Manchester City will leave Leipzig, Germany, cheated and frustrated not to have won the first leg of their round of sixteen tie against RB Leipzig on Wednesday after a 1-1 draw that could have ended differently had the referee awarded a penalty for a handball by Benjamin Henrichs.
Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola’s side will also have themselves to blame after putting up two different performances in either half of the game. Manchester City started on fire and took the lead in the 27th minute through Riyad Mahrez, who benefited from Ilkay Gundogan’s pass from a defensive error.
Despite Manchester City’s dominating display, they couldn’t add to their goal tally and were forced to pay for it in the second half after they failed to deliver.
The Bundesliga side scored with 20 minutes left to play as Josko Gvardiol headed in from the corner kick to level the scoreline and pull RB Leipzig back into the tie. Before his goal, RB Leipzig dominated the second half and could have led through Benjamin Henrichs.
The result means that Manchester City are winless in Germany against RB Leipzig after losing their last visit 2-1 in 2021. With the return leg coming on the 14th of March, Manchester City have a lot on their hands before they tackle the Bundesliga side that sits in fifth position.
Asides from a Premier League trip to the Vitality Stadium against Bournemouth at the weekend, Manchester City will also play Bristol City in the FA Cup.
Games against Newcastle and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park are the first two games Manchester City will play in March before the second-leg encounter.
The last time RB Leipzig traveled to England, they were walloped 6-3 by the citizens. In Italy, a late goal from Romelu Lukaku was all that secured a 1-0 victory for Inter Milan against Portuguese side FC Porto on Wednesday.
The Portuguese were reduced to ten men, but they will feel very much still in the tie ahead of the second leg.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
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