Manchester City Director previews Champions League knockout tie with RB Leipzig

Txiki Begiristain has provided his thoughts on Manchester City's Champions League round of 16 opponents.

The Sky Blues, who finished top of their Champions League group last week, were drawn against RB Leipzig in Monday's draw at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

City avoided a potentially tricky tie against Paris Saint-Germain, after being drawn alongside the Bundesliga outfit.

RB Leipzig, Club Brugge, Inter Milan, Frankfurt, AC Milan and PSG were the Blues' possible round of 16 opponents.

Pep Guardiola's side remain unbeaten in Europe so far this season, after four wins and two draws in the Champions League Group Stages.

City secured qualification to the knockout stages for a tenth successive season with a goalless draw away to FC Copenhagen.

The Blues then ensured top spot with a point against Borussia Dortmund in Germany two weeks later.

Guardiola's side played RB Leipzig in the Group Stages last season, winning a thrilling encounter at the Etihad and suffering defeat at the Red Bull Arena.

City won 6-3 at home last September and lost 2-1 in December 2021, with Kyle Walker sent off during the match.

Following the conclusion of draw on Monday, Director of Football Txiki Begiristain previewed the Blues' upcoming tie with Leipzig.

“Leipzig are not new ones in this competition - they are doing an unbelievable job," said Begiristain.

“They are in Europe, always, and they are fighting us in the last-16, so they are growing as a club and growing as a project.

“This is German football - very open, box-to-box game, which we don’t like too much, because we like always to have the control - so it’s going to be difficult this kind of football.

“We are going to meet old friends - we played last season against them.

“They were very open games, and we can be sure they will be very attractive games.

“We were able to win the home game, but we struggled a lot. There were a lot of goals, which is nice for the people watching but not for the professional people.

“In the second game, everything was done, and we lost. But we know what they are as a club and as a project and as a team, also what they are doing in Germany, and of course we have to be very careful.”

Manchester City are due to play the Bundesliga side in February and March of 2023.