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TDespite a festive evening for Christopher Nkunko, RB Leipzig suffered a bitter lesson in the Champions League. After four days of bankruptcy against Bayern Munich, the Saxons lost 3:6 (1:3) to star Pep Guardiola of Manchester City on Wednesday night.

The 23-year-old Nkunku scored all three goals (min. 42/51/73) for new coach Jesse Marsh’s side – but the English champions were able to keep up and in some cases were clearly superior.

Nathan Ake (16), Nordi Mukele from RB Leipzig (goal 28 / own goal), Riyad Mahrez (45 + 2 / hand penalty), Jack Grealish (56), Joao Cancelo (75) and Gabriel Jesus (85) scored for Citizens. In the final stage, Leipzig also weakened itself: Angelino was expelled in yellow and red (ranked 79th).

“We got goals that were very easy. Then it will be difficult to win in Manchester. We could have had some courage. If we wanted to keep up, we should not give up such easy goals ”, said Emil Forsberg after the match in the” DAZN “. “Now we have to gather a new force. It was a difficult evening.”

Leipzig under pressure from the start

The German runner-up was challenged from the start. Wearing a dark, sophisticated suit with a tie, Marsh kept shouting instructions to the field, his Leipziger players struggling to find an offensive method in the match. Manchester played really fast and made straight passes to the top – but he needed a steady piece to drive. On a corner kick from expensive newcomer Grealish, Aké triumphed in front of goal against Mukiele and Willi Orban, and Peter Gulacsi could no longer hold his header from close range.

Guardiola cheered briefly and forcefully in his 300th game as City coach, but immediately demanded focus from Skyblues. The former Bayern coach was highly insinuated and would often return to his element outside of his training area. Shortly before the match, Marsh had warned: Man City were one of the “best opponents in the entire world”. Compared to the Bayern Munich match, his team should be more compact. That is becoming increasingly difficult against star players around Kevin De Bruyne, who is back after an extended hiatus due to injury.

At Omschalspiel, Leipzig often missed the crucial moment of their pass to the half of the city – and it went wrong in defence. Mukele conceded his own net after a dangerous cross from De Bruyne in a completely unsuccessful attempt to save his head. Within half an hour, the hopes of a few RB fans who had flown with them for a surprise in England had faded a bit.

Five goals after the end of the first half

Morale was good in the marching team, and it was not for nothing that the American asked his players to be very brave. After a strong run by Angelino, Aki removed his cross in front of Andre Silva (38). Shortly before the break, Nkunko rewarded Leipzig’s pursuit in the city penalty area after a cross from Emil Forsberg and a header from Mukele. The joy lasted only a few minutes. A handball from Lucas Klostermann in the head duel in the penalty area led to the penalty kick, which Mahrez safely converted.

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Leipzig faced a difficult task in the second half, but then received an unexpected help from Guardiola-Elf. Dani Olmo was allowed to dribble unimpeded inside the Citizens penalty area and put in a perfectly-timed cross on Nkunko, making his teammates cheer once again. But then Grealish showed his class: the 26-year-old started alone in the Leipzig penalty area and slid firmly past RB right-back.

Marsh reacted and made three changes, with City’s Ilkay Gundogan playing (60th position). After that, the hosts repeatedly took their offensive line. Once again, Nkunko caused tension again with about 20 minutes to go – but again only for a short while as Joao Cancelo saved the next goal with a long shot. Even Gabriel Jesus left City fans cheering once again.

These errors will be punished. Of course, this feels very bad. “We have to analyze that now in order to do better in the future,” said Leipzig defender Lukas Klostermann.

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