patterns of play, very good in the corridors, a lot of play in the middle. In the transition, They’re unstoppable. Last year we had a hard time dealing with Christopher Nkunku.”, commented Guardiola. If the Frenchman should not represent the same threat, the Catalan knows that others will replace him. “Both matches will be very difficult. You will have to try to control your emotions”, he assures and do what only two teams have done this season, beat Leipzig at the RB Arena. No small feat.
The round of 16 first leg of the Champions League between the RB Leipzig and Manchester City will take place from 9 p.m. at the RB Arena in the former GDR city southwest of Berlin.
The round of 16 first leg of the Champions League between the RB Leipzig And Manchester City will be broadcast live on Canal+, Canal+Foot and RMC Sport 1.
The meeting between RB Leipzig led by Marco Rose and Manchester City of Pep Guardiola will be available for streaming on the MyCanal and RMC platform.
BetClic: RB Leipzig: 4.40 / Draw: 3.90 / Manchester City: 1.77
Sports bets: RB Leipzig: 4.55 / Draw: 3.90 / Manchester City: 1.77
Winamax: RB Leipzig: 4.60 / Draw: 3.80 / Manchester City: 1.77
RB Leipzig: Blaswich – Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol, Halstenberg – Laimer, Schlager – Szoboszlai, Forsberg, André Silva – Werner.
Manchester City: Ederson – Walker, Ruben Dias, Akanji, Aké – Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Gündogan – Mahrez, Grealish, Haaland.