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RB Leipzig host Manchester City in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie on Wednesday. This fixture has produced plenty of goals in recent years — notably a 6-3 group stage win for Pep Guardiola’s side back in 2021. The Bundesliga outfit are in decent form and have only lost once since the FIFA 2022 World Cup break to sit just outside of the UCL places in Germany. City have lost three times across all competitions but have played more games and just saw Arsenal take back top spot in the Premier League over the weekend. Marco Rose will be hoping that his team can keep things tight in the opening leg which will keep the pressure on City heading into the second leg.
“Right after the draw, I knew it, I felt it, that it will be a really tough opponent,” said Guardiola ahead of the game. “We know the quality of them. For many years this club has a culture for young players, recruitment, physicality, clear patterns to play. Huge respect what this club has done. It will be a tough, tough two games. In the first game, we have to try to control emotions and get a good result for the second leg.
“I would say if my career finished tomorrow I would be more than blessed with what I’ve done at Barcelona, Bayern and here. To do what I have done in Europe in such a small amount of time. We want to do our best. In the end destiny is already written. I had the feeling what we have done for many years, whatever happens, or what I do personally, I’m going to fail. Nothing will be enough.”
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How to watch and odds
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 22 Time: 3:00 p.m. ETLocation: Red Bull Arena — Leipzig, GermanyTV and live stream: CBS and Paramount+Odds: Leipzig +340; Draw: +275; City -133 (via Caesars Sportsbook)