Tuesday night’s exciting UEFA Champions League match saw Manchester City pull off an incredible comeback, defeating RB Leipzig 3-2 to take first place in Group G after trailing by two goals at halftime. Leipzig had nothing to lose by trying to take control of the group, even though they had already guaranteed a spot in the UCL knockout stage. After an early caution from Xavi Simons, Leipzig broke the deadlock as Loïs Openda took advantage of lax defense.
City’s surprisingly strong lineup seemed off the pace initially, perhaps too assured of their upcoming UCL campaign. Openda’s second goal, eluding defenders and beating Stefan Ortega, added to City’s first-half woes.
The second half marked a dramatic turnaround for City. Phil Foden’s precision pass set up Erling Haaland for a confident finish, igniting the home side’s resurgence. A well-worked passing move culminated in a Foden goal, drawing level.
Substitute Fábio Carvalho’s goal was disallowed for offside, a pivotal moment as Foden orchestrated a wonderful team goal, providing the assist for Julián Álvarez to secure the lead. The 3-2 victory marked City’s eighth successive UCL home game with three or more goals.
The impressive second-half performance solidified Group G standings, with Manchester City advancing as group leaders and Leipzig securing their spot as runners-up.
Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) narrowly avoided a Champions League upset, securing a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United. The Magpies, aware that a loss could eliminate them from the tournament, adopted a defensive strategy, relying on counterattacks. Despite PSG’s dominance in possession, Ousmane Dembélé and his teammates struggled to convert opportunities, with Nick Pope denying Mbappé and others.
Newcastle, seizing a chance, saw Alexander Isak capitalize on a loose ball to put them ahead. PSG, now outside the top-two momentarily, intensified their efforts. Bradley Barcola, a substitute, was denied a point-blank goal by Pope, adding to PSG’s frustrations. As the clock ticked down, Dembélé and others missed crucial chances, making it seem like an unfortunate night for the Parisians.
In a late twist, VAR intervened, prompting a penalty review after the ball struck Tino Livramento’s chest and then his arm. Kylian Mbappé, in the 98th minute, calmly converted the penalty, rescuing PSG from a potential defeat. This result solidifies PSG’s position in the Champions League, setting the stage for a crucial clash with already-qualified Borussia Dortmund in the final group stage match. Meanwhile, Newcastle’s fate hangs in the balance as they look to secure progression against AC Milan. The 98th-minute equalizer proved pivotal for PSG, maintaining their control over their Champions League destiny.
Check out the full results below:
Check out the latest Group Standings below:
