Erling Haaland hits 40 goals as Manchester City stun RB Leipzig with a 3-2 victory

In a remarkable turnaround, Erling Haaland achieved a milestone by becoming the fastest player to reach 40 Champions League goals as Manchester City staged a comeback to defeat RB Leipzig 3-2 on Tuesday.  The defending champions found themselves trailing 2-0 at the Etihad, facing their first European defeat since 2018, with Lois Openda capitalizing on defensive lapses to score twice in the first half.

Haaland, however, narrowed City's deficit, and goals from Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez secured their position at the top of Group G. Foden candidly acknowledged, "The first half was the worst I've seen us. Came out the second half, played a lot better and changed the game. This team has got a great mentality for that."

City's dominance at home in the Champions League continued, with 27 wins in their last 29 home games since their last defeat. Despite Leipzig being regular victims during this run, they proved challenging opponents. Guardiola, visibly displeased at half-time, witnessed lapses from his team, with defensive errors from Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias leading to Openda's goals. City, though possessing control and territory, struggled to convert their chances.

Brilliant assist by Julian Alvarez

In the second half, Guardiola made crucial changes, bringing in Nathan Ake for Dias and later introducing Jeremy Doku and Alvarez. Alvarez played a key role in City's fightback, assisting Foden, who, in turn, set up Haaland to score his 40th Champions League goal in just 35 appearances.

Foden then added to the comeback, scoring from the edge of the box 20 minutes from time. Despite Leipzig momentarily thinking they had reclaimed the lead with a goal from Fabio Carvalho, the offside flag denied them.

Guardiola reflected on the match, stating, "We conceded too much defensively. You have to win your duels. We reacted really well in the second half, and yeah, we are first in the group, so very satisfied with the reaction." This victory reaffirms City's prowess in European competitions, showcasing their ability to overcome challenges and maintain their standing among football's elite.