Phil Foden had a goal and an assist as Manchester City sealed a seeded place in the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds with a 3-2 comeback win over RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
Erling Haaland scored City’s first goal, Foden the second, and Julian Alvarez the 87th-minute winner as a 2-0 halftime deficit inspired by Loic Openda’s brace had Leipzig hoping for control of the group.
[ MORE: Champions League tables ]
Both sides will be in the knockout rounds as City’s won all five of its group stage matches including a 3-1 win at Leipzig on October 4, and Leipzig’s claimed all nine of the other points available to it during the tournament.
The two sides played two very different legs in the knockout rounds last season, as Leipzig held City 1-1 at Red Bull Arena before Erling Haaland scored five of the side’s seven goals in a blowout second leg in Manchester.
Special Foden undervalued
It’s inevitable in a team with Erling Haaland, Rodri, and Kevin De Bruyne up the middle and so many fantastic wide players that some sensational work will get overlooked.
We’re looking at your Phil Foden.
Foden had four chances created and seven recoveries in a remarkable performance on Tuesday, and those numbers still seem low given the England star’s role in driving the champions back from a 2-0 deficit.
We were worried we were overstating his strength, but then we headed to see what our pals at Fotmob have rated Foden’s Champions League group stage, given that he’s scored in three-straight games and has at least one goal contribution in all four of his appearances.
Literally the best in Europe this season.
Champions League player ratings (fotmob.com)
Champions League player ratings (fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Pep Guardiola’s men will go to Red Star Belgrade at 12:45pm ET Dec. 13 for their final group stage game, the same time that Leipzig hosts Young Boys.
Manchester City vs RB Leipzig final score: 3-2
Goals: Openda (13', 33'), Haaland (54'), Foden (70'), Alvarez (87')
Julian Alvarez goal video
Julián Álvarez finishes off a sublime team move to complete the comeback in the 87th minute. 💥 pic.twitter.com/2wWhBYKs69
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 28, 2023
Phil Foden goal video: Level!
54': 🅰️
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 28, 2023
70': ⚽
Phil Foden sparks Man City's second half comeback. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/TF3SkOWmtd
Erling Haaland goal: City star pulls one back
City had been countered into a 2-0 hole, but now it’s got a goal to befit its control of everything else.
City upped its possession number from 63-81 between the halves, and have not given up a Leipzig attempt in the second frame.
Haaland getting on the board? Zero surprise. That it came down 2-0 at home qualifies as a surprise.
40 goals in 35 #UCL matches. 🔥
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 28, 2023
Erling Haaland is inevitable. 🤖 pic.twitter.com/G9JwMdpw87
Loic Openda goals: Video highlights of Leipzig star’s first half brace
Route one football. 😮💨
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 28, 2023
Goalkeeper Janis Blaswich sends the ball all the way to Openda who stuns Man City! pic.twitter.com/Kni13PZTnI
Manchester City 0-2 RB Leipzig. 😳 pic.twitter.com/mQ2z3EEHMf
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 28, 2023
How to watch Manchester City vs RB Leipzig live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, Tuesday (November 28)
How to watch: Paramount+ and TUDN USA
Manchester City lineup
Tonight's team! 💪
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 28, 2023
XI | Ortega Moreno, Walker (C), Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Lewis, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Haaland
SUBS | Ederson, Carson, Phillips, Stones, Ake, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Bobb#ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/js7sqRcyoR
RB Leipzig lineup
Here's your RBL 1️⃣1️⃣ to take on @ManCity 🔥#MCIRBL #UCL pic.twitter.com/qrQylKRDmx
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) November 28, 2023
Focus on Manchester City, team news
City drew Liverpool 1-1 at the weekend, the Citizens failing to find a second goal despite control of the match and dropping points when Trent Alexander-Arnold found the winner. Erling Haaland remains in solid form, and Jeremy Doku is surging up the assist leaderboards.
OUT: Kevin De Bruyne (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Mateo Kovacic (thigh), Jack Grealish (illness), Matheus Nunes (muscular)
Focus on RB Leipzig, team news
Leipzig lost to Wolfsburg 2-1 at the weekend, giving them two losses from three in Bundesliga play. Leipzig sits fifth with 23 points from 12 matches.
OUT: Willi Orban (knee), Dani Olmo (clavicle), Timo Werner (adductor)