Haaland winner lifts Manchester City past Leipzig despite defensive lapses
Original report:
Erling Haaland secured a 3-2 Champions League win for Manchester City at RB Leipzig after the hosts twice drew level. The result brought relief for Enzo Maresca, but defensive mistakes and Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goalkeeping remained concerns in the match report.
Manchester City beat RB Leipzig 3-2 in Germany, with Erling Haaland converting Elliot Anderson’s cross to settle a Champions League contest in which the hosts twice equalised. City initially led through Castello Lukeba’s own goal after Nico O’Reilly delivered a cross, before Ridle Baku brought Leipzig level after the break.
Enzo Fernández restored City’s advantage with a header from Iliman Ndiaye’s delivery, but Antonio Nusa equalised again before Haaland struck. Rayan Cherki later hit a post. Manager Enzo Maresca described both conceded goals as avoidable and acknowledged Gianluigi Donnarumma’s mistake for Baku’s finish, while stopping short of expressing concern about his goalkeeper.
City entered the match after Premier League defeats against Aston Villa and Brighton, making the victory a welcome response before a trip to Nottingham Forest. However, the report describes persistent difficulties controlling midfield and supplying Haaland, alongside defensive weaknesses that allowed Leipzig to erase two leads.
Source
the Guardian — 4 November 2026
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