Manchester City need two late goals to see off stubborn Leipzig
Champions League
Leipzig 1 Man City 3
Julian Alvarez’s growing importance to Pep Guardiola and Manchester City was showcased in spectacular fashion in Germany Wednesday night with his 85th minute winner lifting his team’s recent malaise.
The game appeared to be heading for a draw when his fellow substitute Jeremy Doku found him in space and the Argentinian World Cup winner, eschewing the need for back-lift, sent a magnificent strike soaring into the top corner of the Leipzig goal from 18 yards.
The pair combined again, in the 91st minute, when Alvarez went clear and squared for Doku to round off the win on the counter-attack.
With Kevin De Bruyne still out injured for many weeks, Alvarez has grown in stature this season and was sorely needed here after a half of complete City mastery, but only one goal, was quickly undone after the restart when, from their first meaningful attack, the Germans equalised on 48 minutes.
It was an alarming goal for Guardiola’s defence to concede, as a simple through ball from Yussuf Poulsen cut gaps through their lines and sent Lois Openda racing clear.
The Belgian finished brilliantly, as he held off Manuel Akanji, rolling a right-footed finish in off the far post.
And, just like that, a gentle stroll in the German autumn air, ahead of one of the gigantic fixtures of the Premier League season on Sunday, had become a world of pain for City.
They at least responded: Erling Haaland sliding in and putting Phil Foden’s cross over; Foden hitting the bar from an audacious free-kick, and Haaland drawing a save out of Janis Blaswich, from 18 yards.
But how had it come to this for the Champions League holders? For the first 45 minutes, the terrace refrain of “can we play you every week” seemed
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