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With interim coach Achim Beierlorzer on the bench after the
sacking of Jesse Marsch on Sunday, Leipzig secured third spot in
Group A on the final matchday ahead of Club Brugge, who lost 4-1
nL8N2SS5Q0 at second-placed Paris St Germain.
Leipzig finished with seven points, three ahead of bottom side
Brugge. City came top with 12 points, a point ahead of PSG.
City, with seven changes to the team that beat Watford in the
Premier League at the weekend, defended high but Dominik
Szoboszlai managed to break clear and latch onto a Konrad Laimer
ball to round goalkeeper Zack Steffen in the 24th minute.
The hosts, playing without any fans because of COVID-19
restrictions, came close to a second but first Emil Forsberg's
shot was blocked by Steffen and a little later the City keeper
made a reflex save to deny Andre Silva from point blank range.
His Leipzig counterpart Peter Gulacsi responded with a superb
save of his own in the 40th, getting his fingers to a Phil Foden
shot to direct it onto the post.
City looked livelier after the break but Leipzig scored against
the run of play with Silva's well-placed shot in the 71st after
City clumsily lost possession in their own half.
The visitors did respond six minutes later with Riyad Mahrez's
diving header for his fifth goal in six Champions League games
but their comeback was short-lived with Kyle Walker being shown
a red card for kicking Silva from behind.
The sending off means City's England defender faces a ban when
they resume their Champions League campaign in February.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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