It’s all or nothing for Haaland and Gvardiol (Picture: Metro)
Manchester City (1) v (1) RB Leipzig, Last 16, 2nd Leg, 8pm, BT Sport 1
Erling Haaland will be looking to fire Manchester City into the quarter-finals of the Champions League tonight but the Norwegian got little change out of RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol in the first leg.
Gvardiol is only 21 but the imposing figure of the bearded Croatian belies his years and has made him one of the most sought-after young players in the game. He was one of the breakout stars of the World Cup after helping Croatia to third place despite wearing a protective mask throughout the tournament following a freak collision with Leipzig team-mate Willi Orban.
The £14million Leipzig paid Dinamo Zagreb for the then 18-year-old in 2020 already looks an incredible investment with the German side having inserted an eye-watering £98m buyout clause into his contract. It was not just by keeping Haaland largely quiet in the first leg that Gvardiol showed his value – he also scored Leipzig’s second-half equaliser to bring them back to the Etihad Stadium all square.
His physical presence is complemented by a composure and confidence in possession that makes it no surprise Pep Guardiola’s City are among his main suitors, even with such a lofty price tag.
Match stats
Can Haaland add to his impressive goal record? (Picture: Shutterstock)
28 – Goals in 24 Champions League appearances for Erling Haaland during his time with Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and City
19 – International caps for Josko Gvardiol who got the second of his two goals for Croatia with a brilliant header at the World Cup in the third-place play-off victory over Morocco in Qatar
City have not shown their usual defensive solidity this season with lengthy absences for Ruben Dias, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte plus growing suggestions the latter could leave in the summer. But they are certain to face competition should they turn their attentions to Gvardiol with Liverpool and – surprise, surprise – Chelsea also being strongly linked with a summer swoop.
City were considered beneficiaries of a previous buyout clause when they were able to prise Haaland away from Borussia Dortmund for £51.2m last summer.
The cost of luring Gvardiol may end up being around double that but if he can prevent Haaland from adding to his 34 goals this season tonight, it will only make it more likely City and the other Premier League big guns come calling this summer.
MORE : What channel is Manchester City vs RB Leipzig? Kick-off time, TV and live stream
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City have not shown their usual defensive solidity this season.