Haaland has the final say as Manchester City survive Leipzig fightback

Looking to extend their unbeaten home run, RB Leipzig welcomed Manchester City to Saxony for the fourth outing of their Champions League campaign. 

Meanwhile, City, still engulfed in legal trouble, arrived hoping to return to winning ways after back-to-back Premier League defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton.

It was the hosts who made the livelier start, with Antonio Nusa providing the first meaningful effort of the encounter in the 15th minute. Cutting in from the right, the Norwegian unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box, though Gianluigi Donnarumma remained unfazed as the ball flew straight at him.

From there, Leipzig took control, with Nusa at the heart of proceedings as Martín Demichelis' side pinned City inside their own half for the best part of 15 minutes.

Christoph Baumgartner, Brajan Gruda and David Raum all tried their luck, while City had to wait until the 36th minute for their first effort since the early stages, with Phil Foden digging out a shot from the edge of the box following a wonderful first touch.

Yet, a matter of seconds later, Manchester City took the lead completely against the run of play.

Latching onto a long ball to the left, Nico O'Reilly sent the ball back across the box, where it failed to find a teammate. Instead, it reached the unfortunate Castello Lukeba, whose momentum left him helpless as he prodded the ball beyond Maarten Vandevoordt and into his own net.

The visitors may have edged the possession statistics, but it was Leipzig who had every reason to feel hard done by as the half-time whistle sounded.

In years gone by, this would be the point where we wax lyrical about a Manchester City side who overcame a difficult start to produce one of those marvellous midweek performances that so many across the continent have fallen victim to.

Leipzig know that feeling better than most, having conceded 22 goals in seven meetings with the 2023 European champions. This time, however, the Red Bulls had other ideas.

Demichelis' side came flying out of the blocks after the restart, with Baumgartner once again lifting the crowd with an ambitious effort from distance.

The early pressure was soon rewarded, as Leipzig found themselves level less than three minutes into the second half.

Having fallen behind in such unfortunate circumstances, there was perhaps a touch of justice in the manner of their equaliser, as Ridle Baku's attempted low cross somehow found its way into the bottom corner, catching Donnarumma off his line as the Italian anticipated a delivery into the middle.

Gruda, whose late winner against PSV had already made him a Champions League hero in his debut campaign, was pulling the strings down the right, while Demichelis turned to Christopher Nkunku from the bench, a player with a hattrick to his name against City in 2022.

Yet, for all their control, Leipzig once again found themselves staring at a deficit.

City had barely threatened since the restart, but in the 58th minute, Iliman Ndiaye delivered a wonderful ball for Enzo Fernández, who powered home to restore the visitors' advantage.

For the second time, Leipzig had been punished despite looking the better side. And for the second time, they had an answer, though their first deficit had lasted just under 10 minutes of playing time. This time around, they needed only three.

Gruda combined with Ezechiel Banzuzi on the edge of the area before substitute Nkunku picked out Nusa, who drilled an emphatic finish into the net from the left side of the box.

Having tormented City's defence from the opening exchanges, the Norwegian finally had the goal his performance deserved.

Leipzig were level again at 2-2, and City, for all their experience on the European stage, were finding this particular trip to Saxony anything but straightforward.

But for all their efforts, Leipzig found themselves undone once again, as Erling Haaland slid home to restore City's lead with just over 10 minutes remaining.

The Norwegian had been unusually quiet on the night, but if there is one lesson to be learned from City's aforementioned European exploits, it is that their towering frontman can never truly be written off.

Elliot Anderson, who had tried his luck only moments earlier, powered down the right before fizzing a dangerous ball towards the back post, where Haaland slid in to guide it into a virtually empty net for his fifth in three Champions League outings this season. 

Leipzig skipper Raum and City midfielder Rayan Cherki both rattled the crossbar as the chances began to flow in the final quarter of an hour, and the hosts were not out of the clash just yet.

Four minutes of additional time were signalled, and Leipzig were handed one final opportunity when substitute Allan needlessly conceded a free-kick out on the left. But despite teasing deliveries from Raum and Gruda, City stood firm, before Jeremy Doku lifted an effort over the bar at the other end.

In the end, this was hardly a vintage Manchester City performance on the European stage. For long spells, Leipzig had been the better side, and twice they had fought their way back into the contest.

Yet, as has so often been the case on the continent, City found a way to win, condemning Demichelis to his first home defeat in charge of the club.