Leipzig RB Leipzig

Man City Manchester City

Men's Team

Bernardo: There’s a long way to go, but it’s good to be top!

WHEN AND WHERE 

City will travel to Germany for our final group stage game of this year’s Champions League campaign on Tuesday 7 December with qualification to the knockout stages already secured thanks to our 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain. 

Kick-off against RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena is scheduled for 17:45 (UK), with the match broadcast live on BT Sport 2 for those in the UK.

Those living elsewhere can find out how to tune in via our global TV Listings at the foot of this page. 

The game will be played behind-closed-doors, following a rise in COVID-19 rates in Germany.

WATCH ‘EDERSON: EUROPE’ ON CITY+ NOW

APP COVERAGE

The official Man City app offers comprehensive coverage of every City game. 

Alistair Mann will provide commentary throughout the 90 minutes, while minute-by minute text updates are available in our Matchday Centre, starting at 15:45 (UK). 

For those with push notifications turned on, you’ll also get alerted as soon as the teams are announced and when any goals go in. 

Our Matchday Live show can be found on all digital platforms including the app, beginning at 18:45. 

Highlights from the match can be found later in the evening, while a full-match replay will also be available from midnight following the game with a CITY+ subscription. 

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team news

City make seven changes for tonight’s Champions League Group A finale away to RB Leipzig.

Kevin De Bruyne makes his first start after recovering from testing positive for COVID-19 last month.

And Zack Steffen, Oleks Zinchenko, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Fernandinho and Riyad Mahrez also come into the starting eleven.

From the side that started Saturday’s 3-1 win at Vicarage Road, Ederson, Ruben Dias and Raheem Sterling revert to the bench

Meanwhile Aymeric Laporte, Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and Rodrigo all didn’t make the trip to eastern Germany.

Jesus picked up a knock after coming on as a substitute in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Watford while Laporte was also absent with a minor knock.

And City assured of top spot, tonight’s match also afforded an opportunity for Bernardo, Cancelo and Rodrigo to rest and recuperate after a hectic period of games.

Ferran Torres remains sidelined with a foot injury.

TEAMS

RB Leipzig: Gulacsi, Mukiele, Gavardiol, Angelino, Klostermann, Laimer, Szoboszlai, Kampl, Nkunku, Forsberg, Silva

Subs: Martinez, Adams, Simakan, Henrichs, Moriba, Brobbey, Bonnah

City: Steffen, Walker, Stones, Ake, Zinchenko, Fernandinho ©, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish, Foden, Mahrez
Subs: Ederson, Carson, Dias, Sterling, Egan-Riley, Palmer, McAtee, Lavia, Wilson-Esbrand

Pep Guardiola preview

“Of course, all the guys who play want to win for respect in the competition, respect for Leipzig and respect for Brugge and PSG.

“We want to improve. We can do things even better - we know exactly which ones. The more you do it, the more natural it is.

“It is a huge opportunity. It is the Champions League.”

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Oleks Zinchenko preview

“Of course we want to continue that [winning run]. It’s always nice to have this winning road.

“It doesn’t matter which competition it is - the Champions League, Carabao Cup, Premier League - we are always trying to show our best performance but it’s only the mid-season.

“It’s a big achievement for the Club to go through to the knock-out stages. We want to show our best performance for the rhythm. We still have a lot of games in front of us.

“We are so happy at the moment with the positions we have but there is so much still to play. You don’t know what will happen.”

LAST TIME OUT 

City climbed to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season after beating Watford 3-1 at Vicarage Road.

It was yet another scintillating performance on the road as City also set a new Club record in the process.

Goals from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo gave the champions a two-goal advantage at the break, though it perhaps could and should have been many more.

It was a similar story after the re-start, with Bernardo scoring a sumptuous third to seal victory just past the hour.

Phil Foden and Jack Grealish hit the woodwork before Chucho Hernandez pulled one back on 74 minutes.

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LAST MEETING 

Our last encounter with RB Leipzig produced a goal-fest in our first Champions League outing this season. 

City ran out 6-3 winners thanks to goals from Nathan Ake, an own goal from Nordi Mukiele, a Riyad Mahrez penalty as well as further strikes from Jack Grealish, Joao Cancelo and Gabriel Jesus, with Christopher Nkunku netting a hat-trick for the visitors. 

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FORM GUIDE

City head into the clash on a seven-game winning run in all competitions and on the back of Saturday’s impressive 3-1 win at Watford.

In the Champions League, we have won all bar one of our five Group A games this term.

Leipzig have won two and lost three of their last five games, falling to a 2-1 defeat last time out at the hands of Union Berlin on Friday.

They have lost three, won one and drawn one of their European clashes this season.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Sandro Schärer (SUI)
Assistant referees: Stephane De Almeida (SUI), Bekim Zogaj (SUI)
Fourth official: Alain Bieri (SUI)
Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San (SUI)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Lionel Tschudi (SUI)

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