Manchester City look to avoid falling to a third straight defeat as they travel to take on RB Leipzig in the Champions League tonight. After a Carabao Cup exit to Newcastle, Pep Guardiola’s side were beaten over the weekend by Wolves as their unbeaten start to the Premier League season came to an end.
The Champions League holders had to come from behind in the opening match of their European defence, as Red Star Belgrade took a shock lead before City turned things around in relatively routine fashion. Rodri starts for City tonight, despite still being suspended domestically, while Erling Haaland leads the line, having scored five goals in his last appearance against Leipzig.
The Bundesliga side beat Young Boys in their opening Champions League match and have the quality to cause City problems, as they showed when hammering Bayern Munich earlier this campaign. They did however suffer an 8-1 aggregate defeat when facing Guardiola’s side in the knockout stages last season. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!
Live updates
Here we go!
Players will be in the tunnel any minute now.
Both these sides made strong starts to their Europeans campaigns, so a chance to take real control of Group G tonight.
It’s very rarely boring when Leipzig are involved – that might suit City though!
Atmosphere building in Germany…
Big game to come!
This is obviously a big test for City, but Pep Guardiola might have one eye on this weekend too.
His side travel to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, in a match that provides the best two sides last season to make a statement in this title race.
In an ideal world, the City boss will be able to bring off some of his stars early in the second-half, with the win over Leipzig already secured.
Lots of work to do to get to that point though!
How City got off the mark in Europe this season…
Dias: Motivation could not be higher
Ruben Dias insists motivation is just as high for Manchester City this season, despite finally winning the Champions League in last season’s treble-winning campaign.
Dias said: “Most definitely. More beautiful than doing it once is to do it twice and more beautiful that three Premier Leagues in a row is to win four.
“Also more beautiful than winning one Champions League is to win two in a row, the same goes to the FA Cup.
“The motivation couldn’t be any higher. We’re aware we’ve done something very special. We’re all very young and very hungry as well, we’ll make the math when it’s time to make it.
Gvardiol backed to impress on return
Ruben Dias has hailed Josko Gvardiol’s start to life at Manchester City, believing his fellow centre-back has quickly settled in after his summer move from RB Leipzig.
“I think he’s settling in very good. He’s a player with a tremendous quality, that’s easy to see,” Dias said.
“More than that is the fact he really wants to win. He’s one more piece to join to the party. He’s settling in very well. Good easy-going guy, easy person to communicate off and on the pitch.
“And obviously individual qualities aside that’s one big quality to have, that easy communication especially on the pitch.”
Silva straight back into City side
Interesting lineup named by Guardiola.
Bernardo Silva makes an immediate returing to the starting lineup after injury, while it’s Rico Lewis who partners Rodri in midfield. Kalvin Phillips on the bench.
Erling Haaland leads the line, Jack Grealish also starts as Julian Alvarez drops out of the side. Josko Gvardiola lines up at left-back against his former club.
Kevin Kampl only fit enough for the Leipzig bench tonight, where he is joined by Timo Werner and Benjamin Sesko.
RB Leipzig team news
Starting XI: Blaswich, Klostermann, Simakan, Castello Jr., Raum, Xavi Simons, Seiwald, Schlager, Forsberg, Openda, Poulsen
Subs: Gulacsi, Lenz, Haidara, Werner, Baumgartner, Carvalho, Sesko, Kampl
Man City team news
Starting XI: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis, Rodri, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Haaland
Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Phillips, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb
