3 years ago
37
ARTICLE AD BOX
Nathan Ake scored his first Champions League goal since joining Manchester City for £40m from Bournemouth in August 2020Jack Grealish scored a wonderful goal on his Champions League debut as Manchester City put the pain of losing last season's final behind them to get their European campaign off to a winning start against RB Leipzig.
Grealish, the British record £100m signing from Aston Villa, illuminated Etihad Stadium after cutting inside from the left before curling home to make it 4-2.
In an extraordinary game, Nathan Ake put Pep Guardiola's side ahead with a powerful header - the 10th different player to score in a City shirt this season - before a calamitous own goal by Nordi Mukiele doubled the lead.
The France defender got his angles horribly wrong as his attempted header back to his keeper following Kevin de Bruyne's delivery ended up in the net.
City did not have things all their own way, however, and Mukiele made up for his error by playing a role in Christopher Nkunku's goal to make it 2-1 before Riyad Mahrez restored the two-goal cushion with a penalty after Lukas Klostermann handled.
Nkunku gave RB Leipzig hope with a header only for Grealish to his second for the club with a delightful finish.
Former Paris St-Germain player Nkunku completed his hat-trick, but Joao Cancelo added a stunning fifth and substitute Gabriel Jesus a sixth to set City up nicely for their biggest test in Group A away to PSG on 28 September.
RB Leipzig finished with 10 men after former Manchester City player Angelino was sent off in the 79th minute for a second yellow card.
- Reaction from Man City v RB Leipzig, plus all the rest of Wednesday's Champions League games
- Everything you need to know about Manchester City, all in one place
Free-scoring City building momentum
Guardiola had urged his players before the game to use the hurt of last season's defeat in the final to spur them on to go one step further this time.
In an astonishing match, they rattled in six goals against last season's Bundesliga runners-up to take their tally to 17 in the past four matches.
Nkunku's hat-trick means that Guardiola was not entirely satisfied with what he saw but there were plenty of positives as City's season continues to gather momentum.
De Bruyne did not look like a player making his first start of the season after injury as the Belgium midfielder produced an electric performance, while Grealish looked like he belonged on the Champions League stage.
The England midfielder continues to thrive in his new surroundings and delivered one of the game's outstanding moments with his stunning finish.
With Phil Foden coming on to make his first appearance for City since the Champions League final defeat, it was a good night for Guardiola.
Ever the perfectionist, he will not be happy with the goals his side conceded. The City boss was at his animated best as he delivered instructions to Grealish and Mahrez.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Manchester City
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo- Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
- Squad number6Player nameAké
Squad number11Player nameZinchenko
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne- Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number26Player nameMahrez- Squad number21Player nameTorres
- Squad number10Player nameGrealish
Squad number7Player nameSterling
Squad number8Player nameGündogan
Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
Squad number25Player nameFernandinho
Squad number47Player nameFoden
RB Leipzig
Squad number1Player nameGulácsi
Squad number22Player nameMukiele
Squad number16Player nameKlostermann
Squad number4Player nameOrban
Squad number3Player nameAngelino
Squad number14Player nameAdams
Squad number27Player nameLaimer
Squad number18Player nameNkunku
Squad number25Player nameOlmo
Squad number10Player nameForsberg
Squad number33Player nameAndré Silva
Squad number8Player nameHaidara
Squad number9Player namePoulsen
Squad number17Player nameSzoboszlai
Squad number21Player nameBrobbey
Squad number32Player nameGvardiol
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 27Cancelo
- 3Rúben Dias
- 6Aké
- 11ZinchenkoBooked at 12mins
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forFodenat 71'minutes
- 16RodriSubstituted forFernandinhoat 59'minutes
- 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forGündoganat 59'minutes
- 26Mahrez
- 21TorresSubstituted forSterlingat 72'minutes
- 10GrealishSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Walker
- 7Sterling
- 8Gündogan
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 25Fernandinho
- 33Carson
- 47Foden
- 80Palmer
- 84Slicker
- 90Lavia
RB Leipzig
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Gulácsi
- 22Mukiele
- 16KlostermannBooked at 45mins
- 4Orban
- 3AngelinoBooked at 79mins
- 14AdamsBooked at 49mins
- 27LaimerSubstituted forHaidaraat 60'minutes
- 18NkunkuSubstituted forGvardiolat 81'minutes
- 25OlmoSubstituted forBrobbeyat 72'minutes
- 10ForsbergSubstituted forSzoboszlaiat 61'minutes
- 33André SilvaSubstituted forPoulsenat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Simakan
- 8Haidara
- 9Poulsen
- 17Szoboszlai
- 21Brobbey
- 26Kourouma Kourouma
- 31Martínez
- 32Gvardiol
- 39Henrichs
- 44Kampl
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 6, RB Leipzig 3.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 6, RB Leipzig 3.
Attempt saved. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Fernandinho.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Willi Orban.
Attempt missed. Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Dominik Szoboszlai with a cross following a corner.
Corner, RB Leipzig. Conceded by Rúben Dias.
Attempt blocked. Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yussuf Poulsen.
Goal! Manchester City 6, RB Leipzig 3. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Rúben Dias (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Péter Gulácsi.
Foul by Nathan Aké (Manchester City).
Brian Brobbey (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Manchester City. Fernandinho tries a through ball, but Nathan Aké is caught offside.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Lukas Klostermann.
Attempt missed. Brian Brobbey (RB Leipzig) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Josko Gvardiol.
Substitution, RB Leipzig. Josko Gvardiol replaces Christopher Nkunku.
Substitution, Manchester City. Gabriel Jesus replaces Jack Grealish.
Second yellow card to Angeliño (RB Leipzig) for a bad foul.
João Cancelo (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- Our coverage of Manchester City is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
- Everything City - go straight to all the best content
English (US)