RB Leizpig 2-3 Manchester City: Haaland nets winner in five-goal thriller

Erling Haaland was the match-winner as Manchester City edged RB Leipzig 3-2 in a Champions League thriller at Red Bull Arena.

An own goal from Castello Lukeba and a header from Enzo Fernandez twice gave City the lead, but Ridle Baku and Antonio Nusa both struck for Leipzig, only for Haaland to haunt the Bundesliga side once again.

Rayan Cherki flashed an early shot wide for City before Gianluigi Donnarumma managed to divert Nusa's well-struck effort over the bar at the other end.

With the first half finely poised, City took the lead in the 37th minute as Nico O'Reilly's cut-back was diverted into his own net by Lukeba, with Maarten Vandevoort unable to react quickly enough to spare his defender's blushes.

Donnarumma made a stunning save to keep out Christoph Baumgartner at the start of the second half, but was inexplicably caught out moments later by Baku, who saw his cross creep in at the near post after 49 minutes.

City were back ahead two minutes before the hour as Fernandez headed in from Iliman Ndiaye's cross, but just three minutes later, Nusa linked up well with Christopher Nkunku before lasering into the bottom-left corner.

Both sides pushed hard for a winner, and City's efforts were rewarded in the 78th minute as Haaland slid in at the back post while completely unmarked to turn in from Elliot Anderson's cross.

There were still chances at both ends, with David Raum and Cherki both hitting the crossbar for their respective sides, but City were able to hold on for all three points on the road.

Haaland gives Leipzig more nightmares

While the expected goals (xG) battle suggests it was a comfortable win for City, who accumulated 2.23 xG to Leipzig's 0.87, the scoreline offers a fairer reflection of the contest, with Leipzig recording more shots (14 to 12) and shots on target (six to five).

However, it was Haaland who once again stepped up to drag City over the line and condemn Leipzig to more pain, despite only recording 18 touches in the contest.

Haaland has scored 13 goals in nine appearances against Leipzig in all competitions – his most against any opponent in his career in Europe's top-five leagues.

Martin Demichelis was unable to get one over on the side he represented as a player, but he will take plenty of positives from the defeat, most notably the performance of Nusa.

Nusa created the most chances of any player (four), while leading his Leipzig team-mates in successful dribbles (two – joint-high) and touches in the box (four) to go along with his goal.