An Australian in north London is said to have giggled. Tottenham might have been looking forward to this this weekend. At least at some stage.
He was from this stable, Ange Postecoglou, and managed Manchester City’s Japanese sister club for a few years. So he’s seen City countless times, but sitting on the bench he can’t have witnessed many worse displays than this. Reason for optimism.
City looked like a team that had already qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League – and that’s not a criticism that can often be leveled at a ruthless Pep Guardiola team. Loose, lax, occasionally lazy.
The Rodri impersonator is not asked back for a second performance. Ruben Dias has been growing his hair out, so it proved difficult to be 100 percent sure it was him.
But then they woke up, overcame a two-goal deficit and ensured they would go through as group winners after Christmas, theoretically securing a more comfortable last-16 draw. They maintained their long unbeaten home record in the Champions League of almost 1,900 days. They even eventually won through Julian Alvarez.
Manchester City are top of the Champions League group for the seventh year in a row
Tottenham might have been looking forward to this this weekend. At least at some stage
Lois Openda opened the scoring for RB Leipzig in the 13th minute of the match on Tuesday
The 23-year-old extended Leipzig’s lead in the 33rd minute of the match, much to City’s shock
But there will be concerns for Guardiola. This was not his city for long periods. Perhaps it is a good thing in the long run that the performance took place on a night when defeat would not have been disastrous, but rather an inconvenience.
On a day of celebrating new old in these parts, the game felt a fair bit more Kevin Keegan than Joe Mercer by the end.
Mike Summerbee has enjoyed shorter days, although the length of this one ultimately seemed worth it. He was at the stadium just before 9am to witness the unveiling of his permanent tribute, flanked by Colin Bell and Francis Lee. At 8 p.m. in the director’s box.
Summerbee was overwhelmed by the morning’s event, before a memorial brunch took place inside. “Unbelievable,” he said, also aptly describing Manuel Akanji’s defense as RB Leipzig took a shock lead much later.
Akanji, all around from goalkeeper Janis Blaswich’s long kick forward, allowed Lois Openda to weave freely and calmly side-footed past Ederson’s deputy, Stefan Ortega. The lively Xavi Simons had already curled wide by the time Openda gave the visitors a thirteen minute lead.
Openda is one of Belgium’s big new promises, the striker is attracting attention throughout Europe after his summer move to Germany. The country’s other great player, Jeremy Doku, sat on the bench watching his compatriot tear City apart. His action would come later.
On either side, Rico Lewis and Erling Haaland shot presentable chances over the bar. Dias missed a sitter from Bernardo Silva’s free kick. It should have been a celebration of City’s past while continuing effortlessly into the present, but Leipzig – fifth in the Bundesliga – caught the defending champions cold.
Pep Guardiola was furious with his team and peace could not have come sooner for City
However, things improved in the second half and Haaland found the back of the net for City
Foden equalized for City in the 70th minute with a beautifully taken goal
“Dad would be ashamed if he had a statue out front,” Jon Bell, the son of the greatest club ever, had said. He is no longer with us, Bell, he passed away almost three years ago. Neither did Lee after the attacker and ex-chairman died last month. The fact that neither was outside the main stand to bask in the bronze glory hit Summerbee hard.
“Deep down he would be proud,” Bell Jr. said. “He wouldn’t necessarily show it. This invites children to ask about that team, its history and where we come from. And then they can enjoy Haaland, (Kevin) De Bruyne and the future.’
They couldn’t get much pleasure out of this. Defensive mistakes, big misses and an irritated manager.
Dias, who should have seen red just before half time, was sacrificed for his own good. Doku and Alvarez were sent off nine minutes into the second half and seconds later Haaland reduced the deficit.
Phil Foden’s first positive contribution of the evening, with Haaland sliding through, came from smart work from Alvarez. The Haaland finish: typically sublime. The switches had livened up the Etihad. Doku’s unpredictability and desire to entertain provokes reactions. City came closer and closer, Nathan Aké headed Alvarez’s cross wide.
They were level with twenty minutes to go and Foden growing in this match was the catalyst for the comeback. Gvardiol moved forward and collided with the academy graduate on the half-turn just outside the box. One touch to position himself as he pirouetted, another to push forward and the third caressed into the corner.
Only one winner from there, right? Maybe not, if Liverpool loanee Fabio Carvalho had kept his run going a little longer, Leipzig would have been able to take it. However, the comeback was complete with three minutes remaining when Foden’s involvement once again caused confusion for Leipzig, with Alvarez putting his feet aside and storming home.
More to follow…