MY ACCOUNT
Erling Haaland came back to haunt his former club with a stunning acrobatic winner as Manchester City came from behind to earn a hard-fought 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland, who averaged over a goal per game in the Champions League during a two-year spell at Dortmund, met Joao Cancelo’s fine cross with a sensational backheeled volley to seal the hosts’ victory in the 84th minute.
City had appeared set for a surprise defeat when Jude Bellingham nodded Dortmund ahead after the break, only for John Stones’ long-range effort to beat Alexander Meyer for the leveller.
Having been kept quiet by Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule for the majority of the contest, the indomitable Haaland came good in sensational style late on to ensure City preserved their perfect start to their Champions League campaign.
Sule’s excellent defensive header denied Haaland a tap-in as City failed to make their dominance count early on, with the disciplined visitors preventing their hosts from managing a shot on target before the break.
Marco Reus almost bent an effort into the top-right corner as Dortmund grew in confidence, and the winger provided the assist for their 56th-minute opener, volleying in a cross for Bellingham to guide a header beyond Ederson.
Haaland hit the foot of the post with a right-footed shot following a rare defensive lapse from Dortmund and Kevin De Bruyne failed to reach Cancelo’s cross as City looked destined for defeat.
Stones levelled out of nowhere with 10 minutes remaining, though, his well-hit 20-yard strike whistling past Meyer, who will probably think he could have done better to stop the effort.
The goal appeared to breathe life into City, forcing Dortmund to retreat into their own area in a bid to cling onto a point.
But with time running out, Haaland produced his glorious volleyed finish to break the hearts of his former club, ensuring City strengthened their grasp on top spot in Group G.
What does it mean? New hero keeps City on track
Defences have been powerless to stop Haaland since his arrival in England, with the Norwegian rifling home 12 goals for City ahead of Wednesday’s game. Dortmund’s stubborn rearguard almost bucked the trend, but the striker found a way.
Aged 22 years and 55 days old, Haaland is the youngest player in Champions League history to score for and against the same side in the competition, and he is just the second player to ever do so against Dortmund after Ciro Immobile.
The result, meanwhile, means City are unbeaten in their last 21 home Champions League games (W19 D2), the longest such sequence by an English team since Chelsea also recorded a run of 21 between September 2006 and December 2009.
Clinical City leave it late
Remarkably, City’s goals – scored in the 80th and 84th minutes – came courtesy of their first two shots on target in the game.
While Haaland will get the plaudits for his late acrobatics, Stones’ leveller dragged City into a match in which they had struggled to create. The defender has now scored 18 goals for club and country, but this was his first from outside the penalty area.
Young lion roars on England return
Bellingham has been at the centre of constant transfer speculation since swapping Birmingham City for Dortmund and, despite Wednesday’s loss, the midfielder’s performance against elite opponents is sure to attract even greater attention.
The Dortmund man now has four Champions League goals to his name, the most ever scored by an English teenager. Bellingham has also made 18 appearances in the competition, a new record among English players under the age of 20.
Key Opta Facts:
– Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 21 UEFA Champions League home games, winning 19 and drawing two. It is the longest such unbeaten run by an English side in the competition since Chelsea also recorded a run of 21 between September 2006 and December 2009.
– Borussia Dortmund have lost each of their last eight matches in the UEFA Champions League against English clubs, with each of the last three coming against Manchester City.
– City have won their last eight home games against German sides in the UEFA Champions League by an aggregate score of 32-10. Indeed, the last German side to win at the Etihad Stadium in the competition was Bayern Munich in October 2013 (3-1), who were then managed by current Man City boss Pep Guardiola.
– Pep Guardiola took charge of his 150th UEFA Champions League match, recording his 95th win. Only two managers have won more games in the competition’s history – Sir Alex Ferguson (102) and Carlo Ancelotti (100).
What’s next?
City go to Wolves in their next Premier League outing on Saturday, while Dortmund face Revierderby rivals Schalke in the Bundesliga on the same day.
