Leipzig 1-1 Manchester City: Manchester City failed to win at RB Leipzig. Pep Guardiola’s team was lord and master before the break, but then came no further than a goal from Riyad Mahrez. In the second half Leipzig offered more opposition and Josko Gvardiol headed the 1-1 against the ropes.
It was a two-faced game for City. The English had to manage in the Red Bull Arena without the sick Kevin De Bruyne and did not need the Belgian star player in the first half to send Leipzig from pillar to post. The players of the home team were actually constantly chasing the ball and really had nothing to say. It wasn’t until the stoppage time of the first half that Ederson had to make a save for the first time.
Janis Blaswich, was not much busier on the other side. City was stronger, but did not create many chances. Erling Haaland was closely guarded by the Leipzig defense and barely featured in the play. After Xaver Schlager lost the ball, City still found the opening goal after half an hour: Ilkay Gündogan extended a pass from Jack Grealish to Riyad Mahrez, who scored the twentieth Champions League goal of his career.
Marco Rose, coach of Leipzig, knew halfway through that something had to change in his team. Benjamin Henrichs was brought in and he had a huge chance for the equalizer not long after his entrance. First Henrichs headed just over and then he came face to face with Ederson. The substitute had the corner to choose. But his shot went wide of the wrong side of the post for him. André Silva also failed to score a moment later.
Second half
Leipzig was a lot better in the game after the break than in the first company. Of course, the Germans had to watch out: after more than an hour, Haaland actually showed himself, but his shot went wide. That was a miss with unpleasant consequences for City, where Nathan Aké had a basic place, because twenty minutes before the end Gvardiol headed in the equalizer from a corner kick. Ederson didn’t look good, by the way.
In the remainder of the game, both teams did not want to lose. City thought they were still entitled to a penalty after a handball from Henrichs in his own box. But Serdar Gözübüyük and the Dutch VAR team did not want that. As a result, Leipzig and City split in balance. The return is on March 14.
