Match ends, Manchester City 6, RB Leipzig 3.
Jack Grealish scored a wonderful goal on his Champions League debut as Manchester City scored six past RB Leipzig to put the pain of losing last season's final behind them.
City produced a stunning attacking display to overcome last season's Bundesliga runners-up and get their Group A campaign off to a winning start.
Grealish, the British record £100m signing from Aston Villa, illuminated Etihad Stadium after cutting inside from the left before curling home to make it 4-2.
In an extraordinary game, Nathan Ake had put Pep Guardiola's side ahead with a powerful header - the 10th different player to score in a City shirt this season - before a calamitous own goal by Nordi Mukiele doubled the lead.
The France defender got his angles horribly wrong as his attempted header back to his keeper following Kevin de Bruyne's delivery ended up in the net.
City did not have things all their own way, however, and Mukiele made up for his error by playing a role in Christopher Nkunku's goal to make it 2-1 before Riyad Mahrez restored the two-goal cushion with a penalty after Lukas Klostermann handled.
Nkunku gave RB Leipzig hope with a header only for Grealish to his score his second for the club with a delightful finish.
Former Paris St-Germain player Nkunku completed his hat-trick, but Joao Cancelo added a stunning fifth and substitute Gabriel Jesus a sixth to set City up nicely for their biggest test in the group away to PSG on 28 September.
RB Leipzig finished with 10 men after former Manchester City player Angelino was sent off in the 79th minute for a second yellow card.
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Free-scoring City building momentum
Guardiola had urged his players before the game to use the hurt from losing last season's final to spur them to go one step further this time.
In an astonishing match, they scored three times in each half to take their tally to 17 in the past four matches.
Nkunku's hat-trick means that Guardiola was not entirely satisfied with what he saw but there were plenty of positives as City's season continues to gather momentum.
De Bruyne did not look like a player making his first start of the season after injury, as the Belgium midfielder produced an electric performance, while Grealish looked like he belonged on the Champions League stage.
The England midfielder continues to thrive in his new surroundings and delivered one of the game's outstanding moments with his stunning finish.
After delivering the corner for Ake to score the game's opening goal, Grealish became the first Englishman to both score and assist on their Champions League debut since Wayne Rooney in September 2004.
With Phil Foden coming on to make his first appearance for City since the Champions League final defeat, Guardiola's side are looking stronger each game.
Ever the perfectionist, he will not be happy with the goals his side conceded.
Guardiola, in charge of City for the 300th time, was at his animated best as he delivered instructions to both Grealish and Mahrez as his side closed in on victory.
There were some empty seats at the Etihad and Guardiola appealed for fans to turn out for Saturday's Premier League game with Southampton.
"We scored 16 goals in the last three games here. I'd like more people to come on Saturday. We will be tired. Southampton are so dangerous. I invite all our people to come 3pm to watch our game," he said.
Player of the match
NkunkuChristopher Nkunku
Manchester City
Avg
- Squad number10Player nameGrealishAverage rating
7.17
- Squad number17Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating
6.91
- Squad number26Player nameMahrezAverage rating
6.61
- Squad number47Player nameFodenAverage rating
6.51
- Squad number27Player nameJoão CanceloAverage rating
6.49
- Squad number9Player nameGabriel JesusAverage rating
6.48
- Squad number6Player nameAkéAverage rating
6.47
- Squad number21Player nameF TorresAverage rating
6.46
- Squad number3Player nameRúben DiasAverage rating
6.35
- Squad number20Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating
6.35
- Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating
6.19
- Squad number25Player nameFernandinhoAverage rating
6.12
- Squad number31Player nameEdersonAverage rating
6.06
- Squad number7Player nameSterlingAverage rating
6.06
- Squad number11Player nameZinchenkoAverage rating
6.04
- Squad number8Player nameGündoganAverage rating
6.00
RB Leipzig
Avg
- Squad number18Player nameNkunkuAverage rating
8.05
- Squad number17Player nameSzoboszlaiAverage rating
6.74
- Squad number9Player namePoulsenAverage rating
6.63
- Squad number8Player nameHaidaraAverage rating
6.53
- Squad number21Player nameBrobbeyAverage rating
6.38
- Squad number10Player nameForsbergAverage rating
6.28
- Squad number25Player nameOlmoAverage rating
6.27
- Squad number33Player nameAndré SilvaAverage rating
6.10
- Squad number32Player nameGvardiolAverage rating
6.07
- Squad number27Player nameLaimerAverage rating
5.95
- Squad number14Player nameAdamsAverage rating
5.95
- Squad number4Player nameOrbanAverage rating
5.82
- Squad number16Player nameKlostermannAverage rating
5.80
- Squad number3Player nameAngelinoAverage rating
5.74
- Squad number22Player nameMukieleAverage rating
5.69
- Squad number1Player nameGulácsiAverage rating
5.68
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 27Cancelo
- 3Rúben Dias
- 6Aké
- 11ZinchenkoBooked at 12mins
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forFodenat 71'minutes
- 16RodriSubstituted forFernandinhoat 59'minutes
- 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forGündoganat 59'minutes
- 26Mahrez
- 21F TorresSubstituted forSterlingat 72'minutes
- 10GrealishSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Walker
- 7Sterling
- 8Gündogan
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 25Fernandinho
- 33Carson
- 47Foden
- 80Palmer
- 84Slicker
- 90Lavia
RB Leipzig
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Gulácsi
- 22Mukiele
- 16KlostermannBooked at 45mins
- 4Orban
- 3AngelinoBooked at 79mins
- 14AdamsBooked at 49mins
- 27LaimerSubstituted forHaidaraat 60'minutes
- 18NkunkuSubstituted forGvardiolat 81'minutes
- 25OlmoSubstituted forBrobbeyat 72'minutes
- 10ForsbergSubstituted forSzoboszlaiat 61'minutes
- 33André SilvaSubstituted forPoulsenat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Simakan
- 8Haidara
- 9Poulsen
- 17Szoboszlai
- 21Brobbey
- 26Kourouma Kourouma
- 31Martínez
- 32Gvardiol
- 39Henrichs
- 44Kampl
- Referee:
- Serdar Gözübüyük
- Attendance:
- 38,062
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester City 6, RB Leipzig 3.
Post update
Attempt saved. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Fernandinho.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Willi Orban.
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Attempt missed. Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Dominik Szoboszlai with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, RB Leipzig. Conceded by Rúben Dias.
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Attempt blocked. Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yussuf Poulsen.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 6, RB Leipzig 3. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner following a corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Rúben Dias (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Péter Gulácsi.
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Foul by Nathan Aké (Manchester City).
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Brian Brobbey (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Manchester City. Fernandinho tries a through ball, but Nathan Aké is caught offside.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Lukas Klostermann.
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Attempt missed. Brian Brobbey (RB Leipzig) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Josko Gvardiol.
Substitution
Substitution, RB Leipzig. Josko Gvardiol replaces Christopher Nkunku.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Gabriel Jesus replaces Jack Grealish.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Angeliño (RB Leipzig) for a bad foul.
Post update
João Cancelo (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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What a perfect first week for Champions league
Will be especially interesting to see them face a PSG team shaken from dropping two points to the group makeweights...