Preview: Leipzig vs Manchester City

Pep Guardiola will want to ensure his Manchester City side can get past recent inconsistent away performances by delivering a victory in this encounter against a tricky Leipzig side.

Leipzig qualified as runners-up in Group F but they did it the hard way. 

After losing their first two matches against Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid, the Germans bounced back to win their remaining four games, including an impressive 3-2 victory over Real Madrid to send them through.  

Marco Rose’s side had been on an impressive 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions that came to end two weeks ago in a 2-1 defeat to the flying Union Berlin. 

They got back to winning ways last weekend with a 3-0 win over Wolfsburg to keep their slim title hopes alive. 

Leipzig will be wary of the challenge Manchester City pose as Pep Guardiola’s men can turn on the style at any point. 

Just three days after a morale boosting 3-1 victory over rivals Arsenal at the Emirates, Man City suffered a huge blow in the title race, dropping points against Nottingham Forest. 

City led for most of the match and squandered glorious opportunities to put the game to bed before a late equaliser from Chris Wood spoilt the party for the visitors.

Pep’s men have now failed to win four of their last five away games in all competitions and that continues a worrying away  trend this season. 

A return to the Champions League might be seen as the perfect distraction and an opportunity to get their season firmly on track. 

Prior to the group-stage defeat to  Leipzig last season, Man City were on a 15-game unbeaten run against German opposition in the Champions League. Guardiola will hope that form continues tonight. 

RB Leipzig: Blaswich; Klostermann, Orban, Gvardiol, Raum; Schlager, Laimer; Szoboszlai, Forsberg, Werner; Silva

Key player: Josko Gvardiol

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake; Rodri, Bernardo; Mahrez, Gundogan, Foden, Grealish; Haaland

Key player: Erling Haaland

Man City have struggled to replicate their home form on their travel this season and Leipzig are a team that are never shy to attack in numbers.

However, City respond well after disappointing results so expect them to come away from this first leg in Germany with a win.