The RB Leipzig and Manchester City drew 1-1 this Wednesday in a match that was dominated by Pep Guardiola's team in the first half, but met a good reaction from Marco Rose's side in the second.
Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring for City in the 27th minute and Josko Gvardiol equalized for Leipzig in the 70th.
City took control of the game from the beginning against a Leipzig that seemed to have as its motto to try to keep a clean sheet and look for sporadic counter-attacks.
Guardiola's team kept the ball in the opposing half and circulated it around the vicinity of the penalty area trying to create spaces.
However, the shots were not arriving. The 0-1 goal came from a play that originated from an error in Leipzig's build-up, which until that moment had a good defensive behavior.
Still a very open tie that will be decided at the Etihad Stadium.
- Manchester City (@ManCityES) February 22, 2023
⚪️ 1-1 ⚫️ #MCFCEspañol pic.twitter.com/DdcLrFxnOM
Grealish intercepted an inaccurate pass from Schlager and played with Gündogan, who put the ball into the area for Mahrez and he, after overcoming Gvardiol, scored with a precise shot.
Then there were two headers from Rodrigo in successive corner kicks. The first one, in the 30th minute, was quite dangerous.
After conceding the goal, Leipzig tried to attack more, but only managed to take a shot on goal in the added time of the first half with a low shot from Timo Werner that was not a problem for Ederson.
In the second half, Leipzig intensified their efforts and in just over ten minutes created more danger in City's goal than in the entire first half.
In the 53rd minute, Benedick headed high and then Henrich, who had come on for Lukas Klostermann, had a great opportunity from Szboszlai's pass, but his shot went wide next to a post. In the 56th minute, Ederson had to throw himself to take the ball away from Forsberg's feet from a cross by Timo Werner.
The first half of the second half belonged to Leipzig, and their effort was rewarded in the 70th minute when Josko Gvardiol headed in after a corner kick.
What had been practically a monologue by City in the first half turned into an open match in the second half.
City also created chances. In the 73rd minute, Ilkay Gündogan had one after an individual play with a shot that Blaswich reacted to with a good save.
MGC