Manchester City 3, RB Leipzig 2 (UEFA Champions League)
Julian Alvarez came on to score an 87th minute winner for Manchester City who finished top of the group after a dramatic Champions League game against RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium.
City were 2-0 down heading into the hour mark at home before boss Pep Guardiola brought on Jeremy Doku and Julian Alvarez and there were instant results.
Erling Haalan reduced the deficit after Phil Foden laid on the ball to him before the England man scored the equaliser himself after Josko Gvardiol set him up with a cross.
A draw looked comfortable for City who were much improved after the morale boosting goals but they conjured up a winner through the irrepressible Alvarez with 3 minutes to go.
Manchester City had earlier had a horrendous start and were twice caught out by RB Leipzig with Lois Openda scoring twice for the Germans in a very poor first half for the Blues.
The Belgian forward exploited City’s high line and sloppy defending to put the visitors into a big lead by half time as City’s central defenders made crucial mistakes.
Nathan Ake was introduced at half time and Jeremy Doku and Julian Alvarez followed early in the second half and seconds after the latter two were introduced City had halved the deficit.
Erling Haaland, who had been wayward and starved of service, hit the target seconds after City pumped the gas after 55 minutes with Phil Foden putting him through.
And 15 minutes later Foden levelled matters after Josko Gvardiol picked him out with the square pass after venturing forward.
Fabio Carvalho thought he had regained the lead for Leipzig but was offside in the build-up.
But City were clinical in the 87th minute as Jeremy Doku found Phil Foden whose cutback was deflected into the path of Julian Alvarez who smashed in the winner.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, RB Leipzig 2 (UEFA Champions League)
Stefan Ortega: 6. Not much he could do with the RB Leipzig opener and was exposed again for the second. Tipped over a second half shot from Benjamin Sesko.
Kyle Walker: 6. Unable to help with both goals. Taken off as part of the tactical reshuffle.
Manuel Akanji: 5. Shrugged off by Lois Openda for his goal, wayward defending cost City some fluidity. Switched to right back after City changes and improved.
Ruben Dias: 5. Headed wide early on. Poor defensively and on a disciplinary tightrope after an early booking. Couldn’t stop Lois Openda from racing past him later in the first half as he had already been booked. Replaced at half time by Nathan Ake.
Josko Gvardiol: 7. Most of the action happened on the other flank early on, he couldn’t affect things much from deep but helped out at set pieces and eventually supplied the cross for the equaliser by Phil Foden.
Rodri: 5. Very sloppy first half in midfield, had to be more disciplined in the second half.
Rico Lewis: 6. Couldn’t get a grip on a chaotic game early on. Blazed over after creating space for himself but improved by the end.
Bernardo Silva: 6. His usual sumptuous touch not always there – stationed on the right wing and less effective than usual.
Phil Foden: 8. Given a start in central midfield but surprisingly slack at crucial times. Took a long time to get going but set up Erling Haaland and then scored the equaliser after a great touch to control the ball. His deflected cutback late on set up Julian Alvarez to put City ahead.
Jack Grealish: 6. Fit again but targeted for heavy treatment. Put some decent balls into the box before he was withdrawn.
Erling Haaland: 7. Heavy first touches denied him an early chance to score but he worked relentlessly throughout. Blazed over when presented with the loose ball. Finally notched in the second half to start the comeback and was furious when his header late in the game went straight to Janis Blaswich.
Nathan Ake (on for Ruben Dias, 46): 7. Added some stability to the wobbly City defence.
Jeremy Doku (on for Jack Grealish, 55): 7. Got the quiet crowd on their feet and drew the terrified Leipzig players towards him. Involved in the winner.
Julian Alvarez (on for Kyle Walker, 55): 7. Settled into midfield with great movement and progression. Good set pieces and had a crack at goal himself as a sighter before burying a late winner.
Sergio Gomez (on for Josko Gvardiol, 90+3): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 3, RB Leipzig 2 (UEFA Champions League)
Man City 0, RB Leipzig 1: 13. Lois Openda turned Manuel Akanji following a long ball out of the RB Leipzig defence by goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, with a clear run on goal he beat Stefan Ortega.
Man City 0, RB Leipzig 2: 33. Lois Openda had plenty of time to pick his spot after racing past Ruben Dias who couldn’t stop him.
Man City 1, RB Leipzig 2: 55. Erling Haaland thrashed the ball into the bottom corner after Phil Foden slipped him through.
Man City 2, RB Leipzig 2: 70. Phil Foden found his touch to move the ball into space before shooting the equaliser past Janis Blaswich after a good square pass from Josko Gvardiol.
Man City 3. RB Leipzig 2: 87. Julian Alvarez smashed City into the lead for the first time on the night, reacting first to Phil Foden’s deflected cutback after great movement by Jeremy Doku.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, RB Leipzig 2 (UEFA Champions League)
Man City: Ortega, Walker (C) (Alvarez 55), Akanji, Dias (Ake 46), Gvardiol (Gomez 90+3), Rodri, Lewis, Bernardo Silva, Foden, Grealish (Doku 55), Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ederson, Carson, Phillips, Stones, Bobb
Booked: Dias 22 (foul on Lois Openda)
Goals: Haaland 55; Foden 70; Alvarez 87
RB Leipzig: Blaswich, Klostermann, Simakan, Lukeba, Raum, Seiwald, Haidara (Carvalho 74), X Schlager, Simons (Poulsen 75), Forsberg (C) (Baumgartner 60), Openda (Sesko 60)
RB Leipzig Subs not used: Gulacsi, Lenz, Heinrichs, Kampl
Goals: Openda 13, 33