Manchester City 4-1 Borussia Dortmund: Foden and Haaland Fire as City Close in on UCL Knockouts! | OneFootball

Manchester City 4-1 Borussia Dortmund

(Foden 22’, Haaland 29’, Foden 58’, Cherki 90+2’ | Anton 73’)

Once again, the rhythm of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City pulsed to the beat of their Stockport-born playmaker. Phil Foden struck twice from distance in another assured European performance, while Erling Haaland marked his captaincy with a goal against his former club as City swept aside Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad.

It was a victory that carried the air of a statement. Ten points from four games put City in a commanding position to directly qualify for the Champions League knockout stages, their balance and sharpness returning just in time for Liverpool’s visit to Manchester on Sunday.

Waldemar Anton’s consolation for Dortmund briefly jolted City from their swagger, but this was a match that belonged to Foden – cool, composed, and devastatingly effective – and to Savinho, whose electric directness from the right was a constant torment for the visitors.

: Manchester City 4-1 Borussia Dortmund: Foden and Haaland Fire as City Close in on UCL Knockouts!

Match Summary and Tactical Review

Foden the Conductor, City the Machine

City were measured and methodical, yet merciless. As Guardiola had promised, his side trained only once before this game after a physically draining domestic win over Bournemouth. The rest did them good. What followed was a first half that was both controlled and clinical – the kind of rhythm that signals City are approaching their dangerous best again.

Borussia Dortmund arrived in form, third in the Bundesliga, beaten only once in 14 games. For 15 minutes, they pressed high and threatened in transition. Karim Adeyemi twice tested City’s defensive shape down the right, exploiting a loose Josko Gvardiol pass early on to give Gianluigi Donnarumma a scare. Maximilian Beier missed from close range in what would prove a rare Dortmund opening.

City’s response was ruthless. Foden, operating centrally but drifting into half-spaces, found room to dictate. After one scuffed free kick found Gregor Kobel’s gloves, he needed only one more chance to make it count. From a sequence of Guardiola’s trademark passing – Reijnders to González to Foden – the Englishman caressed a left-footed finish into the far corner from 20 yards. It was precise, effortless, and inevitable.

Seven minutes later, Savinho darted in from the right, forcing Kobel into another save. Jérémy Doku recycled the loose ball and drove it back across goal, where Haaland pounced in trademark fashion – low, powerful, and instinctive – to double the lead.

The Norwegian’s celebration was understated, but the moment was significant: his 27th goal of the season and a fifth consecutive Champions League match scoring for a third different club. At 25, he continues to write statistical history at a pace few can fathom.

Guardiola’s Tweaks and Dortmund’s Limitations

Guardiola’s approach here was subtly adjusted. Without Rodri, he deployed Reijnders as a false pivot alongside González, inviting fluidity rather than rigidity. The result was a midfield triangle constantly morphing to stretch Dortmund’s press.

Out of possession, City resembled a 4-4-2 mid-block, with Foden joining Haaland to cut off Dortmund’s build-up lanes. In possession, the structure evolved to a 3-2-5, with Savinho and Doku holding the width and both full-backs stepping inside to create overloads through the middle.

For Dortmund, the early intensity faded quickly. Niko Kovac’s side sought to build from the back, but City’s spacing suffocated them. The yellow shirts were soon chasing shadows. Haaland’s movement occupied both centre-backs, allowing Foden and Doku to drift into pockets of space. Every City attack carried purpose; every pass had intention.

Kobel, overworked and defiant, kept the score respectable. He denied Reijnders’ low drive and a shot from O’Reilly before half-time. Yet the sense was that Dortmund were hanging on rather than holding firm.

: Manchester City 4-1 Borussia Dortmund: Foden and Haaland Fire as City Close in on UCL Knockouts!

Second Half: The Foden Show Continues

By the time Foden struck again just before the hour, the result felt inevitable. It was another goal crafted from control and timing – the kind of goal that defines City’s football under Guardiola. Doku and González combined neatly before Reijnders found Foden on the edge of the box. One swivel, one strike, and the ball kissed the turf before finding the bottom corner.

If his first goal showcased finesse, the second was about conviction. Foden’s influence has grown exponentially this season, his performances combining maturity with menace. At 25, he has become the creative heartbeat of this City team – less the “Stockport Iniesta”, more the Stockport conductor.

Dortmund, however, were not finished. Perhaps predictably, a lapse in concentration opened the door. From a short free-kick, Waldemar Anton darted to the front post and steered a low shot past Donnarumma to make it 3–1 with just under 20 minutes remaining.

Guardiola’s reaction was immediate – and telling. Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, and Rayan Cherki were summoned from the bench. Control was reasserted, rhythm restored.

Savinho’s Redemption and Cherki’s Finale

If Foden provided the goals and Haaland the headlines, Savinho delivered the performance that defined City’s dominance. The 21-year-old winger was electric throughout, rebounding from a disappointing cameo at the weekend with a fearless, incisive display.

Time and again, he drove at Daniel Svensson and Ramy Bensebaini, forcing Dortmund’s left flank into retreat. His acceleration and willingness to attack the byline gave City a verticality they’ve sometimes lacked this season. The only blemish was a missed acrobatic volley that might have capped a perfect night.

Yet Guardiola’s trust in the Brazilian is clear – a faith rewarded with the energy and unpredictability that stretched Dortmund until the final whistle.

And then, deep into stoppage time, Cherki added the flourish. Collecting the ball on the edge of the box, the Frenchman glided between two defenders and curled a composed finish into the far corner. A 4-1 scoreline, perhaps harsh on Dortmund, but reflective of City’s superiority.

Villarreal vs Manchester City Player Ratings- Savinho Shines as Pep’s Men Cruise in Europe!: Manchester City 4-1 Borussia Dortmund: Foden and Haaland Fire as City Close in on UCL Knockouts!

Conclusion: City’s Form Rising at the Right Time

For Guardiola, there will still be details to address – the brief lapse that allowed Dortmund back in, the tendency to ease off when ahead. Yet the bigger picture is encouraging. This was City close to their peak: fluid in attack, compact in transition, and balanced across the pitch.

Their key figures are hitting their stride. Foden is producing at elite consistency. Haaland remains inevitable. Savinho is growing into his role. And even without Rodri, City’s control never truly wavered.

With Liverpool visiting the Etihad next, Guardiola could scarcely ask for better preparation.

For Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, the gulf was stark. Compact early on, they were soon undone by the precision and relentlessness of a side fine-tuning its machine for the months ahead.

City’s tenth point from four group matches confirms their place among the favourites once more. The ceiling remains high – and as long as Foden conducts the symphony, the music at Manchester City will keep playing on.