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Openda's goal not enough: RB loses against Manchester City

Leipzig 04. October 2023 5 Min
Openda's goal not enough: RB loses against Manchester City
RB Leipzig and Manchester City players at a corner kick. / Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa
From: DieSachsen News

Revenge failed, series snapped: RB Leipzig missed the redemption for the 0:7 debacle against Manchester City and lost with the 1:3 (0:1) for the first time in the Champions League at home against the English champion. Lois Openda (48th minute) had the 45,228 fans with his equalizer despite clear inferiority hope for a point, but world champion Julian Alvarez (84th) and Jeremy Doku (90.+2) shot the defending champion deserved to win. Phil Foden (25.) had earlier provided the first City lead. In the third attempt, the team of star coach Pep Guardiola thus won for the first time in Leipzig.

This leaves RB with three points after two games. Next opponent is on October 25 at home former European Cup winner Red Star Belgrade.

Reparation was announced at RB. The bitter defeat in March in the round of 16 had not forgotten coach Marco Rose. But all good intentions were quickly wastepaper. The defending champions quickly showed RB the limits in the first half, unleashed constant pressure and hardly allowed the Leipzig game to develop. At times, the English side had more than 80 percent of the ball. The Saxons, who had last been convincing in the 2:2 against Bayern, hardly got into the duels. Man City was always a step faster.

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Accordingly, the game rolled in the first round almost without exception in one direction. Only the chance utilization might have annoyed the fastidious star coach Pep Guardiola. In the 14th minute, it was the Portuguese Bernardo Silva, who had surprisingly returned to the team, who failed to hit the ball properly from close range. Then Foden put the ball next to the goal (19th).

This could not go well for long - and it did not go well. After a double pass with Silva, the only 18-year-old Rico Lewis still had the eye for Foden, who shot in placed by touchdown. Guardiola thus proved a good hand in bringing on his youngster. Lewis, who represented the still injured superstar Kevin De Bruyne in midfield well, was involved in several successful actions.

Rose had less success with his personnel decision. The so far hardly playing newcomer Nicolas Seiwald, who had moved for playmaker Kevin Kampl in the team, came too late in the conceded goal. Goal-scorer Erling Haaland had another good chance shortly before the break, but he was far from his goal gala of half a year ago. Too many actions had the Norwegian not.

"They should be more courageous. They have nothing more to lose. You have to challenge them, that can only go through duels and emotionality," said DAZN expert Michael Ballack at the break and was not disappointed by the Leipzigers. Suddenly, the Bundesliga team was more active, more gripping and more lively. And the equalizer came with the first successful action. After a pass from Poulsen, Openda was free. The Belgian shook off the ex-Dortmund player Manuel Akanji and scored into the far corner.

But the English immediately switched up a gear - and came to top-class opportunities. First Haaland failed from close range (57th), then Foden put a free kick on the crossbar (63rd). The pressure paid off. Argentine Alvarez, who had been substituted shortly before, scored a dream goal, and Doku made everything clear on a counterattack.

Copyright 2023, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved

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Topics :

Soccer Champions League Saxony RB Leipzig Germany Manchester City Great Britain Leipzig
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Projekt Saxony Today : Mehrsprachigkeit von regionalen Nachrichten für in Sachsen lebende Menschen ohne deutsche Muttersprache. Projekt wird gefördert durch die Sächsische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien. Diese Maßnahme wird mitfinanziert durch Steuermittel auf Grundlage des vom Sächsischen Landtag beschlossenen Haushaltes.