City crush Leipzig in goal blitz
THE positives far outweighed the negatives for Pep Guardiola in this nine-goal thriller, but he will still wince when he watches it back.
The important thing was victory over rB Leipzig, complete with a goal for £100million Jack Grealish on his European debut for Manchester City.
However, Guardiola will have seen this as less football, more basketball, with Christopher Nkunku scoring a hat-trick for a Leipzig team who have lost three of their first four Bundesliga matches.
ruben Dias captained the home side but it was his defensive partner who kickstarted City’s season in Europe.
Nathan Ake hadn’t played a single minute of action since defeat at Spurs a month ago, yet was given a chance here because of injuries to Aymeric Laporte and John Stones.
When Grealish’s 16th-minute corner arced into an attacking area, Ake powered a header which Peter Gulacsi could only palm on to the underside of the bar and over the line.
City settled well and the lead was doubled shortly before the halfhour in comical fashion. Kevin de Bruyne was beginning to rampage in the inside-right channel, and Nordi Mukiele’s eyes inadvertently lit up when the Belgian’s cross approached his zone. Grealish was the target at the back post but Mukiele beat him to it, nodding past his own keeper.
Mukiele quickly made amends of some description and under-fire Leipzig manager Jesse Marsch — who was linked with Celtic before Ange Postecoglou’s arrival — saw a way back into the game minutes before the break.
City were indecisive at the back, with Joao Cancelo sitting off Emil Forsberg and the lofted cross finding Mukiele. Suddenly Nkunku had the ball in Ederson’s net and the Germans had a sniff. And then they didn’t.
Lukas Klostermann led with his arm as he challenged inside the box and, after a VAr check, Dutch ref Serdar Gozubuyuk pointed to the spot. Mahrez dispatched with the final kick of the first half.
Yet the visitors found another way back on 50 minutes. Again, it followed defensive confusion. Again, it was Nkunku, the striker nestling himself between Dias and Ake and planting a header past Ederson.
Grealish seemed to have sealed it on 56 minutes. Dias hooked a clearance high into the sky and the Englishman scampered off. He stood up Tyler Adams, shifting possession away from his marker, and curled high into the far corner.
Still Leipzig kept coming. Nkunku broke clear and took the visitors to within one as he steered a shot into Ederson’s far corner for a memorable treble.
Cancelo had other ideas, hitting back almost immediately by firing home City’s fifth. And there was still time for ex-City defender Angelino to be sent off before sub Gabriel Jesus added a sixth.
Grealish said: ‘It was one of those games that had everything. In the end we’re delighted to get the win against a good team full of energy and young players. I’m delighted to come away with the three points — and the goal and assist.
‘The ball came to me and when I’m in that position, running into the area I’d back myself.’