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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Nathan Bliss & Lewis Barton

We simulated Man City vs RB Leipzig and it was a Champions League classic

Manchester City turn their attention to European action this midweek, with Pep Guardiola's side taking on RB Leipzig on Tuesday evening.

After a 1-1 draw away from home in the 1st leg, City know that a win in the 2nd leg will see them advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Guardiola has a fully fit squad to choose from on Tuesday, including Kevin De Bruyne, who was unavailable in the 1st leg, but has since returned to full fitness and came on as a substitute in their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

But RB Leipzig will be without a number of key players for their visit to the Etihad, with midfielder Dani Olmo and goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi both ruled out through injury, whilst attacking midfielder Christopher Nkunku is a major doubt.

ALSO READ: Kevin De Bruyne weighs in on Erling Haaland debate at Man City

So, can City edge out RB Leipzig to reach the Champions League quarter finals? We simulated the game to find out.

We simulated Man City vs RB Leipzig to get a score prediction

To complete this simulation, we used FIFA 23 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions.

We predict that City could set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their line-up as follows: Ederson; Stones, Dias, Akanji, Ake; Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland.

We predict that RB Leipzig could line up in a 4-2-2-2 formation, with their line-up as follows: Blaswich; Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol, Raum; Laimer, Haidara; Szoboszlai, Werner; Forsberg, Silva.

RB Leipzig silenced the Etihad in the opening stages, with the away side scoring two quick goals to put City's Champions League quest in serious doubt. First, Emil Forsberg was afforded too much space on the edge of the City area, with the midfielder guiding an effort past Ederson to make it 1-0.

RB Leipzig silenced the Etihad in the opening stages, with the away side scoring two quick goals to put City's Champions League quest in serious doubt. (EA SPORTS FIFA)

And just a few minutes later, Timo Werner was sent clear through on goal on the counterattack, with the former Chelsea forward smashing a powerful finish into the top corner to make it 0-2 on the night and 1-3 on aggregate.

Guardiola must have given a rasping virtual team talk in our simulation, because City came flying out of the blocks in the second half, with Kevin De Bruyne making it 2-1 almost immediately after kick-off. Jack Grealish beat his man on the left, cut inside and played a pass into the Belgian, who guided his close-range effort into the bottom corner.

And just a few minutes later, Haaland levelled the score on the night and on aggregate, with the club's top scorer producing a sensational finish from just inside the area, bending a shot into the far corner after shrugging off the defender.

Haaland made it 2-2 (EA SPORTS FIFA)

City had the momentum now and RB Leipzig were struggling to deal with the home side, but it took Guardiola's men until the 82nd minute to complete their incredible comeback, and it came from an unlikely source.

Great work from Haaland eventually led to Riyad Mahrez having a close-range effort saved, which hit the bar and looped away to the right.

Manuel Akanji completed the comeback (EA SPORTS FIFA)

Luckily for City, Manuel Akanji, who had just been moved to the right-back role after John Stones was taken off, was there to smash the ball home from close range.

FIFA 23 predicted final score: Man City (4) 3-2 (3) RB Leipzig

Here are the full-time match stats.

FIFA 23 predicted final score: Man City (4) 3-2 (3) RB Leipzig (EA SPORTS FIFA)

FIFA 23 predicts that RB Leipzig are more than capable of springing a surprise or two on Tuesday evening, and City will need to be at their best to progress from this tie. In this simulation, City had to do it the hard way and come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2, with De Bruyne, Haaland and Akanji scoring for the home side.

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