RBLRB LeipzigClub page
MCIMan CityClub page
Squad value€515m
Squad value€1.5bn
Key playerAntonio Nusa
Key playerErling Haaland
Head coachMartín Demichelis
Head coachEnzo Maresca
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Live on DAZN or Prime Video · Germany
Live on RTÉ, Premier Sports or Virgin Media · Ireland
Live on Sky Sport or Prime Video · Italy
Live on Ziggo Sport · Netherlands
Live on Movistar Plus+ · Spain
Live on TNT Sports or Prime Video · UK
Live on Paramount+, TUDN or DAZN · USA
Leipzig defend a long way from their own goal, and City push players up until you are pinned: space behind both lines.
“Their defensive activity takes place relatively far from their own goal.”“Large swathes of possession are needed to gain the control he wants, and from a 4-2-3-1 base you will see Man City in a 3-2-2-3 shape when building attacks on the ball.”Leipzig's new coach was hired to get them pressing again; City, under new management, still want lots of the ball.
“In Leipzig soll Demichelis den Weg zurück zum mitreißenden Pressing-Fußball ebnen.”In Leipzig, Demichelis is meant to lead the way back to thrilling pressing football. our translation
“They’re still playing the same possession-hungry soccer.”Lose the ball and all of Leipzig pile in to get it back; Maresca's City go man for man high up to stop you passing out.
“Demichelis took the same positional six, the same adventurous eights, the same aggressive full-backs and the same immediate transition pressure into his first competitive match.”Get German Football News, Peter Weis, 25 Aug 2026
“Manchester City started the game on the front foot, jumping into an aggressive player-oriented press to restrict Manchester United’s ability to play out from the back and progress.”City push players up until you are pinned in your own half. Demichelis wants Leipzig to keep it only long enough to find the moment to go.
“Sie lautet Ballbesitz, um umschalten zu können.”It is: possession, in order to be able to switch play at speed. our translation
“Large swathes of possession are needed to gain the control he wants, and from a 4-2-3-1 base you will see Man City in a 3-2-2-3 shape when building attacks on the ball.”Man City's squad is valued at €1.5bn, RB Leipzig's at €515m: about three times as much. Gaps like that tend to settle games rather than make contests.
Slight favourites: Man City.
New coach, new tempo. Leipzig want the ball but they also want to win it back fast and go straight for goal the moment they do.
“The former Bayern defender wants RB to play with intensity, aggressive pressing and quick vertical attacks after turnovers without surrendering possession and control entirely.”Expect Leipzig to keep the ball far more than you would expect, while still swarming you when you have it. The attacking players swap positions constantly.
“Demichelis, dessen Role Model sein langjähriger Coach Manuel Pellegrini (Malaga, Manchester City) ist, lässt ein 4-3-3 spielen mit viel Ballbesitz und aggressivem Pressing, mit agilen Außenverteidigern, wechselnden Rollen im offensiven Zentrum, einer Sturmspitze und technisch versierten Innenverteidigern.”Demichelis, whose role model is his long-time coach Manuel Pellegrini (Malaga, Manchester City), has his teams play a 4-3-3 with a lot of possession and aggressive pressing, with mobile full-backs, changing roles in the attacking centre, one striker up front and technically accomplished centre-backs. our translation
Maresca's City still dominate the ball, but they look for the space in front of them much sooner than Guardiola's did.
“Η Σίτι εξακολουθεί να κυριαρχεί με την μπάλα, αλλά αναζητά πιο γρήγορα τον ελεύθερο χώρο.”City still dominate with the ball, but look for the free space more quickly. our translation
They deliberately crowd the middle of the pitch so their wingers are left standing alone by the touchline. Watch for a winger taking on a defender one against one.
“Maresca loves to pack out central areas to free up his wingers for 1v1s or 2v1s, so he will be thrilled to have Antoine Semenyo and Jeremy Doku at his disposal.”