2022-23 UEFA Champions League – Round of 16: First Leg – RB Leipzig vs Manchester City

RB Leipzig welcome Manchester City to Red Bull Arena in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie in 2022-23 UEFA Champions League.

RB Leipzig qualified for this stage as Group F runners-up, whilst Man City advanced as Group G winners to secure their place in this tie.

 

Team News

Christopher Nkunku could return to RB Leipzig’s starting line-up after he was amongst several substitutes during their 3-0 Bundesliga win at Wolfsburg last weekend.

Caden Clark (back), Dani Olmo (thigh) and Abdou Diallo (knee) all remain absent.

Man City have no fresh injury concerns to report as John Stones (hamstring) remains absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

RB Leipzig host Man City at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday 22 February in a 8pm GMT (9pm CET) kick-off live on BT Sport in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• RB Leipzig have won just one of their two previous meetings against Man City (W1, L1), which came in the Group Stage of last season’s Champions League.
• Man City lost 2-1 in their only previous visit to RB Leipzig in December 2021.
• RB Leipzig are yet to keep a clean sheet against Man City.
• Nkunku has scored in each of RB Leipzig’s last two home matches in this season’s competition (W2).
• City are yet to concede away from home in this season’s Champions League, having kept clean sheets in their three group matches on the road this season (W1, D2).

 

Prediction

Following their win at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday, RB Leipzig can come into this game full of confidence but their defence will need to be at their best after keeping just two clean sheets in seven matches this year.

Man City meanwhile will be frustrated by how wasteful they were at Nottingham Forest last weekend because they dominated on the attack, yet just lacked that clinical end product even once ahead to get a comfortable win and were ultimately punished with a sloppy equaliser.

I am therefore expecting City to come out with plenty of anger to vent as they look for a more tidy overall performance, which could suit RB Leipzig if they can sit back and hit the visitors on the counter but City should probably have enough to avoid another stuttering draw.

Prediction: RB Leipzig 1-2 Manchester City

Result: RB Leipzig 1-1 Manchester City