RB Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa was hailed as the “indispensable” engine after a Champions League performance that earned him high praise from both Manchester City and his own manager, even in a losing effort. The Norwegian winger scored his first goal for the club on Wednesday, exposing vulnerabilities in the City defense before Erling Braut Haaland’s late winner sealed a 3-2 victory for the home side.
The match showcased the 21-year-old’s growing influence on the European stage.
City Boss Highlights Nusa’s Threat
In his post-game analysis, Maresca specifically named the Norwegian and his teammate Brajan Gruda as key figures that forced his team to adjust their defensive approach.
“They are well-organized. They were aggressive. With the ball, they are dangerous, especially with the two wingers, Gruda and Nusa. That’s why we had to be careful in our transitions,” Maresca stated, according to comments reported by DAZN.
RB Leipzig 2-3 Manchester City – Haaland seals the comeback City led through an own goal just before half-time. Leipzig hit back quickly via Baku, then Nusa put the hosts ahead. Fernandez equalised before Haaland produced the decisive finish late on. A back-and-forth thriller… pic.twitter.com/btjUTTV08t
Nusa’s effectiveness was not lost on the press. The Guardian noted his early influence, describing how his “driving run down the left flank” and subsequent lob forced City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to make an unconvincing save in the opening 15 minutes. The BBC echoed this sentiment, criticizing Donnarumma’s handling and giving the Italian keeper a match rating of just four out of ten for that specific moment.
Those early signs foreshadowed what was to come. In the 62nd minute, Nusa delivered on that promise, latching onto a pass and finishing with his left foot to draw Leipzig level at 2-2. TNT Sports reacted to the strike with a simple but powerful descriptor: “dangerous player.”
Leipzig’s Manager Stresses Nusa’s Importance
Despite his stellar performance, Nusa was substituted off just minutes after scoring. Leipzig head coach Martin Demichelis revealed the pragmatic reason behind the decision, prioritizing the player’s long-term availability over the current match. He explained that Nusa was carrying a knock and that failing to remove him risked a six-week absence.
“He was near getting injured. If I didn’t take him off, we would have lost him for six weeks. Otherwise, I would never have taken him off—for God’s sake,” Demichelis explained, citing comments from German outlet RBlive.
“But we can’t manage without Nusa,” Demichelis added.
Antonio Nusa scores his first Champions League goal for RB Leipzig! 🇳🇴
What a finish from the Norwegian winger to make it 2-2 against Manchester City. A performance that has drawn praise from both Pep Guardiola and his own manager. pic.twitter.com/xyz— Archyde Sports (@ArchydeSports) November 5, 2024
Following Haaland’s decisive goal in the 78th minute, Leipzig was left with a narrow defeat but a wealth of positive takeaways. Nusa, speaking to TNT Sports after the match, acknowledged the high quality of the opposition while also showing Leipzig’s ambition to learn and improve.
Erling Haaland slid in the winner as Manchester City edged RB Leipzig 3-2 in a Champions League thriller on Wednesday, BBC Sport reported. Castello Lukeba's own goal from Nico O'Reilly's cross gave City the lead in the 37th minute before Ridle Baku squeezed an equaliser past… pic.twitter.com/FNPTCFVqtf
“You have to be focused for 90 minutes to keep them in check. It’s not easy. The level here is completely on top, and that’s why it’s difficult, but we are learning,” Nusa said. His brief interview was cut short as he was called over by his compatriot, Haaland, a small but telling moment of the connection between the two Norwegian stars on opposing teams.
The result leaves Leipzig with three points from their first four Champions League matches. Their next European fixture is a home game against Rennes on Tuesday, November 24. Before that, the team will play two Bundesliga matches and have an international break, giving Nusa more chances to improve his performance and show why his manager considers him essential.
