Borussia Dortmund travels to Manchester City this weekend, hoping to complete the toughest of assignments in the UEFA Champions League. BVB had a good win last week against FC Copenhagen, 3-0, but this fixture is a completely different kettle of fish.
Pep Guardiola’s side has always been fearsome. But now with Dortmund alumni Erling Braut Haaland leading the line, they are utterly terrifying. This was underlined by their 4-0 pounding of Sevilla on matchday one of this season’s Champions League.
Erling Haaland scored twice in this fixture to take his UEFA Champions League goal-scoring tally to 25 goals in just 20 appearances.
Dortmund head into this match off the back of a 3-0 humbling at the hands of RB Leipzig. That result ended a run of three straight wins and three straight clean sheets for Edin Terzic’s side.
Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund FYIs
Kick: Wed. Sept 14, 8pm, Etihad Stadium
Competition: UCL Group E, Matchday 2 of 6
WATCH: Click the banners in this post to access the live stream
Starting XI Predictions: Man City Borussia Dortmund
Team News: Man City Borussia Dortmund
After Extra Time Podcast: Spotify Apple
Google Result Probability: Man City 81% Borussia Dortmund 11% Draw 12%
UCL Group Standings: Man City: 1st, 3pts Borussia Dortmund 2nd, 3pts
Team News
Dortmund is struggling through a bit of an injury crisis. That crisis was made apparent during last week’s victory over FC Copenhagen when Thorgan Hazard needed to come off after just 23 minutes. He joined fellow attacking stars Donyell Malen (thigh) and Karim Adeyemi (foot) on the injury list.
That trio’s fitness will be touch and go right until kick-off. Highly rated English teen Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is also unlikely to appear in this one. The winger is suffering from a shoulder injury that has seen him miss the last two matches.
Mahmoud Dahoud remains a long-term absentee with a shoulder injury. The same applies to young Spanish right-back Mateu Morey, who has had a horrid run with injury this year and recently had knee surgery. Backup Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is a long term injury doubt after suffering a muscle tear earlier this month.
On top of all of that is the sad story of Sebastian Haller.
After finding his goal-scoring touch in Ajax, on the heels of having lost it in East London representing West Ham, Haller moved to Dortmund. Early during pre-season for this campaign, Haller was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He will be some way away from the pitch for a while as he fights a battle far more serious than any Champions League fixture.
Stuey’s Two Cents
This is the showpiece fixture in match week two in the UEFA Champions League. Erling Haaland will face his former team.
It will be interesting to see if they have any idea on how to stop him. Because no one in world football has figured it out yet.
Stuart Kavanagh is a journalist currently residing in Broken Hill, Australia. He writes for the Barrier Truth newspaper, along with being the owner of the sports and entertainment website thepyrrhic.com, He also co-hosts the ‘After Extra Time’ podcast and contributes at edgeofthecrowd.com when time permits.
Football mad, he is always down for debate and discussion at @stueyissickofit on Twitter.