Erling Haaland's late tap-in gave Manchester City a 3-2 Champions League win at RB Leipzig, his 13th goal in nine appearances against the Bundesliga side and the most he has scored against any opponent. Victory returned City to winning ways after Saturday's defeat to Brighton and lifted them to seventh in the league phase table.
City led twice but were pegged back on both occasions. Castello Lukeba's own goal gifted them a first-half opener against the run of play, after Christoph Baumgartner and Antonio Nusa had gone close for a Leipzig side that had been on top.
Man City Leipzig win turns on a frantic second half
Gianluigi Donnarumma saved well from Baumgartner at the start of the second half, then was caught at his near post by Ridle Baku, who finished from a tight angle when a low cross into the middle looked the obvious choice.
Haaland, a bystander before the break with only three touches, was denied with his first chance. Enzo Fernandez then headed City back in front from Iliman Ndiaye's cross, arriving in the box to meet it, but Nusa levelled within three minutes by firing low across Donnarumma into the bottom right corner.
Jeremy Doku's introduction helped City into their best spell of the game. Elliot Anderson, whose start to life at the club Haaland later praised, supplied the low cross that Haaland tapped in 12 minutes from time. David Raum and Rayan Cherki both rattled the woodwork in a frantic finale as the visitors held on.
Haaland's record against Leipzig
The winner was Haaland's 13th goal in nine games against Leipzig, the most he has managed against any single opponent in his career. For much of the first half he had been a spectator, and he was clear that the team performance still needs work.
"I think it is the most I have scored against a club. I have played so many times against them in the Champions League with City and Borussia Dortmund too. Leipzig is a good team so I am happy."
On Anderson, he added: "He has had an amazing start to his City career and that is what you expect. You have to come straight in and perform. It is not easy to come in, you need to adapt and new players and a new coach, so he has been impressive. Respect."
Haaland was less satisfied with the collective display: "Not sure how many touches I had today, not the most but what is the most important is that I managed to help the team to win. I think we need to step up a bit. When we were 1-0 up I think we needed to go at it, go for the second goal and then the third - that's what we have to do. We have to work on that."
Analysis: Donnarumma's uncertain evening
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones wrote: "Manchester City may have escaped Leipzig with three points but Gianluigi Donnarumma is doing little to convince that he is the reliable last line of defence." Jones described the goalkeeper as "directly culpable for Leipzig's opening goal", getting "into a muddle when the situation demanded composure from a cross from the right".
Jones added that Donnarumma's handling "looked uncertain on several occasions" and that his decision-making "invited pressure rather than easing it", noting that David Raum's free-kick struck the crossbar after another moment of indecision.
Maresca: we had to be careful on transitions
City head coach Enzo Maresca said: "Tough game in some moments. We controlled quite well but some moments we struggled. Champions League, Germany away, it's tough so happy with the three points."
He added: "They are well organised, they were aggressive and dangerous with the wingers. We needed to be careful on transition. Happy with the three points and now we recover and move on."
Where the result leaves City
The three points lifted Manchester City to seventh in the Champions League league phase table. Leipzig, who equalised twice but never led, took nothing from a night on which they had spells of control without the result to match.
The original report is by skysports.com.
