Manchester City came into the game against RB Leipzig knowing one goal would give them passage to the Champions League quarter-final.
They scored seven, with star striker Erling Braut Haaland leading the way with five of them.
City received a gift when VAR spotted Rodri’s header from a corner kick inadvertently hit Benjamin Henrichs’s arm. The player had his back to Rodri but received a yellow card.
Haaland stepped up and converted the resulting penalty with 22 minutes gone. Before the German side could settle and respond, Man City netted their second.
Kevin De Bruyne crashed a shot off the bar before the Norwegian headed the rebound into an empty net.
Worse was to come for Leipzig when Ederson Moraes rushed out of his box and took out Konrad Laimer with a reckless challenge.
Surprisingly, the Brazilian international did not receive a red or yellow card. Timo Werner was booked for his complaints.
Man City bagged their third on the stroke of half-time. Ruben Dias hit the post before Haaland crashed in the rebound for his hat-trick.
They scored their fourth in the 49th minute after a well-worked move found Ilkay Gundogan on the edge of the box, and he struck a shot into the bottom corner.
Minutes later, it was five as Haaland scored from a rebound. He then made it six after slamming home another rebound.
Kevin De Bruyne completed the rout as City strolled into the quarter-finals, leaving a hapless Leipzig in their wake.
Manchester City RB Leipzig: Player Ratings
Manchester City
Ederson Moraes (4/10) – He was lucky not to receive a red card following a headless challenge on Laimer. Leipzig did not offer much of a threat.
John Stones (6/10) – He helped the team build out from the back, occasionally joining the midfield to help escape Leipzig’s heavy central press.
Manuel Akanji (8.5/10) – The former Borussia Dortmund man handled business calmly. The strikers in front of him did not have much going their way. He also provided two assists today.
Ruben Dias (7.5/10) – The Portugal international was also solid and played a hand in the third goal for City.
Nathan Ake (8/10) – The 28-year-old was impressive on both ends of the pitch, fulfilling his underlapping full-back role brilliantly.
Rodri (6/10) – He made a couple of shoddy passes but controlled the game expertly.
Kevin De Bruyne (8.5/10) – It was a fantastic performance, and he capped it with a lovely goal.
Ilkay Gundogan (8/10) – He helped control the game with Rodri and scored a beautiful goal.
Bernardo Silva (5.5/10) – The Portugal international worked hard down the flanks but was a passenger for most of the tie.
Jack Grealish (7.5/10) – He looked lively and made things happen for his team. The England international created lovely chances.
Erling Braut Haaland (10/10) – MOTM – He scored five goals to send his team to the quarter-final. It was a top striker’s performance.
Substitutes
Phil Foden (7/10)
Kalvin Phillips (6.5/10)
Julian Alvarez (6.5/10)
Riyad Mahrez (7/10)
Sergio Gomez (N/A)
RB Leipzig
Janis Blaswich (3/10) – The 31-year-old never looked composed for the occasion. He was shaky all game and had a match to forget.
Benjamin Henrichs (3/10) – Gave away the penalty that led to the opener and struggled to deal with Jack Grealish all game.
Willi Orban (5/10) – The captain struggled to get his defence in order as they were carved and torn to shreds by a rampant City.
Josko Gvardiol (5/10) – The defence around him crumbled, and he followed suit. The talented young centre-back looked like a shadow of the dominant defender he could be.
David Raum (3/10) – He left nothing to be desired offensively or defensively.
Konrad Laimer (5/10) – The Bayern Munich-bound midfielder ran a lot, but City passed circles around his heavy pressing.
Kevin Kampl (5/10) – He failed to control proceedings in the centre, allowing the hosts to dictate the game.
Dominik Szoboszlai (4/10) – The Hungarian playmaker didn’t give his attackers anything to feed on and barely got into the game himself.
Amadou Haidara (3/10) – He was poor on and off the ball.
Emil Forsberg (3.5/10) – The Sweden international was another player who barely got into the game. He looked off the boil.
Timo Werner (4/10) – He received nothing to feed on, and his most memorable action was receiving a yellow card.
Substitutes
Mohamed Simakana (6/10)
Dani Olmo (6/10)
Andre Silva (6/10)
Lukas Klostermann (N/A)
