Erling Haaland scored the winner with 12 minutes remaining as Manchester City beat RB Leipzig 3-2 in the Champions League, and he called on his side to “step up” after the match.
Haaland tapped in from Elliot Anderson’s low cross to net his 13th goal in nine appearances against the Bundesliga side, his most against any opponent in his career. The win returned City to winning ways after their defeat to Brighton on Saturday.
City made hard work of the tie, leading twice. They were gifted the opener in the first half when Castello Lukeba turned the ball into his own net in the 37th minute. Leipzig had been on top up to that point, with Christoph Baumgartner and Antonio Nusa both going close.
Gianluigi Donnarumma made a strong save to deny Baumgartner at the start of the second half, but seconds later the City goalkeeper was beaten at his near post. Ridle Baku finished smartly from a tight angle in the 49th minute, when everyone expected him to cross low into the middle.
The match came alive from there. Haaland, who had only three touches in the first half, was denied by a save with his first chance. Enzo Fernandez then restored City’s lead in the 58th minute, arriving in the box to power a header home from Iliman Ndiaye’s perfect cross.
Leipzig were level within three minutes. Nusa fired low across Donnarumma into the bottom right corner from inside the box in the 61st minute.
City responded with their best spell of the game, helped by the introduction of Jeremy Doku. Anderson set up Haaland, who could not miss from close range. David Raum and Rayan Cherki both rattled the woodwork at opposite ends during a frantic finale, but the visitors held on to move up to seventh in the league phase table.
Donnarumma unconvincing again
“Manchester City may have escaped Leipzig with three points, but Gianluigi Donnarumma is doing little to convince that he is the reliable last line of defence.
“Another night, another collection of uncomfortable moments for the Italian. He was directly culpable for Leipzig’s opening goal, getting himself into a muddle when the situation demanded composure from a cross from the right. It was a strange goal to concede.
“And it was hardly an isolated wobble. His handling looked uncertain on several occasions, while his decision-making invited pressure rather than easing it. David Raum nearly punished another moment of indecision when his free-kick rattled the crossbar, with Donnarumma looking anything but convincing.”
Haaland: We have to step up
“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 Elliot Anderson, Haaland 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.”
On City’s performance, he said: “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
“Tough game in some moments. We controlled quite well, but in some moments we struggled. Champions League, Germany away, it’s tough, so I’m happy with the three points.
“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.”