It’s a rematch that looks like a turning point in Manchester City’s season. On Tuesday evening (9 pm, Canal + Foot, RMC Sport 1), Pep Guardiola’s team plays big against Leipzig, after a draw in the first leg (1-1). In Germany, Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol equalized for Leipzig (1-1, 70) after Riyad Mahrez’s goal at the start of the match (0-1, 27). Despite having possession of the ball (63%), Manchester City were not dangerous (3 shots on goal). So the Sky Blues fear their German opponent. “It will be a difficult game, Leipzig is difficult to play,” Kevin De Bruyne said in a press conference. I wasn’t there for the first leg, but I saw them and they’re doing very well. They have a very active game that will be very challenging. But if you want to win the Champions League, you have to beat the best teams in Europe. »
For his coach, the battle will be above all tactical: “You approach the middle, they play on them, when you defend on both sides, they have more players in the middle, and it’s very difficult to control. I think it will be a good match because they have a great team.”
The normally highly oiled collegiate mechanics of the Nationals seem to be off a bit this season. Is a grain of sand in gears called Erling Haaland? The Norwegian striker scores. Rather, several (34 goals in all competitions). And again, on Saturday, he provided his team with a penalty kick victory over Crystal Palace (1-0). After the first leg, however, the former Borussia Dortmund player was singled out for his poor contribution in the match.
Haaland can do better.
That evening, the 22-year-old could not find fault. Even worse, he only touched 22 balls in 90 minutes, in 14 pass attempts and 1 shot on goal. On Monday at a press conference, his coach asked him for more. “I don’t like a player being in the box just to score goals, Pep Guardiola has developed. Of course he’s important, he’s the main thing, but he’s not all we need. We have to look for him and we have to be involved in what we’re doing. He’s improved a bit, but he can to do better than that.”
The British team ranks second in the league, five points behind Arsenal. The arrival of spring is a turning point. “Champions League? It’s really important,” admitted coach Mancunian. “To survive the last two months of the season.”
The Catalan tactician also spoke about the absence of Christopher Nkunku, the star striker of the Marco Rose team: “Of course, Nkunku is an exceptional player. But they are going through this season without him and they are in very good shape. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Inter has a small margin
In the other meeting of the evening, Porto hosts Inter Milan (9 pm, beIN Sports 1). The Portuguese lost in the first leg, after a goal from Romelu Lukaku at the end of the match (1-0, 86′). Dragons coach Sergio Conceicao believes in his team’s ability to turn things around. But for that, it would be necessary to “look for a result quickly and vigorously by being clever in the game”.
The former Nantes coach will still have to lay off two key components of his workforce. Midfielder Ottavio received a red card in the first leg. Defender Joao Mario is suffering from knee pain.
