Erling Haaland turned the quickest participant to attain 40 Champions League targets as Manchester Metropolis got here from 2-0 right down to beat RB Leipzig 3-2 on Tuesday. The defending champions have been on the right track for his or her first European defeat on the Etihad since 2018 when Lois Openda took benefit of shambolic defending to attain twice within the first half. Haaland decreased Metropolis’s arrears earlier than targets from Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez secured high spot in Group G.
“The primary half was the worst I’ve seen us,” admitted Foden.
“Got here out second half, performed loads higher and altered the sport. This group has bought a fantastic mentality for that.”
Metropolis have now received 27 of their final 29 Champions League dwelling video games since they final tasted defeat.
Leipzig have been common victims throughout that run and have been humbled 7-0 on their final journey to the Etihad in March.
However Guardiola headed down the tunnel at half-time shaking his head at what he had seen from the European champions.
Metropolis dominated possession and territory however have been undone by two moments of carelessness from the usually dependable Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias.
The in-form Openda confirmed his poise after Akanji let the Belgian latch onto an extended ball from Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich to complete previous Stefan Ortega.
Haaland uncharacteristically snatched at a fantastic probability to equalise because the Norwegian blasted over and Rico Lewis was additionally wayward with a transparent sight of objective.
However as Metropolis camped within the Leipzig half, another lengthy ball caught out Guardiola’s males as Dias dived in and Openda galloped clear to attain his thirteenth objective of the season.
“We conceded an excessive amount of defenseively. You need to win your duels,” mentioned Guardiola.
“We reacted very well second half and yeah we’re first within the group so very glad with the response.”
Guardiola responded on the break as Nathan Ake changed Dias.
But it surely was not till two extra modifications with the introduction of Jeremy Doku and Alvarez that the comeback commenced.
Alvarez performed an element in Metropolis’s first objective as he fed Foden, who performed in Haaland to web his fortieth Champions League objective in simply 35 appearances on 54 minutes.
Foden then stroked dwelling Josep Gvardiol’s go from the sting of the field 20 minutes from time.
Leipzig thought they’d retaken the lead when Liverpool loanee Fabio Carvalho slotted into the far nook, solely to be flagged offside.
And Metropolis had the ultimate say when Doku discovered Foden on the by-line and his low cross was managed and completed by Alvarez for his fourth objective in as many Champions League appearances this season.
“Jeremy modified the ryhthm of our recreation and Julian shut the field is a speical participant,” added Guardiola.
“Phil, Julian and Erling have an unbelievable sense of (how one can rating a) objective.”
Leipzig had already secured their place within the final 16 however now threat dealing with the likes of Barcelona or Actual Madrid within the knockout levels.
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