 |
| Leipzig's Portugese forward Andre Silva (C) is fouled by Manchester City's English defender Kyle Walker (R) before being sent off next to Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho during the UEFA Champions League, Group A, football match RB Leipzig v Manchester City in Leipzig, eastern Germany on December 7, 2021. |
Manchester City ended their Champions League group campaign with defeat by RB Leipzig in a match played without fans because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Pep Guardiola opted to field a strong side, which included a first club start since 6 November for Kevin de Bruyne, despite last season's runners-up having sealed top spot in Group A with one game to spare.
But the Premier League leaders finished the six-match group stage without a clean sheet after Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and Portugal forward Andre Silva scored for Leipzig, who parted company with their manager over the weekend.
 |
| Referee Sandro Schaerer shows Kyle Walker of Manchester City the red card during the UEFA Champions League group A match between RB Leipzig and Manchester City at Red Bull Arena on December 7, 2021 in Leipzig, Germany. |
City also finished with 10 men after Kyle Walker was shown a straight red card in the last 10 minutes for an unnecessary foul on Silva.
Szoboszlai had rounded keeper Zack Steffen to open the scoring before Silva, who had earlier been denied by City's second-choice keeper, doubled the lead with a neat finish.
The visitors, who put six past Leipzig at Etihad Stadium in September, suffered a frustrating night at an empty Red Bull Arena with Phil Foden having a shot tipped on to the post before Riyad Mahrez reduced the deficit with a diving header.
