RB Leipzig vs Manchester Metropolis: Champions League Preview, Date, Time, TV channel, Stay Streaming

Jack Grealish, who joined Manchester Metropolis for 100 million kilos in 2021, has began to make an affect on the membership. AP

Leipzig: Jack Grealish may by no means put up the sort of chilly, laborious numbers that justify his standing as English soccer’s first 100-million-pound participant.

For Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola, weighing up the affect of Grealish goes far past merely counting up his objectives and assists — although they’re clearly welcome.

It’s the management and steadiness Grealish brings to the Metropolis crew which actually stand out and it’s why, in the intervening time, the England winger is Guardiola’s go-to man amid a turbulent interval on and off the sphere for the membership.

Metropolis resume their bid for a primary Champions League title with a round-of-16 matchup with Leipzig, who host the primary leg on Wednesday.

Grealish was by no means a lock to play in these sort of large matches in his first season at Metropolis following that 100 million pound (then $139 million) transfer from Aston Villa within the offseason of 2021. Certainly, within the crew’s run to an agonizing elimination by Actual Madrid within the semifinals, Grealish performed in simply two of Metropolis’s six knockout-stage matches — each instances as a second-half substitute.

Now, he seems to be one of many first names on Guardiola’s crew sheet.

Grealish has began in Metropolis’s final seven video games within the Premier League and the final 9 video games in all competitions, having cemented his place on the left wing. His aim output stays modest — three in 28 video games, all within the league — however two of them have come prior to now month and in large video games in opposition to Manchester United and Arsenal.

It was notable final season how tentative Grealish was at instances, possibly afraid of constructing a mistake and primarily involved with retaining crew form out on the left.

Now he’s attacking the opponent’s space extra, being extra daring together with his dribbling and making late runs into the field off the ball.

And it’s not been misplaced on Guardiola, who has been impressed by Grealish’s improved “ambition and aggression.”

“His dedication to take a danger and essential choices proper now makes the distinction,” Guardiola mentioned. “He has to proceed (doing this).”

His skill to retain and recycle the ball has at all times been sturdy and, in line with teammate Bernardo Silva, “helps us breathe.”

For Metropolis playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, it has been essential for Grealish to overlook concerning the critics and give attention to adapting to Metropolis’s method of taking part in below Guardiola. Grealish was the principle man at Villa, however is only one of many prime gamers at Metropolis.

“Folks have a look at the stats on a regular basis however he does crucial issues for us,” De Bruyne mentioned. “We’re profitable plenty of video games and he’s a giant a part of that.”

Grealish might need some extra competitors on the left, nevertheless, as Phil Foden is again in favor after lacking matches because the World Cup due to issues about his health and kind. Foden made his first begin in a month within the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, a match that noticed Grealish arrange the aim by Silva.

Nonetheless, Guardiola’s entrance three of Grealish, Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez seems set in stone for the large video games. Grealish mentioned a giant a part of his resolution to maneuver to Metropolis was so he might play within the Champions League and he’s lastly getting that chance.

NKUNKU’S RETURN

Christopher Nkunku made an look as a second-half substitute in opposition to Wolfsburg within the German league on Saturday, for his first sport since sustaining a left knee damage in coaching simply earlier than flying out to the World Cup with France.

The ahead is predicted to be on the bench once more in opposition to Metropolis, although fellow attacker Dani Olmo stays out with a hamstring drawback.

LITTLE PEP

It’ll be Pep vs. Little Pep in Purple Bull Enviornment.

Leipzig heart again Joško Gvardiol is nicknamed “Little Pep” due to the similarities of his final identify with that of Metropolis’s supervisor.

Gvardiol, a Croatia worldwide, was the most effective defenders on the World Cup and is likely to be treating the Champions League as one thing of a store window forward of a possible transfer on the finish of the season.

PEDIGREE

Leipzig, which is fifth within the German league and has misplaced solely as soon as in its final 20 video games in all competitions, has pedigree within the Champions League after reaching the semifinals in 2020. Final yr, the crew misplaced at Metropolis 6-3 within the group stage and received the return match 2-1 when Metropolis was already positive of advancing.

Metropolis misplaced within the Champions League remaining to Chelsea in 2021 within the crew’s greatest run within the competitors.

Watch the LIVE protection of the UEFA Champions League – Leipzig vs Man Metropolis – LIVE on Sony Sports activities Ten 2, Sony Sports activities Ten 3 (Hindi) & Sony Sports activities Ten 4 (Tamil & Telugu) channels at 1:30 am IST on twenty third February 2023.

Learn all of the Newest Information, Trending Information, Cricket Information, Bollywood Information, India Information and Leisure Information right here. Comply with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.