City get robbed again in UCL playing to a 1-1 draw with RB Leipzig.
There are three changes to City’s starting line-up compared to 1-1 against Nottingham Forest. Aymeric Laporte, Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden are replaced by Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and Riyad Mahrez.
RB Leipzig give the ball to City almost unopposed and wait for a counterattacking opportunity, which never comes.
City start to weave their own laces, probing their opponent’s weaknesses and taking shots, and open the scoring in the 27th minute. Jack Grealish makes an interception in the opposition half and makes a pass down the middle into the penalty area, Ilkay Gundogan cleverly passes the ball on before Marez shoots it in on touch to make it 0-1.
In the 30th minute, the visitors almost score a second goal. Mahrez heads the ball towards goal following a corner, but Erling Haaland is unable to get a clear shot on the far post.
The hosts are completely unable to play up front and Timo Werner’s looping shot straight at Ederson in added time is their only chance of the first half. City, on the other hand, have several more chances before the break, but the ball stubbornly fails to hit the post.
After the break, it’s like the teams switch roles. RB Leipzig seize on the initiative and begin to apply pressure. City’s attacks disappear — only Haaland has an inaccurate shot.
In the 70th minute, the hosts equalize. Josko Guardiol dives over the top and heads home a Marcel Halstenberg corner-kick to make it 1-1.
After the conceded goal, City look lively, but only regain control of the ball and don’t really create chances to win the rest of the match. RB Leipzig are also hesitant to make a bid for the win. In the final minutes of the game, Manchester City earn the right to a corner. RB Leipzig play with their hands in the box but the referee takes no notice of it.
City have a confident first half but after the break they lose control of the game and are rightly penalised for it.
The teams meet at the Etihad in mid-March to decide the fate of their Champions League quarter-final berth.