Martin Demichelis takes RB Leipzig up against his former club Manchester City in the Champions League at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
The sides last met in November 2023, when City recovered from two goals down at half-time to win 3-2 in a thrilling group-stage game at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City’s recent domestic form has been disappointing. Three days after eliminating Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties in the fourth round of the League Cup, they lost 1-0 at home to the same opponents in the Premier League on Saturday. Yasin Ayari’s goal inside the opening 15 minutes condemned Enzo Maresca’s side to a second successive league defeat and saw them surrender top spot to reigning champions Arsenal.
City, who visit Nottingham Forest in their final league match before the November international break, have taken six points from their opening three Champions League league-phase games. They are 10th in the 36-team table after beating Porto 2-0 and AEK Athens 5-1, either side of a 4-2 home defeat by holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Manchester City have won only eight of their past 20 Champions League matches, drawing two and losing 10. However, they have won four of their six meetings with Leipzig, drawing one and losing one, and have a record of 21 victories, five draws and six defeats in 32 Champions League games against German clubs.
Leipzig returned to the competition after a season without European football but have collected only three points and sit 29th. Their sole win was a late 1-0 success against Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven, secured by Brajan Gruda, between 4-1 away defeats by Como and Real Madrid.
Appointed in June, Demichelis has won eight and lost five of his 13 matches in charge. Leipzig beat Schalke 04 2-0 on Saturday to move fourth in the Bundesliga, three points behind unbeaten leaders Bayern Munich. The 45-year-old former Argentina defender made 15 Champions League appearances for Manchester City between 2013-14 and 2015-16, scoring in a 2-1 win at Monchengladbach in September 2015. He is seeking a fourth consecutive victory and a first win over City since Leipzig’s 2-1 home success in 2021-22, although his team have lost their past five European matches against English opposition.
Team news and predictions
Leipzig are without Assan Ouedraogo (shoulder) and Marc Guiu (muscle), while Maxime Esteve is doubtful after a knock. Christopher Nkunku was an unused substitute last time out and may not start. His Champions League hat-trick came in Leipzig’s 6-3 defeat at City in 2021-22, making him one of only five players to score three in a losing side.
Antonio Nusa, Leipzig’s leading scorer this season with five goals, could join Gruda and Romulo Cardoso in attack. Christoph Baumgartner may replace Rocco Reitz in midfield.
City’s only injury concern is Antoine Semenyo, who is expected to return from a knee problem in mid-December. Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden are candidates to return, with Foden having scored a hat-trick against AEK Athens. Ayyoub Bouaddi, Enzo Fernandez or Elliot Anderson could make way. Marc Guehi may start alongside Abdukodir Khusanov or Ruben Dias, while Nico O’Reilly could replace Josko Gvardiol at left-back.
Erling Haaland has scored 12 goals in eight games against Leipzigmore than against any other opponentincluding five in City’s 7-0 win in the 2022-23 last-16 second leg, matching the competition record.
Probable Leipzig XI: Vandevoordt; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Banzuzi, El Aynaoui, Baumgartner; Gruda, Romulo, Nusa.
Probable Manchester City XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Fernandez; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.
The six previous meetings produced 30 goals, an average of five per game. City have conceded 12 in their past six matches, but are backed to rediscover their attacking sharpness in a high-scoring contest.
Tips: Manchester City to win and both teams to score (2.32); Rayan Cherki to be decisive (1.72); Antonio Nusa to be decisive (2.80).
By Hubert de The.
