• last year
Our reporter Michael Plant gives his post-match verdict from the Etihad as Manchester City secure top spot in Group G, thanks to a 3-2 win over RB Leipzig.
Transcript
00:00 I'm at the Etihad after tonight. Manchester City came from two goals down to win 3-2 against RB Leipzig.
00:05 Far from City's best display of the season. Certainly that was the case in the first half when City went two goals down.
00:10 Openda running twice in behind City and scoring very similar goals where he beat the last defender. The first time being Manuela Kanji.
00:17 The second time Ruben Diaz managed to slot pass Ortega in the City goal. A worrying trend I think for City in the Champions League.
00:24 They've conceded these goals on the breakaway when opposition sides have managed to exploit the space in behind.
00:29 I do think it's an issue that Pep Guardiola is going to have to deal with in the other stages of the competition.
00:34 But City far from the best as I say.
00:36 Really quite a few sloppy passes. A number of players far from their best. Ruben Diaz taking off at halftime.
00:41 Rodri didn't exert the same level of control that we've got used to seeing from Spanish international.
00:46 And other players didn't think Bernardo Silva was at his best. Jack Grealish taking off not far after they are.
00:51 Not long before they are and he certainly wasn't at his usual standards as well.
00:55 But City did come back. That was mainly thanks to two substitutions from Pep Guardiola.
01:00 Jeremy Doku coming on at left wing. He played a pivotal role in City overturning the two goal deficit.
01:05 Julian Alvarez also came on. He went on to score the winner for the European Champions.
01:10 But it's Phil Fogden who was really the star performer I think. He provided two assists. Got the winner.
01:14 After he himself wasn't brilliant in the first half, but second half he really was at his very best for City.
01:22 He set up Erling Haaland for the first goal. Played a lovely pass in behind. The striker went one on one with the goalkeeper.
01:27 And well, we all know what happens when the Norwegian striker goes in one on one.
01:31 Then Fogden himself grabbed the second brilliant first touch to take him past the Leipzig defender.
01:36 And then finished through the legs of Klosterman and into the back of the Leipzig net.
01:40 And it was down the left wing by Doku that the winner came. He took a touch.
01:44 Dribbled down the line. Fired the ball across. Found Fogden.
01:48 He then fired it across and Julian Alvarez tapped it in to give City a 3-2 victory.
01:52 That means they have topped their Champions League group.
01:54 They will definitely be top seeds when we come to the last 16 draw in a couple of weeks time.
01:58 And they will definitely play at the Etihad in the second leg of that last 16 draw.
02:02 So the last Champions League game we'll have at this stadium for quite a while.
02:06 But as I say, City not at their best, but certainly a good night for the Blues.
02:09 But they came away with an important three points.
02:11 They continue their 100% winning run and are, as I say, guaranteed a top spot in the group.

Recommended