RB Leipzig host Manchester City at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday in the fourth round of the Champions League league phase.
City are 10th in the league phase with six points from three matches, but have lost back-to-back Premier League games to Aston Villa and Brighton. Leipzig are 29th on three points, with one win from three. They are coached by former City defender Martín Demichelis, who made 15 Champions League appearances for the club.
RB Leipzig vs Manchester City – Match preview and team news
- Date: Wednesday, 4 November 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
- Venue: Red Bull Arena
- Referee: Marco Guida (ITA)
- VAR: Daniele Chiffi (ITA)
- Last meeting: Manchester City 3-2 RB Leipzig, 29 November 2023, Champions League group stage
Team news
RB Leipzig
Assan Ouédraogo (shoulder) and Marc Guiu (muscle) are out, and Maxime Estève is doubtful with a knock. Christopher Nkunku was an unused substitute against Schalke, and it is unclear whether he will be fit to start. Antonio Nusa, who has a team-high five goals this season, could start on the left of the front three, and Christoph Baumgartner may return in midfield.
Manchester City
Antoine Semenyo (knee) is City’s only injury concern and is expected to target a return in mid-December. Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden, who scored a hat-trick against AEK Athens, are strong contenders to start, and one of Ayyoub Bouaddi, Enzo Fernández or Elliot Anderson could make way. Marc Guehi is pushing for a place in central defence, and Erling Haaland, with 12 goals in eight games against Leipzig, is expected to start.
Form
RB Leipzig
Leipzig lost 4-1 at Como and 4-1 at Real Madrid either side of a 1-0 home win over PSV Eindhoven. After a 6-1 defeat at Bayern Munich, they have won three in a row, most recently 2-0 at Schalke, and are fourth in the Bundesliga. They have lost their last five UEFA matches against English clubs.
Manchester City
City beat Porto 2-0 and AEK Athens 5-1 in the league phase, either side of a 4-2 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. They lost 2-1 at Villa and 1-0 to Brighton, conceding inside the opening 15 minutes for the third time this season. Maresca said after the Brighton game that City are conceding “silly goals”.
Predicted lineups
RB Leipzig possible starting XI: Vandevoordt; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Banzuzi, El Aynaoui, Baumgartner; Gruda, Romulo, Nusa
Manchester City possible starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Fernández; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
How to watch RB Leipzig vs Manchester City?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 2, with streaming via HBO Max.
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