Manchester City are clicking on all cylinders going into their Champions League matchday 1 fixture against RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium.
The Cityzens are coming off of a hard-fought 1-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League in which they racked up 25 shots.
It was goals galore against Gladbach in our #UCL group stage opener! 🔥📆 #OnThisDay 2016🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/8f49AhJY3S— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 14, 2021
It was goals galore against Gladbach in our #UCL group stage opener! 🔥📆 #OnThisDay 2016🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/8f49AhJY3S
On Wednesday night, Manchester City will play an RB Leipzig side that is in transition. After last season’s runners-up performance in the Bundesliga, Die Roten Bullen lost their coach Julian Nagelsmann, centre-backs Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano, and captain Marcel Sabitzer.
Three of the four members the team lost went to Bundesliga rival Bayern Munich. Now, new coach Jesse Marsch is trying to redefine the team’s tactics with several new players. It hasn’t worked yet as RB Leipzig have lost three of their five matches in all competitions.
On Saturday, RB Leipzig fell 4-1 at home to Bayern Munich, an ominous sign for Wednesday night’s Champions League matchday 1 game in Manchester.
Pep Guardiola rested several players against Leicester City with Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling both starting on the bench. The duo could start against Leipzig. Bernardo Silva could also start the game after scoring the winner versus the Foxes.
While Manchester City can be praised for their performance against Leicester City and 25 shots, the team can also be criticised for scoring just once. Just eight of those 25 shots hit the target.
RB Leipzig are licking their wounds post-Bayern Munich. The team has conceded six goals in five games. This was one of the Bundesliga’s best defensive teams a season ago, but this season, they cannot keep goals out of the back of the net.
Marsch has switched the team from a back three to a back four. So far, the back four has not clicked. The only injury worry for Marsch going into the game is that of centre-back Marcel Halstenberg. Otherwise, the Leipzig coach has a fit squad of first-choice players.
Ferran Torres leads Manchester City in goals with two this season. He should start up front with Sterling and Jack Grealish on either side. Guardiola has preferred to play Grealish on the left side of the front three, the position Sterling previously occupied.
RB Leipzig’s last trip to Manchester in the Champions League was last season in the group stage against Man United. Leipzig lost 5-0. This season’s trip to Manchester should also end in a loss as Manchester City win to nil with over 2.5 goals scored.