The last time Josko Gvardiol played in a Champions League game, the spectacular scoreline did not act as a deterrent to Pep Guardiola. Manchester City 7 RB Leipzig 0 contained five goals for Erling Haaland but, after Gvardiol was arguably the outstanding centre-back in the World Cup, it did not afford him the same status in the Champions League.
During summer negotiations, Leipzig nevertheless asked for €100m, a fee that would have made him the most expensive defender ever. City instead sealed a deal for €90m, around £77m, meaning that title still belongs to Harry Maguire, who almost certainly does not want it. But Gvardiol’s Champions League bow for City could come in the familiar surroundings of Leipzig, where he scored in a 1-1 draw against Guardiola’s side last season: for obvious reasons, the second leg, and Haaland’s five goals, is remembered rather more.
