RB Leipzig have scored in their last nine home matches in European competitions and always look an attacking threat. They are also quite frail at the back when playing continental football. They have just one clean sheet across those nine matches and their opponents are averaging 1.67 goals per game in that period.

They have also struggled to keep clean sheets at home in other competitions this season. Marco Rose’s side are just four points off the top of the Bundesliga but they have only managed two clean sheets in their last 10 competitive matches at the Red Bull Arena.

Despite not being quite up to the standards set last season, Manchester City are still menacing going forward. Erling Haaland’s goal output has been staggering over the course of the season. The Norwegian also has an incredible record in the Champions League. Pep’s side are averaging 2.36 goals per game in all competitions and they should find the net against this Leipzig side.

Both teams should have some good chances in this one and Leipzig will know they need the win in the first leg with a trip to the Etihad awaiting them. It is difficult to see how they could overturn the first leg deficit so a big performance is needed here.

The need for a Leipzig goal could also mean they get overrun in the transitions of play. This is more likely to lead to frantic clearances that result in City corners. The champions of England are also masters of sustaining pressure and keeping their opponents penned in.

The last time these teams met in the Champions League, City managed six and nine corners in the two meetings. The game with nine corners came at this ground. Pep’s side averaged 6.33 corners per game in the groups stages and six corners per game in their away matches in the group.

Real Madrid had eight corners when they made the trip to this ground in the group stages and City should be able to win their fair share as well. In the last five matches where Pep’s team have been similarly priced to win in this competition, they are averaging 5.2 corners per game.

RB Leipzig have picked up very few cards at home in this competition this season. They averaged just 0.67 cards per game across their three group matches. Their opponents had an average of two per game. In all competitions this season, Leipzig are averaging 1.2 fewer cards per game than their opponents.

Manchester City had more than their opponents when playing away in the groups. They averaged 2.33 cards per game in those matches; one card more per game than the opposition. City also picked up the most cards when these teams last met in this stadium.

City had the second lowest fouls committed in the group stage but the nature of their play means that their fouls are often punished with a card. They keep the opposition camped in their own defensive third and fouls are often used to stop the opposition when they launch a counter attack. Referees in the Champions League rarely fail to brandish cards for this type of foul.