UEFA Champions League: RB Leipzig vs Manchester City Player Ratings as the hosts clinch Europa League spot


UEFA Champions League: RB Leipzig vs Manchester City Player Ratings as the hosts clinch Europa League spot

RB Leipzig vs Manchester City: Manchester City visited Watford at the Red Bull Arena in the ongoing edition of the UEFA Champions League.

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ALready out of the knockout stage picture, it was a must-win game for RB Leipzig if they wanted to clinch a spot in the Europa League and they showed up indeed with tactics and passion ready to take on the mighty blues, Leipzig took the lead in the first half and doubled their advantage in the second half. Manchester City pulled one goal back courtesy of Riyad Mahrez but unfortunately, it was too little, too late for the Premier League champions who have already topped their group and would like to brush it off as a bad day at the office.

Let’s take a look at the player ratings for the match:-

RB Leipzig vs Manchester City Player Ratings

RB Leipzig

Koln vs RB Leipzig Imgae

Péter Gulácsi (GK) (7/10): Peter Gulacsi didn’t have a lot to do but was aware and ready when called upon as he got a fingertip to Foden’s shot and parried it onto the post.

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Angeliño (6/10): Angelino didn’t have the greatest of games as he lost the ball multiple times tonight.

Joško Gvardiol (6.5/10): A good defensive showing from Gvardoil who contained Manchester City really well and didn’t let the attackers have an open look at the goal.

Lukas Klostermann (7/10): Klostermann had an amazing showing and was really imposing in defence before being taken off at half-time.

Nordi Mukiele (7/10): Nordi Mukiele contained his flank pretty well and linked up well with the midfield before being subbed out late in the game.

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Kevin Kampl (6/10): A mixed performance from Kevin Kampl as he held up the ball well and linked up well with the defence but received a yellow card pretty early in the game.

Konrad Laimer (7.5/10): A great evening for Konrad Laimer. Attacked well, cut off passing lanes and even grabbed an assist as he played an incisive pass between the centre channel to Dominik.

Dominik Szoboszlaio (7.5/10): A great game and a wonderful goal from Szoboszlaio as he ran between the two City centre-halves, went around the keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.

Emil Forsberg (7/10): Ending his night early, Forsberg was essential to Leipzig tonight with his link-up play and attacking presence as he grabbed an assist.

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Christopher Nkunku (6.5/10): Nkunku was a constant threat on the counter and had the City defenders on the back foot a couple of times.

André Silva (7/10): Andre Silva wasn’t playing his best football tonight until he managed to grab, what would be the winner in this crucial tie as he placed the ball in the bottom corner off a great pass from Forsberg.

Substitutes:

Mohamed Simakan (6.5/10): Simakan had a decent performance after coming on for Klostermann at half-time. Linked up with the midfield well and played sensibly.

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Benjamin Henrichs (N/A)

Ilaix Moriba (N/A)

Brian Brobbey (N/A)

Tyler Adams (6/10): Tyler Adams wasn’t on the pitch for very long before he got carded for persistent fouling.

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Manchester City

Zack Steffen (GK) (6/10): Steffen was ready to give it all for his team tonight as he made some crucial saves but unfortunately got dribbled past relatively easily for Leipzig’s first goal.

Kyle Walker (5/10): Kyle Walker wasn’t having a bad evening until he conceded an unnecessary red card for his team while they were trailing and made Manchester City’s job more difficult.

John Stones (6/10): Not a bad evening for John Stones except for the yellow card as a lapse in concentration led to City conceding the first goal and an argument with the match officials had his name recorded in the referee’s book.

Nathan Aké (6.5/10): A decent showing from Ake who played out of position and put in some really important tackles before being subbed out late due to a back injury.

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Oleksandr Zinchenko (7/10): Some dangerous crosses in the box and constant monitoring of his flank, Cancelo controlled his side of the pitch really well tonight and even grabbed himself an assist as one of his crosses found Riyad Mahrez.

İlkay Gündoğan (7/10): Gundogan progressed the ball well up the pitch and controlled the tempo of the match, constantly looking for something decisive.

Fernandinho (7/10): Fernandinho linked up with the defence really well and constantly cut out passing lanes for the opposition.

Kevin De Bruyne (7.5/10): Manchester City’s talisman had a great evening and was clearly the biggest threat to the Leipzig defence as the midfielders constantly lost track of him.

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Riyad Mahrez (8/10): Riyad Mahrez got City’s only goal tonight as he got on the end of a beautiful cross into the box from Zinchencko and headed the ball in the opposite direction.

Jack Grealish (7/10): Jack Grealish was great at moving the ball, linking up with the midfield and even got into some really dangerous positions.

Phil Foden (6.5/10): Full of creativity and flair, Phil Foden was a constant problem in the attacking third before he got subbed out at half-time.

Substitutes:

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Raheem Sterling (6/10): Raheem Sterling couldn’t do a whole lot tonight and the Leipzig defence kept up well with him.

Rúben Dias (N/A)Cole Palmer (N/A)

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