On Tuesday, storms over Saxony impeded Manchester City’s approach to East Germany.

The holders’ path to the knock-out stages, on the other hand, appears to be far more uncomplicated.

Alvarez scored City’s second with a wonder strikeCredit: PA

Doku added a third in stoppage timeCredit: AP

Julian Alvarez came off the bench for Pep Guardiola’s club, scoring a nice late winner against their typical Champions League opponents.

Only five minutes after replacing the other goalie, Phil Foden, the Argentine took a ball from Jeremy Doku and curled in a masterpiece from the edge of the box.

In stoppage time, the World Cup winner returned the favor, sending Doku away to seal the triumph.

His teammate, Erling Haaland, owes both of them a deep thank you.

For once, against his favorite opponents, the Norwegian had a night to forget, wasting a plethora of potentially expensive opportunities.

Instead, the triple champs have won both of their games, and their most tough game of the group stage is finished.

City have begun their title defense after winning it in June.

This is the third time these two clubs have played in this competition.

City sit comfortably top of their groupCredit: EPA

Leaving Pep the chance to focus more heavily on the Premier LeagueCredit: PA

Red Bull gained a point in the last 16 here in February thanks to a second-half goal from Josko Gvardiol.

The Croatian World Cup star joined City for £77 million in the summer and was given a special farewell from his former teammates before kickoff.

He’d like to forget the second leg in Manchester, when Erling Haaland scored five goals in a 7-0 rout.

The Norwegian enjoys playing against these opponents, as evidenced by his 11 goals in six games.

This is more than any other opponent has had against the 23-year-old.

City last lost three games in a row in March 2018, but they faced that prospect again tonight after losses at Newcastle and Wolves.

The manager stated before the game that it had ‘hurt’ his players, but he loves it that way because it motivates them to win again.

Guardiola stunned everyone by putting youngster Rico Lewis alongside Rodri in midfield.

Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, and Kalvin Phillips, who all cost around £125 million, were all benched.

However, it appeared to work well as he supported his team in completely dominating the early exchanges – and even played a role in their first great chance.

His attempt was blocked, and Foden tried again, but Bernardo Silva, who was close to the post, couldn’t convert.

Foden chipped his effort wide after weaving his way past a couple defenders.

Perhaps their inability to convert their obvious superiority into goals upset Guardiola, who appeared more angry than usual on the sidelines.

But it was reasonable to expect a goal for the visitors, and it came from the City Football Academy.

Lewis exchanged passes with Bernardo Silva before releasing Foden, whose ground-ball shot bounced over Janis Blaswich.

A fantastic goal was scored by two young players from City’s development system.

It was Foden’s 11th goal of the season, and there will very certainly be many more.

Haaland, another lifelong City fan, tried to get in on the action by slipping in behind the home defense, but his shot went across goal and wide.

And, just before halftime, the Norwegian went for goal again from a tight angle, but fired straight at Blaswich instead of attempting to square it.

City was so much ahead in the encounter in February, but they couldn’t put it away.

They paid the price four minutes later, when Jack Grealish lost possession of the ball and Red Bull launched a counter-attack.

Lois Openda pushed off Manuel Akanji before sliding a shot under Ederson and in off the post after Yussuf Poulsen passed to her.

Guardiola had his head in his hands; it was the home team’s first genuine effort of the night, and they were level.

City knew they were in a game, but they squandered a chance to restore the lead when Foden fizzed over a low cross that Haaland couldn’t convert.

The England man, on the other hand, appeared to be in a good mood, and his magnificent free-kick from a tight angle almost caught Blaswich by guard as it smashed against the underside of the bar.

Meanwhile, Haaland was having one of those nights when his low shot just wouldn’t go in, despite Blaswich diving full stretch to keep it out.

Lewis’s great labor was rewarded with another effort that cleared the bar. At the very least, he should have had the match ball.

With Leipzig hunting for an equalizer, Alvarez fired a beauty before sending another substitute, Doku, away to score.