Borussia Dortmund old boy Erling Haaland scored for Manchester City, who ended BVB's unbeaten start to this season's UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City 4-1 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 1-0 Foden 22’ (assist: Reijnders), 2-0 Haaland 29 (assist: Doku), 3-0 Foden 57' (assist: Reijnders), 3-1 Anton 72' (assist: Ryerson), 4-1 Cherki 90'+1
Dortmund arrived in Manchester in confident mood. Last Friday’s 1-0 Bundesliga win away against Augsburg lifted the Black-Yellows to third place in the domestic standings and increased their record this term to 14 games with just one loss in all competitions.
Karim Adeyemi set the tone at the City of Manchester Stadium with his quick feet and penetrating runs while Serhou Guirassy cut a menacing figure further ahead.
The problem for Niko Kovač’s team was that they were facing a side that hadn’t lost in the UEFA Champions League group stage or league phase in 23 previous games on home soil. With a record like that, the hosts were bound to show their class at some point here, and they did so in seven devastating minutes that left Die Schwarzgelben playing catch-up.
City captain and former BVB star Erling Haaland greets Nico Schlotterbeck ahead of kick-off. - Carl Recine
Phil Foden’s tidy strike from the edge of the area left Gregor Kobel with no chance and despite the goalkeeper’s subsequent best efforts to keep the score down, he could do nothing to keep Haaland from slamming home against his former employers for what was the Norwegian’s 54th UEFA Champions League goal.
BVB rallied through an Adeyemi strike that Gianluigi Donnarumma did well to keep out, keeping away spirits tempered as the teams headed into the break.
Haaland (c.) celebrates putting City 2-0 up against Dortmund. - IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Mansoor
Those spirits were soon severely shaken after the restart when Foden drove home his second of the game with another cool finish that left Kobel pulling the ball out of his net once more.
Prior to ringing the changes with a quadruple substitution, Dortmund desperately tried to make their mark on the game. Guirassy was twice off target, before the Guinea international drew a top stop from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
With nothing to lose and spaces opening up, the Black-and-Yellows continued to create. Julian Ryerson volleyed over before Adeyemi had a goal-bound shot blocked by the alert John Stones. Substitute Carney Chukwuemeka then got caught in two minds when going for the target, allowing Donnarumma to intervene.
Waldemar Anton (r.) pulled a goal back for BVB. - IMAGO/Mark Cosgrove/News Images
Dortmund's deserved goal eventually arrived inside the final 10 minutes, and it was Waldemar Anton who provided with a shot from Emre Can's assist that left Donnarumma flailing.
Pep Guardiola's team would ultimately have the last word with Rayan Cherki completing the game's scoring at the death. For Dortmund, lessons will be learned ahead of their return to the competition against Villarreal on 25 November.
Match stats
- Since losing 4-0 at Barcelona in their 2024/25 Champions League quarter-final first leg on 9 April, Dortmund have lost just three of 27 competitive games (W20, D4).
- This was Kovač’s 40th match in charge of Dortmund (W24, D7, L8).
- Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 competitive games for Dortmund, before moving to Man City in summer 2022.
- Guardiola has faced Dortmund 16 times as a head coach with Bayern and City (W10, D2, L4).
Teams
Man City: Donnarumma - Nunes, Stones, Gvardiol, O’Reilly (Aït-Nouri 86') - González - Savinho (Rúben Dias 79'), Reijnders (Bernardo Silva 79'), Foden, Doku (Cherki 79') – Haaland (c) (Marmoush 86')
Unused subs: Trafford, Bettinelli, Aké, Khusanov, Bobb, Lewis
Out: Kovačić (ankle), Rodri (ankle)
Coach: Pep Guardiola
Dortmund: Kobel - Anton, Schlotterbeck (c), Bensebaini (Can 66') - Ryerson, Sabitzer (Gross 66'), Nmecha, Svensson - Adeyemi (Fábio Silva 81'), Beier (Bellingham 66') – Guirassy (Chukwuemeka 66')
Unused subs: Ostrzinski, Meyer, Yan Couto, Anselmino
Out: Brandt (muscular), Özcan (ineligible), Süle (toe)
Coach: Niko Kovač
As it happened!
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Full-time: City 4-1 BVB
It's game over at the City of Manchester Stadium and the scoreline is a little harsh on the visitors, whose performance merited a little more. As it is, Dortmund leave with plenty of lessons learned ahead of their return to the competition with a game against Villarreal on 25 November.
© IMAGO/Conor Molloy
City have four
Cherki runs at the BVB defence and applies a finish that hits Emre Can and goes in.
Time added on
We're heading into four minutes of time added on at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Guardiola moves
The City manager is looking to stem BVB's drive here by making a triple change.
Stones saves City
The visitors are finding more and more space and Adeyemi manages to get a shot away that looks bound for the corner. John Stones throws out a leg to deny the Dortmund attacker.
Ryerson off target
Was there on offside in the build-up here? Possibly, but Ryerson goes on anyway and volleys over the top.
BVB lifeline
Ryerson plays the ball to Anton, who lets the ball run across his body before rifling the ball past Donnarumma, who looks at his defenders with disdain.
Dortmund chance
Adeyemi can't find the target when played through by Substitute Emre Can. Unlucky.
Changes
Niko Kovač makes four changes as BVB look to make some sort of scoring mark on this game.
Donnarumma in the way
Nmecha does brilliantly to win the ball back and feed Guirassy, whose effort at goal looks good, until Donnarumma makes a top save to keep City 3-0 ahead.
Guirassy has a go
Serhou Guirassy finds some space but can only drill a shot off target with passing options open to the striker.
Almost four
Foden hangs one up for Savinho, who shoots over the top when well placed.
City extend lead
Phil Foden is allowed to take a pass from Reijnders and shoots brilliantly into the corner for 3-0. Is that game over? Possibly.
Haaland goes alone
Haaland looks to do things by himself with teammates available. The forward's strike is dealt with by Kobel.
Gvardiol tracking Adeyemi
The former RB Leipzig defender wins the battle against BVB's attacker, whose first touch wasn't the best there.
BVB on full alert
Bensebaini makes a crucial intervention to frustrate that man Savinho. The City corner comes to nothing.
City with the ball
BVB are looking to press City higher up the pitch but the visitors' task is being made all the more difficult with City able to stroke the ball around confidently.
Nmecha's moment
The BVB midfielder winds up for an effort at goal but he gets that all wrong and the shot fizzes away.
The story continues
City are picking up where they left off with Savinho having a shot at goal which Kobel does well to parry.
Away we go again
The second half is underway.
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Half-time: Man City 2-0 BVB
Goals from Phil Foden and BVB old boy Erling Haaland have City ahead, but the visitors have looked very dangerous at times, especially through Karim Adeyemi. Dortmund are not out of this contest yet.
© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Mansoor
Haaland has a go
The Norwegian powers a shot at goal but it's straight at Kobel, who catches.
Adeyemi fighting back
The Germany international is doing his best to bring BVB back into the game. A quick spin and shot is blocked by the alert Gvardiol.
Adeyemi chance
Super stuff from the BVB attacker who darts into the area and let's a shot off at goal which Donnarumma does well to flick away. Better from the visitors.
City in the mood
The worry for BVB is that City are in their element here, attacking at will and looking hungry for more goals.
Ryerson down
The Norwegian has been down receiving treatment for a nasty injury to the knee. The flying full-back should be ok to continue, however.
Kobel again
Dortmund need to stop the blue tide here, and especially that man Savinho. The Brazilian finds Reijnders, who in turn has a pop at goal. Kobel makes another brilliant save.
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Dortmund hanging on
Erling Haaland has hurt his former employers once more in the Champions League. This will be a tough task for BVB from here.
© OLI SCARFF
City double up
Savinho feeds Doku, who races away and cuts-back for Haaland. The former BVB man slams home to make it 2-0
Hero Kobel
Haaland does brilliantly to set up O'Reilly who fires one at goal from the penalty spot. Kobel makes a world-class save to keep BVB from falling further behind.
Hosts turning screw
Savinho is causing BVB all sorts of problems at the moment and the visitors are relieved that Schlotterbeck is there to deny the waiting Foden.
Stoppage
Reijnders and Kobel collide after a ball into the box. Both players will need treatment.
City lead
Phil Foden finds some space on the edge of the D and curls a fine effort around the despairing dive of Gregor Kobel. The hosts are in front.
Ryseron intervention
Foden to Savinho, who looks to tee up Haaland. Julian Ryerson is there to make a crucial touch.
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BVB matching City
Dortmund have been able to keep the home fans quiet for large parts of this game by matching City's intensity.
© IMAGO/Andrew Yates
Foden again
The City No. 47 has been a busy man in the past few minutes and he's just had a pop at goal from a free kick. Kobel is there to make a comfortbale save.
Svensson in trouble
The Dortmund full-back impedes Savinho and this looks like it's going to be the first booking of the game.
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Early intrigue
Dortmund will fancy their chances in Manchester after the bright beginning they've made. It looks like we have an open and entertaining encounter ahead here.
© Gareth Copley
Foden chance
Phil Foden has a crack at goal but Gregor Kobel is equal to it. Savinho is offside as he tries to follow up.
Dortmund build
Adeyemi tries to make some space, and succeeds. He gets a cross in, looking for Guirassy. González is there to clear for City.
Here come City
Reijnders combines with Doku, who fires one into the danger zone. Nobody can take advantage for the hosts.
Plenty of possession
The away side are bossing this league phase match so far with 74 per cent of possession. City are content to sit back and watch for now.
Solid start
Karim Adeyemi and Daniel Svensson are looking lively in the early stages as BVB try to set the tone early.
Game on
The ball is rolling in Manchester ...
All set
The BVB fans are making a lot of noise in the away end at the City of Manchester Stadium. We're ready to go ...
Champions League anthem
The teams are out and lining up for the UEFA Champions League anthem ...
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Adeyemi ready
Karim Adeyemi has scored 14 goals in 41 UEFA Champions League appearances and is back to help fire Dortmund's attack in Manchester tonight.
© IMAGO/Cody Froggatt
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Warm-ups underway
Both sides are going through their respective pre-game warm-ups as we edge closer to kick-off in tonight's big UEFA Champions League clash.
© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Mansoor
Dr. Kovač's tactical remedy
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More on that Dortmund team
Niko Kovač is showing five changes to the side that started Friday's win against Augsburg. Nico Schlotterbeck is back to captain the Black-and-Yellows while Julian Ryerson, Daniel Svensson, Marcel Sabitzer and Karim Adeyemi all make it in from the get-go. Julian Brandt misses out with a back problem.
© Leon Kuegeler/Bundesliga
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More on that City team
Former BVB star Erling Haaland captains the hosts tonight while John Stones, Tijjani Reijnders and Savinho all come in as part of three changes Pep Guardiola makes to his Starting XI.
© IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto
BVB starting XI
Kobel - Anton, Schlotterbeck (c), Bensebaini - Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson - Adeyemi, Beier – Guirassy
BVB subs
Ostrzinski, Meyer, Yan Couto, Bellingham, Gross, Chukwuemeka, Fábio Silva, Can, Anselmino
City starting XI
Donnarumma - Nunes, Stones, Gvardiol, O’Reilly - González - Savinho, Reijnders, Foden, Doku – Haaland (c)
City subs
Trafford, Bettinelli, Rúben Dias, Aké, Marmoush, Cherki, Bernardo Silva, Aït-Nouri, Khusanov, Bobb, Lewis
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Stage set
It's around 15 degrees centigrade in Manchester at the moment and a perfect evening for football as the City of Manchester Stadium slowly fills. We will have team news very shortly.
© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Mansoor
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Man in the middle
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak will officiate this evening's contest. The match official was in charge of Dortmund's Champions League encounter against Athletic Club Bilbao at the start of October, a game which the Black-and-Yellows won 4-1.
© Maja Hitij
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Pascal Groß on Erling Haaland
"Haaland is an outstanding player who gets incredible numbers. We have to stop him as a team. If we can play our game together as a unit, I'm optimistic for tomorrow."
© IMAGO/Nick Potts/IMAGO/PA Images
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Niko Kovač on facing Manchester City
"We need to defend high up the pitch. If we just sit back, they have the quality to exploit it. We want to keep the game away from our own goal, and we'll stick to that plan. We're willing to take that risk."
© IMAGO/RHR-FOTO
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Pascal Groß on facing Manchester City
"City may be more beatable than they were years ago. However, they still have absolutely world-class players in their squad and are currently in a period of adjustment."
© DFL/Getty Images/Daniel Kopatsch
Watch: Kovač & Groß preview Man City and stopping Haaland
Niko Kovač and Pascal Groß looked ahead to Dortmund's Champions League game against Manchester City and stopping former BVB man Erling Haaland.
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Pep Guardiola on facing Dortmund
"They always perform their best in the Champions League and always get to the later stages, so it will not be an easy game."
© IMAGO/Mike Egerton/IMAGO/PA Images
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Back where it all started
It will be a trip down memory lane for Felix Nmecha, who has been in great form for Dortmund in the 2025/26 campaign. Dortmund's No.8 spent 12 years at City's academy between 2007 and 2019, though he made just three senior appearances (all in cup competitions) for the Cityzens before moving to Wolfsburg in 2021. With three goals in three appearances in this season's UCL campaign, Nmecha will understandably be wanting to show the Manchester side what they missed out on.
© PAUL ELLIS
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Klassiker memories
Dortmund are the German club that former Bayern head coach and City gaffer Pep Guardiola has faced most in his managerial career. The Spaniard boasts a record of nine wins, two draws, and four defeats in 15 meetings, with a goal difference of just +6 (26 scored, 20 conceded). Niko Kovač will understandably hoping to hand the three-time Meisterschale winner another defeat on Wednesday evening.
© JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Pool/Getty Images
Returning to their best
After a difficult start to the season, City are slowly returning to form. They have won five of their last six games, including a 3-1 triumph over Bournemouth on Sunday. Still, they find themselves six points adrift of leaders Arsenal in the Premier League, having lost three of their opening 10 matches.
Watch: The best of Omar Marmoush in the Bundesliga
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Other familiar faces
Besides Haaland, Man City have several former Bundesliga players in their ranks. Stefan Ortega used to play for Arminia Bielefeld, while Joško Gvardiol and Omar Marmoush used to feature for RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively.
© Getty Images
Top form
Since losing to Barcelona in the first leg of last season's Champions League quarter-final, Dortmund have been in impressive form, losing just two of their next 26 competitive fixtures. Those defeats came against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, two of the best teams on the planet, so it clearly takes something special to get past Dortmund these days.
Watch: The best of Nico Schlotterbeck
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Schlotterbeck to return?
The good news is that, after missing the Augsburg encounter, Nico Schlotterbeck is back in team training ahead of this clash, which suggests that he may be available to even start at City. Meanwhile, Niklas Süle is back in individual training, but this game comes to soon.
© IMAGO/Maximilian Koch
Wath: The best of Haaland in the Bundesliga
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Reunited
Dortmund will come up against former player Erling Haaland at the Etihad Stadium. The Norway international was lethal during his two-and-a-half years at BVB, scoring 86 goals in 89 games across all competitions. He has continued that form in England, netting 141 in 159 for City, and will be his side's danger man once more here.
© INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images
Watch: Augsburg 0-1 Borussia Dortmund - highlights
Last Friday, Dortmund continued their strong start to the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign with a narrow win at Augsburg.
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Free-scoring Borussia
Dortmund have scored four times in each of their last three league phase encounters. After holding Juventus to a 4-4 draw on Matchday 1, Niko Kovač's side beat Athletic Club 4-1 before triumphing 4-2 in Copenhagen last time out.
© IMAGO/Noah Wedel
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Impressive record
Dortmund have won three of their last four games against English teams (L1). They have also kept four clean sheets in their last five UEFA matches against Premier League opposition.
© IMAGO/Borussia Dortmund v Newcastle United FC
Welcome!
Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Borussia Dortmund's Champions League encounter with Manchester City on Matchday 4 of the league phase, which kicks off at 9pm CET on Wednesday.
