Erling Haaland admitted Manchester City "need to step it up a bit" after twice letting a lead slip against RB Leipzig before eventually winning 3-2 in the Champions League.

City almost let three points slip out of their grasp, having twice taken the lead at Red Bull Arena, first through a Castello Lukeba own goal and then via Enzo Fernandez.

Ridle Baku and Antonio Nusa cancelled out the respective advantages, but Haaland popped up in the 78th minute to secure all three points, with both sides also hitting the woodwork from late chances.

Against no side have City won more games in major European competitions than they have against Leipzig (five).

But Haaland, who had just 18 touches, conceded the game could have ended much differently if City had taken their chances after they first took the lead in the 37th minute.

"Not sure how many touches I had, not the most, but what is the most important is that I managed to help the team to win," he told TNT Sports.

"I think we need to step up a bit, when we were 1-0 up, I think we needed to go at it, go for the second goal and then the third – that's what we have to do. We have to work on that.

"Keeping the ball, when to keep it, when to go, working together offensively and defensively. You can always be better, and there's always a new chance. A new game in three days, so that's lovely."

Three hard-fought #UCL points! 2-3 https://t.co/zSUD2USV0y

— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 4, 2026

Haaland enjoys playing against Leipzig, having netted 13 goals in nine appearances against them in all competitions.

It is his most against any opponent in his career in Europe's big five leagues.

"I think it is the most I have scored against a club," Haaland said about his record against Leipzig.

"I have played so many times against them in the Champions League with City and Borussia Dortmund too. Leipzig is a good team, so I am happy."

Leipzig have lost 10 of their last 12 Champions League matches (W2). Among sides with 10+ games in the competition since 2024-25, only Slovan Bratislava (100% – 12/12) have a higher loss rate than them (83%).

Despite only accumulating 0.9 expected goals (xG) to City's 2.2, Leipzig edged the shot count 14 to 12, with six of those on target (City managed five).

"That's football. I think, in my personal opinion, we deserved more than a point," Leipzig head coach Martin Demichelis, who represented City as a player, said.

"We produced an outstanding performance against the team currently second in the Premier League, a team that will probably fight for titles until the very end.

"I believe we produced our best performance without the ball, and we were also brave going forward with the ball, creating plenty of chances.

"I know that three points from four games isn't enough. But the way we played, that's exactly what this team needs to show in every game.

"It was very bitter. It's a very sad moment for the players, but I simply congratulated the players. That's the way forward."