Manchester City 6, RB Leipzig 3 (UEFA Champions League)
Jack Grealish scored one and made one on a goal filled thrilling Manchester City Champions League debut against RB Leipzig.
Former City full back Angelino was sent off late on and his team mate Christopher Nkunku hit a consolation hat trick on a special night for the England midfielder.
Despite the win, Pep Guardiola appeared furious at some of the lacklustre defending and lack of control in midfield from Manchester City against opponents they expected to beat.
Nathan Ake and an own goal from Nordi Mukiele got City off to a flying start before the Germans pegged one back through Nkunku just before the break.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity extended their lead through Grealish early in the second half only for Nkunku to punish some average defending again.
Riyad Mahrez scored from the penalty spot but Leipzig wouldn’t lie down as Nkunku completed his hat trick and it took a Joao Cancelo blockbuster of a goal and a late Gabriel Jesus poachers’ finish either side of a red card for Angelino to end the Leipzig resurgence.
Guardiola might have had plenty to grumble about with the lack of control and porous defence, but City fans saw six goals, the return of Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden, and a new fan favourite in Grealish make his mark on the biggest stage.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 6, RB Leipzig 3 (UEFA Champions League)
Ederson: 6. Average night for the Brazilian as he was let down by his defenders but could have done better himself.
Joao Cancelo: 7. Playing in his preferred right back role, much better going forward and one of his through balls saw Ferran Torres score from an offside position before going to score a 25 yard screamer. Did not offer much protection to Ruben Dias at crucial times.
Ruben Dias: 6. Great ball forward for Jack Grealish’s goal. Ropey defending at times.
Nathan Ake: 7. Scored one and could have had a second – narrowly failed to connect with a Kevin De Bruyne free kick but defensively solid.
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 6. Booked early. Wasn’t very adventurous after that.
Kevin De Bruyne: 7. Free kick deserved to be converted in first half, a dangerous cross was put through his own goal by Nordi Mukiele, finding his range with passes throughout the game and missed a great chance in the second half.
Rodri: 7. Looked after the defence well but taken off as Leipzig continued to pour forward.
Bernardo Silva: 6. Not his best night.
Riyad Mahrez: 7. Caused problems for Angelino when he cut inside, scored a goal but was the target of some heated ‘advice’ from Pep Guardiola during a lull in proceedings.
Jack Grealish: 8. Great Champions League debut, corner converted by Nathan Ake for his first assist. He shadowed Nordi Mukiele and forced an own goal from him and also had a shot on goal himself.
Ferran Torres: 7. Decent movement again from the Spanish forward, won a harsh penalty when his header hit the outstretched arm of Lukas Klostermann from close range and had a goal ruled out for offside.
Fernandinho (on for Rodri, 59): 6. On to steady the ship, some good interceptions and distribution.
Ilkay Gundogan (on for Bernardo Silva, 59): 6. Lent City a measure of control in midfield.
Phil Foden (on for Kevin de Bruyne, 71): 6. Hugely popular return for the youngster, but he didn’t have much to do.
Raheem Sterling (on for Ferran Torres, 71): 6. Cameo upfront after an animated briefing from Pep Guardiola on the sidelines.
Gabriel Jesus (on for Jack Grealish, 81): A late goal for the in-form Brazilian from a set piece.
GOALS – Manchester City 6, RB Leipzig 3 (UEFA Champions League)
Man City 1, RB Leipzig 0: 16. Nathan Ake rose up and met Jack Grealish’s left wing corner with a firm header which was pushed against the underside of the bar by Peter Gulacsi but the Hungarian keeper couldn’t keep it out #mcfc #rbl #mcirbl
Man City 2, RB Leipzig 0: 28. Nordi Mukiele headed through his own goal under pressure from Jack Grealish as Kevin De Bruyne arrowed a cross in for the midfielder.
Man City 2, RB Leipzig 1: 42. Christopher Nkunku reduced the deficit with a header from 6 yards out after Nordi Mukiele had knocked an Emil Forsberg cross back into into the box
Man City 3, RB Leipzig 1: 45+2. After a short delay for a VAR check for a header by Ferran Torres against Lukas Klostermann’s outstretched arm, Riyad Mahrez stepped up and rifled home the spot kick into the top corner.
Man City 3, RB Leipzig 2: 50. Dani Olmo crossed from the left to an unmarked Christopher Nkunku who had a free header to pull another goal back for Leipzig from 6 yards out
Man City 4, RB Leipzig 2: 56. Jack Grealish went on a solo run up field after Ruben Dias found him with a diagonal ball from defence. He cut inside from the left and curled the ball in right footed from 12 yards out.
Man City 4, RB Leipzig 3: 73. Yussuf Poulson released Christopher Nkunku for his hat trick from an acute angle.
Man City 5, RB Leipzig 3: 75. Joao Cancelo restored the 2 goal lead with a long range 25 yard effort just beyond the reach of Peter Gulacsi after Ilkay Gundogan found him.
Man City 6, RB Leipzig 3: 85. Gabriel Jesus smashed home the loose ball off the leg of Lukas Klostermann from close range after Leipzig failed to deal with a corner.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 6, RB Leipzig 3 (UEFA Champions League)
Man City: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Ake, Zinchenko, De Bruyne (Foden 71), Rodri (Fernandinho 59), Bernardo Silva (Gundogan 59), Mahrez, Grealish (Jesus 81), Torres (Sterling 71)
Man City Subs not used: Carson, Slicker, Walker, Palmer, Lavia
Booked: Zinchenko 12 (foul on Dani Olmo)
Goals: Ake 16; Mukiele og 28; Mahrez pen 45+2; Grealish 56; Cancelo 75; Jesus 85
RB Leipzig: Gulacsi, Klostermann, Orban, Mukiele, Angelino, Laimer (Haidara 60), Adams, Olmo (Brobbey 72), Forsberg (Szoboszlai 60), Nkunku (Gvardiol 81), Andre Silva (Poulsen 60)
RB Leipzig subs not used: Martinez, Simaken, Moriba, Henrichs, Kampl
Booked: Klostermann 45+1 (deliberate handball); Adams 49 (foul on Jack Grealish); Angelino 58 (foul on Kevin de Bruyne), 79 (foul on Joao Cancelo)
Red Card: Angelino 79 (second yellow card)
Goals: Nkunku 42, 50, 73
Referee: Serdar Gozubuyuk