Manchester City have everything to win at home in the Champions League round of 16 against RB Leipzig. After the 1-1 draw on German soil, former Bundesliga winner Pep Guardiola chooses to pay tribute to the opposition.
Manchester City – the world’s biggest club without a Champions League title?
When the playoffs started, many expected that the clearly stronger City on paper would easily dismiss RB Leipzig in the double meeting in the round of 16.
Initially, at least the first game between the teams appeared to be going completely according to script. City held the ball, created chances and managed to squeeze in the first away goal of the match. It was Riyad Mahrez who had to poke the ball in, passed by Ilkay Gundogan.
The reigning Premier League champions still had to settle for a cross in the match as World Cup sensation Josko Gvardiol headed in 1-1 in the second half after Leipzig got into the game.
– Maybe I’ll do something crazy and put nine strikers on the pitch in the return, joked City coach Pep Guardiola afterwards according to AFP.
– Seriously, the game must look like this. I analyzed Leipzig carefully and came to the conclusion that the game , added the Spaniard.
“Did you think this was a practice match?”
Guardiola spent three seasons at Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and is familiar with the opposition. And the German football philosophy.
According to the coach, City cannot match Leipzig in sheer speed on the pitch.
– We don’t have the team to challenge a team like them in counter-attacks. They are better than us, they are faster than us, with the exception of Kyle Walker and Erling Haaland. The speed they have – we don’t have that, says Guardiola.
– Did you think this was a practice match? That we would come in and win by five balls? The Champions League may have used to be an easy tournament, but now it is demanding. All the teams that qualify are very strong, he continues.
Pep Guardiola dismissed any question that Man City were big favourites.
Photo: James Marsh/Shutterstock/All Over Press
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City
In the RB dressing room, the focus in turn was on daring to play their own game.
– I told the guys at halftime I don’t understand what they’re doing – coming into a game like this and just laying down deep. That was not our plan. I told them to stop playing City’s game, says coach Marco Rose.
– Would I rather lead with 3-0? Yes. But if we can avoid redoing our first half, I still feel good, he continues.
Inter close to the quarter-finals for the first time in ten years
At the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, the match between Inter and Porto looked for a long time to also end in a cross as neither the home nor the away team managed to squeeze the ball in.
Lautaro Martinez and Diogo Costa came close for the ‘Nerazzurri’, Marko Grujic and Wenderson Galeno both had superb chances to put the Portuguese in the lead as well.
– When you don’t take advantage of your chances in matches like this, it usually ends up being expensive, stated team captain Pepe afterwards.
And was right.
Romelu Lukaku scores the winning goal.
Image: IMAGO/Nicolo Campo/All Over Press
Romelu Lukaku, FC Internazionale Milano
With four minutes remaining, Romelu Lukaku was first on the rebound with his own header to make it 1-0 – a goal that moves Inter Milan closer to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in over ten years.
– I put everything I had into that shot, says Lukaku afterwards.
– Winning is most important, I try to do my best to help the team, he continues.
Results, Champions League round of 16
Leipzig–Manchester City 1–1 (0–1)
27′ Riyad Mahrez 0–1
70′ Josko Guardiol 1–1
Inter–Porto 1–0 (0–0)
86′ Romelu Lukaku 1–0
The returns will be played on March 14.
