City get their European coronation in the end but it was hard work

THERE was a moment in the first half when Rodri got the ball and the advertising boards flickered to show the bright red of Turkish Airlines all around the ground.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

Here was City's goalscorer from the Champions League final in Istanbul, and here were the best team in Europe.

Rodri then booted the ball sideways straight out of play to snap everyone back into the present where City weren't even playing like a Pep Guardiola side never mind the reigning champions. 

What should have been a straightforward coronation at the top of the group to cap a day of celebrating three club legends lurched into the awkward and surreal when the game kicked off and the home side forgot that they had a role to play.

Instead, RB Leipzig gleefully ripped them apart to stun the Etihad and threaten to break a home record that has been going in Europe for five years and over 12 months in all competitions.

City had already been warned about the lively talents of Xavi Simons and Lois Openda when the latter scored the opening goal of the game in the 13th minute.

As presents go, Manu Akanji gift-wrapped it for him by failing to get anything on a bog standard goal kick that bounced and went through him to set Openda racing clear to slot it past Stefan Ortega, in for the rested Ederson.

That alarm at least sparked a response, although the quality in the final third was well below par.

Ruben Dias managed to head Bernardo Silva's free-kick over the bar from a couple of yards out, then Rico Lewis blasted over inside the box when he is normally such a cool head.