Champions League: Leipzig’s Last Stand

RB Leipzig vs Manchester City

Red Bull Leipzig will say goodbye to the Champions League for another year when they welcome Group A winners Manchester City in the last round of the 2021/22 group stages.

The Sky Blues secured their place in the Round of 16, clinching the top spot with a game to spare, and they are sitting pretty on 12 points and four ahead of Paris Saint-Germain. So there’s little to play for in terms of points for the visitors, but Leipzig might need to earn a result to guarantee a place in the Europa League. The Germans will finish third if they win or if Club Brugge lose as expected, to PSG at the Parc des Princes. In essence they need to match the Belgians’ result to move into the Europa competition; and with their league season going badly too, Jesse Marsch’s team needs some success.

And Red Bull will be trying to exact revenge for the 6-3 stuffing they suffered in Manchester back in September, so expect some fight in Leipzig’s last stand.

Talking Points

Nkunku can lift Leipzig spirits

Premier League

Arsenal

Southampton

CLICK HERE

TO SEE UPDATED ODDS

Leipzig’s Champions League 2021 results have been as underwhelming as their Bundesliga performances as Marsch has struggled to get to grips with the club and its haughty ambitions. The head coach took over a team that Julian Nagelsmann led to second place last season, but currently Die Roten Bullen are sitting in 11^th place in the league after an away game to Union Berlin on Friday turned into another fruitless night.

But Die Roten Bullen have a shining light in the shape of Christopher Nkunku who has scored seven goals in the competition and six in the league. The 24-year-old French winger scored a hat-trick in Die Roten Bullen’s defeat at the Etihad and he is a real livewire, destined for a big career, though whether that will be in Leipzig remains to be seen.

Alongside Nkunku, Portuguese striker Andre Silva has scored seven goals for club and country this season and Emil Forsberg is a talented forward, capable of turning a game. So Red Bull have enough firepower to cause any opponent a problem, but with back-to-back defeats and just five wins in 14 Bundesliga matches they need a lift.

Guardiola will delve into his deep squad

With seven wins on the trot, Manchester City will be in no mood to give Leipzig a helping hand on Tuesday and Pep Guardiola will send out an imposing 11 to face the German side at the Red Bull Arena. West Ham’s win over Chelsea on Saturday pushed Manchester City up to top spot in the Premier League as the Sky Blues swept Watford away 3-1 in a performance that looked ominous for their title rivals.

Jack Grealish prepares as Manchester City clash against RB Leipzig in the Champions League — Jack Grealish in action during Manchester City’s match against Aston Villa

Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva put in a man-of-the-match performance, scoring two goals in City’s victory over the Hornets but it may well be that Guardiola will give Silva, and some of his other big players a rest, with a home game against Wolves looming. Reserve keeper Zack Steffen is likely to step in for Ederson, while there may be another chance for City’s latest young starlet Cole Palmer upfront, alongside Gabriel Jesus.

The Champions League 2021 betting odds suggest Manchester City or FC Bayern will win the 2021/22 prize. This game is a dead rubber but the Sky Blues will be keen to keep their momentum going and, whichever players Pep chooses to rest, the 11 on the pitch will have enough quality to give Red Bull a tough night.

History

Manchester United and FC Bayern fans will tell you that neither City nor Leipzig have a great deal of history as the nouveau riche teams in world football. It might be bit harsh, but neither have yet conquered Europe.

The Sky Blues seem able to win the Premier League at will, but they blew their big chance of Champions League glory in 2021 when they simply didn’t turn up in a 1-0 final defeat to Chelsea.

Red Bull reached the semi-final in 2020 but have yet to reach a final and they won’t be doing that this year!

Betting Tip

	RB Leipzig vs Manchester City	Total Goals 2-3 @ 2.06
	December 8, 01:45 (GMT+8)

Leipzig are at 3.30 to win this tie and 3.35 to draw, while Manchester City are marginally odds against at a price of 2.02 here at SBOTOP.

It’s tempting to back the Sky Blues to make it eight wins on the bounce but, just every now and then, and sometimes when the pressure is off, they miss out. Manchester City have already lost once in this competition, to PSG, and they are out of the Carabao Cup. So with little to play for and players to rest, I’m leaving them alone and backing the game to produce two or three goals.