Continuing a strong run of UEFA Champions League form will be the aim for RB Leipzig when they play host to Manchester City on Wednesday at Red Bull Arena in the round of 16.
Leipzig earned a 4-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at Stadion Miejski Legia Warszawa im. Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego in their last group stage match, their fourth Champions League victory in a row this season. Christopher Nkunku, André Silva, and Dominik Szoboszlai netted in the win.
Manchester City’s last group stage match saw them triumph 3-1 over Sevilla at home. Rico Lewis, Julián Álvarez, and Riyad Mahrez scored in the win. Entering Wednesday’s match, they are undefeated in their last three games in all competitions (W2 D1 L0).
Manchester City’s 14 points placed them first in their group, while Leipzig finished second on 12 points.
When the two sides last met in action, Leipzig won 2-1 in a Champions League group stage match at Red Bull Arena last season. Dominik Szoboszlai struck first for Leipzig in the 24th minute. André Silva also was on target. Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal for City in the 76th minute.
Nkunku and Silva have proved attacking threats for Leipzig in Champions League play. The pair are the team’s joint top scorers with three goals. Nkunku has scored the crucial first goal of the match twice.
Manchester City’s most productive player in the final third has been Erling Haaland, who has netted on five occasions in this season’s Champions League, including two match-opening goals. The striker is tied for third for goals scored in the competition in 2022/2023.
The hosts have scored in four straight Champions League contests this season. They haven’t been shut out since their group stage loss against Real Madrid.
Hosts Leipzig have been tough to beat on home soil this Champions League season with two wins and just one loss in three contests.
Manchester City have not been defeated in away matches in the competition this season with one win and two draws on the road.
In their last six matches in all competitions, Leipzig have won four, drawn one and lost one. They scored 15 and conceded five over that stretch, scoring first in five of the six contests. A majority of their goals (nine) came in the first half, while their opponents failed to find the net in the first 45 minutes.
Manchester City have won four, drawn one and lost one in their last six. They scored 11 and conceded four over that period, netting first in five of the six. Most of their goals (six) came in the first half, while their opponents netted two times before the break.
