Unlucky Akanji Denied Record-Breaking Goals by Janis Blaswich as Grealish’s Stock Soars and Laporte’s Reality Check Continues
In his impressive performance against Leipzig in the Champions League last-16 second leg at Etihad Stadium, Kevin De Bruyne redefines the concept of returning to fundamentals. This match has generated a lot of discussion.
Pep Guardiola advised Kevin De Bruyne to return to the fundamentals before the Manchester City vs RB Leipzig game due to his recent drop in form, and De Bruyne responded by referring to himself as an “old man” in the sport. However, the Belgian proved that he was still at the top of his game during the match, delivering impressive crosses and demonstrating a clear point to prove. He showed his intent early on by striking the bar and providing an assist for Erling Haaland’s second goal in two minutes.
Before and during the match, fans supported De Bruyne despite his recent negative press, and his name was being chanted in the Etihad Stadium after his contribution to the goal. In De Bruyne and Haaland, Manchester City had two players for the big occasion. De Bruyne went on to dominate the game, controlling play, creating chances for his teammates, and throwing himself in front of anything that came his way. He finished the game with a stunning curler into the top corner, making it seven goals for City. In conclusion, “back to basics” for De Bruyne meant returning to his best and being the most outstanding player on the pitch during a crucial game.
Erling Haaland quickly restored his remarkable one-goal-per-game average within just two minutes of the game against Leipzig by scoring his second consecutive penalty before adding a second goal from a rebound after Kevin De Bruyne’s shot hit the crossbar. Manchester City signed the Norwegian striker to make a difference in games like this, and he certainly did.
However, what was even more impressive was Haaland’s all-round play, as he was more involved in the game than in the first leg, where City had struggled to get him involved. He was dropping deep to initiate counter-attacks, pressuring defenders with his intimidating style, and came close to scoring a first-half hat-trick. His fourth and fifth goals were just the cherry on top of a remarkable performance.
This match showcased Haaland’s deadly finishing skills, but it also demonstrated his improved involvement in the build-up play, which is a positive sign for Manchester City. If he continues to score goals and become more integrated into the team’s tactics, Haaland could be reaching his most dangerous form at precisely the right moment.
Jack Grealish played an important role in Manchester City’s victory over Leipzig, contributing with an assist for the fourth goal. Grealish has started in 12 of the last 13 games, mostly playing on the left, and has become one of City’s go-to players on big nights. Guardiola’s decision to play only one recognised winger, Grealish, over Foden and Mahrez, is a testament to his progress this season. Despite being replaced in the second half, Grealish received praise from the manager and is likely to continue to play a crucial role in the team.
Although Erling Haaland was the star of the game, scoring a hat-trick and almost scoring two more, he owes some credit to Manu Akanji, who was twice denied from close range before Haaland followed up. Akanji continues to impress in defence and deserves to keep his place in the starting lineup, with Guardiola indicating that he will reward players who are playing well.
Aymeric Laporte, on the other hand, has been left out of the starting lineup in 15 of the 20 games since the World Cup, suggesting that he is no longer Guardiola’s preferred pick for big games. Laporte has expressed his frustration in the past when left out of the team, and his lack of playing time could potentially lead to his exit from the club.
