Manchester City miss their chances in Champions League draw at Leipzig

Manchester City were forced to settle for a 1-1 Champions League draw at RB Leipzig as their first-half domination went to waste on Wednesday.

City could have been out of sight after Riyad Mahrez had given them a 27th-minute lead in this last-16 first-leg tie.

But Pep Guardiola’s side failed to make possession and pressure count, and Josko Gvardiol’s equaliser 20 minutes from time provided another reminder that chances must be taken.

Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan all had openings to punish hosts who were there for the taking in an embarrassingly one-sided first half.

But Haaland, the former Borussia Dortmund striker, struggled to make an impact on his return to Germany and touched the ball just seven times in the first period.

Illness had prevented Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte from travelling to Germany, while Phil Foden dropped to the bench.

Mahrez, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake were promoted as Leipzig named Chelsea-bound Christopher Nkunku on the bench after a recent ankle injury. Former Chelsea forward Timo Werner led the Leipzig line.

City had lost only one of their 17 matches against German opposition in the Champions League – a dead rubber group defeat at Leipzig last season – and began confidently by enjoying long periods of possession.

Kyle Walker operated more as a right winger than a right-back as the hosts, fifth in the Bundesliga and beaten only once in 20 games, struggled to get out of their own half.

Leipzig must have felt dizzy as Ruben Dias met a Mahrez corner to head straight at goalkeeper Janis Blaswich and Rodri rifled over from 20 yards.

A City goal simply had to come, but when it did it was of Leipzig’s own making.

Xaver Schlager played a careless pass and Grealish, who had