The Blues did their part by booking their place in the last-16 as group winners, theoretically earning an ‘easier’ draw in the first knockout round. To play the second leg at home should be an advantage, however the looming presence of Paris Saint-Germain as potential opponents added an element of jeopardy to the draw.
Had City been pitted against Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, their Champions League hopes would have been given a huge hurdle to overcome at the first knockout attempt.
Of course, to win the trophy you must beat the best sides, but a CityPSG last-16 clash would have been a meeting between the favourites for the tournament three stages before the final.
So for the Blues to get RB Leipzig – a team they beat comfortably at home last season in the group stage, and who sit sixth in the Bundesliga – is one of the better ties they could have been given.
Leipzig won’t be easy to beat, as proven by their victory over City in the dead-rubber group game last season, and Pep Guardiola will insist the only focus is on beating the Germans to reach the quarter-finals.
This story is from the November 18, 2022 edition of Manchester Evening News.
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This story is from the November 18, 2022 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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