Pep Guardiola made several changes, especially in defence, and RB Leipzig were able to take advantage in Germany as they overcame the Premier League champions
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In pictures: RB Leipzig v Man City
What should have been a straightforward night for Manchester City turned into a shambles for Pep Guardiola’s team.
Already through to the last 16 as group winners, this was a dead rubber for Guardiola and his players, but they somehow managed to lose and pay a heavy price for their folly.
Kyle Walker was sent off seven minutes from time, meaning he will be suspended for the first leg of City’s last 16 tie next February, a needless swipe at an opponent earning him a straight red.
Defeat also brought to an end City’s seven-match winning run, proving why Guardiola was reluctant to entertain the prospect of emulating last season’s 28-game unbeaten run at this stage.
Given City’s place in the knockout stage was already secured and the fact Guardiola made seven changes from the side that beat Watford 3-1, this defeat is unlikely to trouble him for too long.
But it was a reminder of City’s underlying vulnerability, which has already been exposed by Tottenham, Paris St Germain and Crystal Palace, all of whom have beaten them this season.
Leipzig, 11th in the Bundesliga and with a caretaker boss after the weekend sacking of Jesse Marsch, joined that group with this deserved win, booking their place in the Europa League in the process.
The first chance of the game fell to the hosts after 15 minutes, Konrad Laimer with a near-post opportunistic effort which City keeper Zack Steffen did well to get down to and turn away.
It was Leipzig who took the lead in the 24th minute, Leimar picking out Dominik Szoboszlai, who was played onside by John Stones, then rounded Steffen to dispatch the ball into an empty net.
City’s defence paid the price for their lack of focus and Steffen had to be alert moments later, to stop them going 2-0 down, the keeper blocking an effort from Swedish attacker Emil Forsberg.
Steffen came to the rescue again in the 39th minute, making a fine save at point-blank range to keep out a header from Andre Silva, City’s defence once again carved open.
At the other end, Phil Foden saw an angled shot tipped onto a post by Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi, who then produced another fine stop to turn away a goal-bound free-kick from Kevin De Bruyne.
Guardiola brought on Raheem Sterling for Foden at the break and, while the change initially gave City more verve, that soon dissipated and Leipzig had little difficulty in containing them.
Leipzig made it 2-0 in the 70th minute, sloppy defending from Stones and Walker seized upon by Forsberg, who surged forward before squaring the ball to Silva, who applied a clinical finish.
Riyad Mahrez pulled one back for City with a far post diving header, for his fifth Champions League goal of the season, 13 minutes from time.
Walker was shown a straight red card in the 82nd minute for lashing out at Silva, to compound a miserable night for City, one they and Guardiola will want to airbrush from memory.
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