RB Leipzig narrowly beaten by Manchester City in thrilling UEFA Champions League clash
RB Leipzig twice fought back from behind against Manchester City, but after Antonio Nusa had levelled, his Norway international team-mate Erling Haaland had the final word on a roller-coaster UEFA Champions League night at the Red Bull Arena.
RB Leipzig 2-3 Manchester City
Goals: 0-1 Lukeba 37' (o.g.), 1-1 Baku 49'(assist: Gruda), 1-2 Fernández 58' (assist: Ndiaye), 2-2 Nusa 61' (assist: Nkunku), 2-3 Haaland 78' (assist: Anderson)
Christoph Baumgartner started for Leipzig for the first time since recovering from injury, with Ridle Baku also coming into the side in place of Benjamin Henrichs and Rocco Reitz. Manchester City fielded Erling Haaland as captain, with Joško Gvardiol, who played for Leipzig between 2020 and 2023, named among the substitutes.
City take a fortunate lead
Manchester City held most of the ball in the opening spell, but it was Leipzig who looked the more threatening side, with Antonio Nusa forcing a save from Gianluigi Donnarumma and David Raum seeing a shot blocked.
Against the run of play, Castello Lukeba turned a low cross from Nico O'Reilly into his own net in the 37th minute, sending City in front at the break despite Leipzig's promising spells.
Leipzig hit back twice
Leipzig came out firing after the break. Baumgartner forced another save from Donnarumma before Ridle Baku levelled from a tight angle on the right in the 49th minute, assisted by Brajan Gruda.
City responded through Enzo Fernández, who headed in from ten yards out after a cross from Iliman Ndiaye in the 58th minute. Leipzig answered immediately: Christopher Nkunku, on for Baumgartner, set up Nusa, who drove the ball into the bottom corner in the 61st minute to make it 2-2.
Haaland has the final word
With the game level, both sides made changes as the match opened up further.
Haaland slid in to meet a ball across the box from Anderson, putting City back in front in the 78th minute. Raum then struck the crossbar with a free-kick, and Rayan Cherki also hit the woodwork for City as both sides searched for more goals. A late Gruda finish was ruled out for offside as Leipzig fell to their third defeat in four league-phase games.
