Leipzig vs Man City LIVE: Champions League result and final score after Gvardiol equalises

RB Leipzig 1-1 Man City: Premier League champions denied in Germany as Gvardiola cancels out Riyad Mahrez opener

Erling Haaland battles with Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol (Reuters)

RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol headed in a 70th-minute goal to earn a 1-1 draw against visitors Manchester City in their Champions League Round of 16 first leg on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old defender bagged the deserved equaliser with a towering header after City’s Riyad Mahrez had slotted in following a Leipzig mistake in the 27th minute.

Leipzig were toothless in the first half but were much improved after the break and outplayed their opponents, who are aiming to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for a sixth straight season.

City have now drawn their last two games after being held 1-1 by Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday while Leipzig’s four-game winning run in the competition came to an end. The return leg is in Manchester on March 14.

Follow all the reaction as RB Leipzig host Manchester City in the Champions League last-16:

RB Leipzig vs Manchester City

• Goal! Josko Gvardiol heads Leipzig level (70 min)
• Goal! Riyad Mahrez fires City ahead (27 min)

[22 February 2023 22:37 · Ben Fleming]

RB Leipzig 1-1 Manchester City

Manchester City had to settle for a 1-1 Champions League draw at RB Leipzig as their first-half domination went to waste.

Just as in Saturday’s Premier League draw at Nottingham Forest, City could have been out of sight after Riyad Mahrez had given them a 27th-minute lead in this last-16 first-leg tie.

But Pep Guardiola’s side failed to make possession and pressure count once more, and Josko Gvardiol’s equaliser 20 minutes from time provided another reminder that chances must be taken.

Read the full match report from Germany below:

[22 February 2023 22:30 · Ben Fleming]

Marco Rose speaking to BT Sport

“It was a really difficult first half - it’s not enough against City. We were too passive in every situation and they moved the ball very well - we had no power.

“Second half - totally different. It was the level that we wanted from the beginning but better late than never.”

[22 February 2023 22:27 · Ben Fleming]

Should Man City have had a late penalty?

Pep Guardiola was tight-lipped but here are the BT Sport pundits discussing the potential penalty incident:

[22 February 2023 22:25 · Ben Fleming]

Benjamin Henrichs speaking after the game

“When we play like we did in the second half, you can see that we can compete with Man City. During the break, the head coach told us to stay calm. We got Szoboszlai into the game more after that, which helped us become more dangerous.”

[22 February 2023 22:23 · Ben Fleming]

Pep Guardiola talking to BT Sport

“They pressed us further forward and we had more problems in the build-up. We came back and we had a good last 15 minutes.

“We had good chances in both halves and we are going to decide it back in Manchester. I’m happy for the whole game, not just the first 45 minutes.

“Do people expect us to come here and win 5-0? That is not the reality - it is a competition and it is difficult and knew it.

“It’s our fourth game in 10 days with a lot of travel - we are a good team but if people expect us to come here and win 4-0, we are not able to do that.”

On the penalty appeals late on: “I cannot talk about it but I know what happened.”

[22 February 2023 22:10 · Ben Fleming]

RB Leipzig 1-1 Manchester City

[22 February 2023 22:10 · Ben Fleming]

RB Leipzig 1-1 Manchester City

[22 February 2023 22:03 · Ben Fleming]

Elsewhere in Europe

Before we get some reaction from the managers, let’s take a look at the other last-16 tie that happened tonight. Romelu Lukaku was on hand to fire his Inter side to a 1-0 home win against ten-man Porto.

[22 February 2023 21:53 · Ben Fleming]

FULL-TIME: RB Leipzig 1-1 Manchester City

A vastly improved second-half performance from Leipzig has earnt them a 1-1 draw tonight against Manchester City. Mahrez opened the scoring as City dominated the first half but Gvardiol’s header capped off a great second half from the home side who will take a draw on their travels to Manchester for the second leg.

[22 February 2023 21:53 · Ben Fleming]

RB Leipzig 1-1 Manchester City

90+2 mins: City win a corner deep in stoppage time. Mahrez plays a one-two with Gundogan before whipping it into the box but City are unable to fashion an opportunity. There are appeals for handball but the referee is unmoved and the full-time whistle goes.