After an excellent start to the season, City had lost two Premier League games in a row either side of beating Brighton on penalties in the League Cup. The visitors twice went ahead — through a Castello Lukeba own goal and an Enzo Fernandez header — only to be pegged back by goals from Ridle Baku and Antonio Nusa. Despite having scored more against Leipzig than any other opponents in his career, Haaland had few chances but was right on the spot to turn in an Elliot Anderson cross for the winner.
Erling Haaland’s 78th-minute strike helped Manchester City shake off a mini-slump with a 3-2 Champions League win at RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
Erling Haaland’s 78th-minute strike helped Manchester City shake off a mini-slump with a 3-2 Champions League win at RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
“It’s important that he’s on his game. Maresca backed under-fire goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was out of position for Baku’s equaliser. Haaland has now scored 13 times in nine matches against Leipzig, including a memorable five-goal performance in a 7-0 rout in March 2023. Nusa’s performance was a highlight for the hosts, with Haaland’s Norway teammate now on six goals and seven assists in 14 matches this season as Leipzig look to replace Yan Diomande, who left for Real Madrid in the summer. Leipzig had won just one from three in the Champions League before Wednesday but had been excellent at home, winning five from five while scoring 19 goals without conceding once. Leipzig looked more comfortable but then conceded in embarrassing fashion with 37 minutes gone when Lukeba bungled a Nico O’Reilly cut-back into his own goal.
We know that at any moment he can help us, he can score goals,” Maresca said.
