Erling Haaland scored the winner as Manchester City beat RB Leipzig 3-2 in the Champions League, with the goal coming 12 minutes from time after Elliot Anderson’s low cross. Haaland called on his side to “step up” after the win, which returned City to winning ways following their defeat to Brighton on Saturday.
Haaland tapped in the 78th-minute goal for his 13th against the Bundesliga side in nine appearances, his most against any opponent in his career. City made hard work of the tie, leading twice after being gifted an opener when Castello Lukeba turned the ball into his own net in the 37th minute. Leipzig had been on top before that, with Christoph Baumgartner and Antonio Nusa both going close.
Leipzig equalized just after the break. Ridle Baku struck in the 49th minute, finishing a tight-angle shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma at his near post when the City goalkeeper expected a low cross into the middle. Donnarumma had earlier made a strong save to deny Baumgartner at the start of the second half.
Enzo Fernandez restored City’s lead in the 58th minute, arriving in the box to head home Iliman Ndiaye’s perfect cross. Within three minutes, Nusa levelled at 2-2, firing low across Donnarumma into the bottom right corner from inside the box.
City responded with their best spell of the match after the introduction of Jeremy Doku. Anderson set up Haaland, who was denied in the first half despite having just three touches before the break, and this time he converted from close range. David Raum and Rayan Cherki both struck the woodwork at opposite ends in a frantic finale, but the visitors held on to move up to seventh in the league phase table.
Donnarumma under scrutiny
Manchester City may have escaped Leipzig with three points, but Donnarumma did little to convince that he is a reliable last line of defense. He was directly at fault for Leipzig’s opening goal, getting into a muddle when a cross from the right demanded composure. His handling looked uncertain on several occasions, and his decision-making invited pressure rather than easing it. Raum nearly punished another moment of indecision when his free kick struck the crossbar.
Haaland: “We have to step up”
Haaland said he has now scored more against Leipzig than against any other club. “I think it is the most I have scored against a club. I have played so many times against them in the Champions League with City and Borussia Dortmund too. Leipzig is a good team so I am happy.”
On Anderson, he said: “He has had an amazing start to his City career and that is what you expect. You have to come straight in and perform. It is not easy to come in, you need to adapt and new players and a new coach, so he has been impressive. Respect.”
Reflecting on City’s performance, Haaland added: “Not sure how many touches I had today, not the most but what is the most important is that I managed to help the team to win. I think we need to step up a bit. When we were 1-0 up I think we needed to go at it, go for the second goal and then the third – that’s what we have to do. We have to work on that.”
Maresca: “We need to be careful with transitions”
City head coach Pep Guardiola’s successor in this match was not the subject of this report, so the post-match view came from City boss Enzo Maresca, who said: “Tough game in some moments. We controlled quite well but some moments we struggled. Champions League, Germany away, it’s tough so happy with the three points.”
He added: “They are well organised, they were aggressive and dangerous with the wingers. We needed to be careful on transition. Happy with the three points and now we recover and move on.”