RB Leipzig were beaten 3-2 by Manchester City at the Red Bull Arena on matchday four of the UEFA Champions League league phase, according to Bundesliga | official website. Leipzig equalised twice, the second time through Antonio Nusa, before Erling Haaland scored the winner in the 78th minute. The German side finished with more attempts on goal than their visitors, 14 to 13, but still ended the night without a point.
Why it matters
The result leaves Leipzig with nothing to show from a game in which they matched City for long spells and created the better openings early on. Bundesliga | official website reported that Leipzig looked the more threatening team in the opening period despite City controlling most of the possession. Falling short after two comebacks underlined how narrow the margin was on a night when both sides hit the woodwork and a late Leipzig goal was disallowed.
For City, the win came with Haaland wearing the captain's armband, and it was his finish that settled a match that had swung back and forth after half-time.
Leipzig start brightly but trail at the break
Christoph Baumgartner made his first start for Leipzig since returning from injury. Ridle Baku came into the lineup in place of Benjamin Henrichs and Rocco Reitz. City named Haaland as captain and included Joško Gvardiol, who played for Leipzig from 2020 to 2023, among the substitutes.
City saw most of the ball in the early exchanges, but Leipzig carried the greater threat. Nusa drew a save from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, and David Raum had an effort blocked.
The opening goal came against that run of play in the 37th minute. Castello Lukeba turned a low ball from Nico O'Reilly into his own net, and City went into the interval ahead.
Two comebacks and a decisive finish
Leipzig began the second half strongly. Baumgartner forced another save from Donnarumma before Baku brought the hosts level in the 49th minute, finishing from a tight angle on the right after a pass from Brajan Gruda.
City regained the lead in the 58th minute when Enzo Fernández headed in from around ten yards following a cross by Iliman Ndiaye. Leipzig responded almost at once. Christopher Nkunku, who had replaced Baumgartner, set up Nusa, and the forward drove the ball into the bottom corner in the 61st minute to make it 2-2.
Haaland had the last word in the 78th minute, sliding in to convert a ball across the box from Anderson. Both teams pushed for more. Raum struck the crossbar with a free-kick, Rayan Cherki also hit the woodwork for City, and a late Gruda finish was ruled out for offside before the match ended 3-2.
Leipzig's next task is to turn performances like this one into points in the league phase, while City move on with the win.
