A huge fixture takes place tonight with everything to play for in Group H. Manchester United need just a point to qualify into the knockout stages of the competition, while RB Leipzig must win to progress.
Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjær will be hoping for much of the same as last time these two faced each other, as they ran out 5-0 winners. However, Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann has warned that his side are prepared for what’s to come.
Ellis Stevens will be taking you through the action as it happens.
STARTING LINEUPS
Here’s how the teams lineup.
Both teams lineup in what looks to be three at the back formations, which may not be surprising with both teams prone to shipping their fair share of goals. However, with the ability for Nagelsmann’s side to adapt throughout the game it wouldn’t be surprising to see a host of tactics used throughout the night.
Out come the players here as they get ready to kick off the final game in Group H.
Both teams will be playing for the win so plenty of action is surely in store.
KICK OFF – RB Leipzig get us underway in this hugely important game.
Not the statistic Manchester United fans will want to see, will Solskjær be the first or will his side live to fight another day in the Champions League?
2′ RB LEIPZIG 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED – ANGELINO
LEIPZIG ARE FLYING HIGH HERE ALREADY.
Leipzig with some simple possession before an early cross is put in by Sabitzer. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is sleeping at the backpost and allows Angelino to smash his effort into the bottom right of David De Gea’s net.
He walked onto that strike with such power, fantastic start for the German side. Manchester United make it hard for themselves yet again here.
5′ YELLOW CARD TO BRUNO FERNANDES
A difficult start for Manchester United.
A goal down and a yellow card to Fernandes, who does like to put himself about.
7′
Angelino goes through again, but this time De Gea is able to save.
Wan-Bissaka needs to wake up otherwise United may find themselves out of this tie extremely soon. Leaving far too much space for the Leipzig man to run into.
9′
Manchester United with their first chance of the game and it has to be said that Greenwood should’ve done better.
He’s able to create space on his favoured left foot with the defender backing away, but his strike is too close to Peter Gulacsi who saves with ease.
12′ RB LEIPZIG 2-0 MANCHESTER UNITED – HAIDARA
IT’S GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR MANCHESTER UNITED.
Another diagonal to Angelino, who is able to cross it in to the back post where Haidara meets with excellence.
RB Leipzig couldn’t be any happier with this start, a two goal cushion within 15 minutes. Even they wouldn’t have expected that.
15′
Manchester United need to fix the showing problem areas in this game before Leipzig go out of reach.
The diagonal ball into the wide players is available almost every time with the Man United full-backs leaving so much space in behind. But it will surely get worse now with the full-backs needing to go forward to try and claw United back into this game.
17′
Leipzig should be three ahead already.
Emile Forsberg is able to take the ball down and stab at the ball on the volley before any Man United defender gets near him. But somehow he’s poked it wide of the post.
Manchester United will be certainly hopeful that they can recreate something similar to this tonight.
20′
Solskjær’s screams for his side to move the ball quicker are echoing across the stadium.
Understandably frustrated by the opening 20 minutes.
22′
The difference between the way these two sides are playing so far is quite remarkable.
When Leipzig are in possession they constantly have three or more options available to them with players popping up all over the pitch. In contrast, United players seem to have nothing open to them and are easily pressed before they can pass the ball away.
Leipzig firmly in the driving seat, Nagelsmann will be loving it.
29′ RB LEIPZIG 3-0 MANCHESTER UNITED – ORBAN
SURELY GAME DONE ALREADY?
The ball is returned into the box by Sabitzer following a corner and the ball is headed off the post before being tapped in by Willi Orban.
Absolutely unbelievable start.
RB LEIPZIG 2-0 MANCHESTER UNITED – VAR NO GOAL
Manchester United given a lifeline as VAR rules that Orban was in an offside position when the initial header was won.
This game has been jampacked with action and there’s still at least 60 minutes to play.
32′ YELLOW CARD TO MUKIELE
Nordi Mukiele booked after a rash challenge on Fernandes.
35′ YELLOW CARD TO SABITZER
Sabitzer gets a yellow for his late challenge.
38′
If Man United want to get back into this game then they must match the energy levels that Leipzig are showing.
Currently the German side are first to every ball and pressing with such intensity that United don’t know what to do.
39′
Encouraging for Manchester United as Rashford is slipped through but his first touch is loose and allows for Orban to get back and make the tackle.
43′ YELLOW CARD TO SHAW
Luke Shaw given a yellow card after appearing to take down Ibrahima Konate as he was breaking into the Manchester United half.
45′
Two added minutes.
HALF-TIME: RB LEIPZIG 2-0 MANCHESTER UNITED
A fantastic first half performance from RB Leipzig comes to an end with them two ahead of their opponents. Nagelsmann will be extremely happy with the performance as everything they set out to do has worked so far.
Solskjær will be feeling quite the opposite as his side’s defensive issues came extremely apparent in this first 15 minutes with two extremely preventable goals being conceded.
The second half will surely see Manchester United take more responsibility as they look to force their way back into the game and into the next round. Changes are sure to come.
SUBSTITUTE FOR MANCHESTER UNITED
45′
Manchester United get us restarted for a second half of huge importance.
46′
With that substitution by Manchester United comes a change in system. Luke Shaw has moved out to left back with United looking as if they are set in a 4222 system, with Fernandes and Donny Van de Beek playing behind Rashford and Greenwood.
Possibly Solskjær looking to pack the midfield, as they really did look outnumbered in the first half in the center of the park.
49′
Van de Beek already showing his value, two runs in behind the Leipzig defence with the second of them resulting in a corner for Manchester United.
Surely a big reason for Alex Telles being the one sacrificed for this United push in the second half.
54′
Manchester United have had a host of set-piece opportunities already in this second half, but so far the delivery hasn’t been right.
They will want to capitalise on one of these rather soon if they want to get back into it.
55′ SUBSTITUTION FOR RB LEIPZIG
A different type of striker enters the field for RB Leipzig with Yussuf Poulsen. Much more of a target man than the departed Forsberg, will be interesting on whether this means a change in style of play for the German outfit.
62′ SUBSTITUTION FOR MANCHESTER UNITED
Solskjær does opt to use to Paul Pogba just the day after his agent’s controversial interview. He’ll certainly be hoping Pogba proves that he will put everything on the line for his team.
63′ YELLOW CARD TO MAGUIRE
Harry Maguire given the yellow after cynically bringing down Justin Kluivert on the line.
67′
That is fantastic from Brandon Williams as he’s able to somehow keep possession and draw the foul after it looked it had been lost.
Man United with a free-kick in a glorious position for either Rashford or Fernandes.
68′
Fernandes’ effort crashes off the crossbar.
Manchester United just inches away from being back in this game, but they are getting closer to the all important goal.
69′ YELLOW CARD TO WILLIAMS
69′ RB LEIPZIG 3-0 MANCHESTER UNITED – KLUIVERT
THAT IS SURELY GAME DONE FOR LEIPZIG.
De Gea and Maguire with an absolute horrendous mistake as they both hesitate to take control of the situation which allows Justin Kluivert to come barrelling in and chipping it neatly over the keeper.
A fantastic finish but so preventable again from United.
Leipzig won’t care though, as they seem to have made it into the knockout stages of the Champions League. What an unbelievable performance it has been.
The defensive frailties of this United side have become even more apparent in the Champions League this year.
75′ SUBSTITUTION FOR RB LEIPZIG
Pair of fresh legs brought on for Leipzig as they look to see this game out.
77′ YELLOW CARD TO LINDELOF
Victor Lindelof receives a yellow as he goes flying in on Poulsen.
78′ SUBSTITUTION FOR MANCHESTER UNITED
79′ PENALTY TO MANCHESTER UNITED
Possibly a late-lifeline for Manchester United as Greenwood capitalises on Konate’s mistake before the Leipzig man bundles into Greenwood inside the box.
80′ RB LEIPZIG 3-1 MANCHESTER UNITED – FERNANDES
There may be some hope after all as Fernandes sends the keeper the wrong way.
Are Manchester United going to be able to pull off one of their miracle comebacks once again or have they left it too late?
82′ RB LEIPZIG 3-2 MANCHESTER UNITED – POGBA
ABSOLUTE CONFUSION IN THE LEIPZIG BOX.
Pogba rises highest at the back post before heading down where it appears to bounce into Maguire and into the net.
Pogba has been given the goal for now but surely it will be credited to Maguire after the game.
Everything to play for now. What a game this has been.
85′
Leipzig players are looking to hold the ball in the corner now as they look to see out this game.
United need to get this ball into the final third if they want to somehow get back into this game.
87′ SUBSTITUTION FOR RB LEIPZIG
On comes a central defender for Leipzig as they look to solidify their defence.
The goal has been confirmed as Maguire’s.
90′
Four minutes of added time.
Will Leipzig crumble or can they hold on in this dramatic game?
93′
Leipzig get away with one as Mukiele’s interception of Pogba’s cross hits off of his keeper.
What an unbelievable end to this game.
FULL-TIME: RB LEIPZIG 3-2 MANCHESTER UNITED
And breathe…
Manchester United bow out of the Champions League despite their late efforts to get back into the game, but it was just too little too late for the English side.
RB Leipzig do progress into the next round with that win, alongside PSG, and deservedly so after that performance. Nagelsmann’s side nullified Manchester United for the best part of 80 minutes before their late scare, but the tactics were spot on today.
They pressed United heavily in the first half which allowed them to control the game and stop United from being able to create anything of real note in the first 45. Alongside that, the use of the diagonal ball into the wide areas was carried out to perfection by Leipzig with the first two goals coming from these passes, with the Man United full-backs leaving so much space behind them.
Overall a fantastic night for RB Leipzig.
