Guardiola keeps things interesting
The wide grin should have given the game away. Pep Guardiola was beaming in his pre-match interview as he insisted Manchester City always set up with a back four and that against RB Leipzig his team would be back to a more typical defender at left-back. The most devious man in Leipzig.
Instead, City lined up with a back three consisting of Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji while Kyle Walker pushed further forward on the flank, Jack Grealish marshalled the left and Bernardo Silva was in a different position every time you saw him.
There was none of the stunted build-up play or in-cohesiveness we've seen in recent weeks though, as City were scintillating in the first half and completely controlled the game. They were so fluid and slick while also squeezing Leipzig up the pitch to the extent they hardly made their presence felt. Grealish especially benefitted from the extra space the formation gave him. Leipzig came out firing in the second half and were the better side, which just emphasized how impressive the first 45 was.
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The game was also the first time Guardiola hasn't made at least one substitution in a Champions League or Premier League match while in charge of City. He certainly likes to keep things interesting.
Ederson answers some critics
There has been a lot of concern since the draw with Nottingham Forest over City's tendency to concede to their opponents' first shot on target. This in turn has led to a bizarre amount of criticism being levelled at Ederson.
The Brazilian has never been the best shot-stopper on the planet but a lot of fans seem to have taken real umbrage with him in recent weeks for not being on hand to save City on the few occasions in which he's needed. It's strange given there has been little he could do about goals like Chris Wood's or Demarai Grey's and it ignores the fact opposition teams have few shots as City are able to defend so high up the pitch precisely because they are able to trust Ederson on the ball and to be alert to sudden danger.
The curse was broken against Leipzig as their first shot on target, which came with the last kick of the first half, was straight at Ederson and easily saved. The second half saw Leipzig turn up the pressure and he made several great saves, especially in the 63rd minute when Andre Silva wriggled through the defence but the Brazilian was out to bat away his shot.
He may have got slightly lost for the equaliser as he tried to claim a corner then seemed to shrink in the shadow of the towering Josko Gvardiol but it was a great header that may have been tough to save even if he was on his line. The fact is, City would have conceded far earlier and on more occasions were it not for their goalkeeper. That goes some distance to answering his critics.
Grealish on fire
Grealish's hot run of form was maintained in Germany as he continues to improve, grow and look increasingly at home in the City side. The record signing was given leeway after an underwhelming debut campaign as it always takes new forwards arriving at City a good amount of time to get used to Guardiola's unique methods.
There was concern earlier in the season that it was taking a bit too long even with that in mind but since the World Cup, Grealish has been City's most consistent performer and is now almost a guaranteed starter. He set up Riyad Mahrez' goal after winning the ball back and playing a finely weighted pass, meaning he has now scored or assisted in the last three games.
The way he won the ball back with intelligent pressing for the goal typified the biggest improvement in his game, which has been his contributions off the ball. Grealish has repeatedly saved the team with his hard defensive work and he won five duels in the first half alone. Long may it continue.
Haaland growing frustrated
It's been the case for weeks but it looked especially egregious in Germany. Erling Haaland was making perfectly timed run after perfectly timed run off the shoulders of Leipzig's defenders but on almost every occasion City's midfielders and forwards just couldn't find him.
Whether the passes were poor and cut out or they weren't even attempted at all, Haaland's relentless smart movement was repeatedly not capitalised on and it was clear how frustrated he was becoming. It wasn't until the 67th minute was he finally unleashed as, no surprise, Grealish slipped him through but after powering past the defender he dragged his shot wide from a great position. Moments later Leipzig equalised.
Haaland has a right to be frustrated but when the chance eventually comes his way he has to take it. He has been signed to score the guilt edge opportunities in the high-pressure moments, to be the missing piece that finally sees the Champions League won, but this doesn't bode well for that. It's now two games in succession he's missed a great chance only for the opposition to equalise shortly afterwards.
Pep goes all Phil Brown
After the game, Guardiola took the unusual step of gathering several of his players - Haaland, Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and others - around him in a huddle as he gave a swift debrief on the game. The disappointment was written over their faces and Guardiola wanted them to pick their chins up.
He said: "They were heads down. I said why are you heads down, be heads up, it was really good the way you play. If people don't like it it doesn't matter."
The Blues struggled at times in the second half but Leipzig are a quality side and an away draw in the first leg of a tie is by no means a poor result. City will just have to ensure they play more like they did in the first half when the second leg comes along.
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