RB Leipzig vs Manchester City Champions League preview, Digi Mart USA News: Coach Martín Demichelis has revealed a detail about the lineup ahead of RB Leipzig’s major Champions League match against Manchester City. Playmaker Christoph Baumgartner will be in the starting eleven for the first time this season after a long injury layoff.
The match is scheduled for Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. local time and is broadcast on DAZN.
Demichelis said that his close friend Enzo Maresca, who has taken charge of Manchester City from Pep Guardiola, had asked him about the lineup, but that he could not reveal anything beyond Baumgartner’s inclusion. The two coaches share a close relationship, and Demichelis described Maresca as one of his best friends in football, almost like a brother.
Demichelis himself played for City between 2013 and 2016.
The key question remains how Leipzig will defend against Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who scored five goals in City’s 7-0 win over Leipzig in March 2023. Demichelis said there is no formula for stopping Haaland, calling him an extraordinary striker.
He said his team must keep possession, avoid letting the opponent approach their penalty area, and remain organized and aggressive while trying to impose their own game on City.
Baumgartner, who made his Champions League debut as a substitute in Madrid in a 4-1 defeat and set up a goal immediately after coming on, believes his team is equal to the challenge. He said Leipzig has strong individual quality, particularly on the wings, and that this should again be an important factor.
He added that playing with bravery and precision will be essential, and that if the team brings that courage and accuracy onto the pitch, it can stand up to City.
