Haaland, Foden and Cherki on target as City extend unbeaten run
Manchester City cruised to a 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad Stadium, extending their unbeaten run against German sides to nine matches and making it six wins from their last seven games in all competitions.
Dortmund arrived in Manchester with the bold intent of taking the game to Pep Guardiola’s side, but that ambition quickly played into City’s hands. Phil Foden tested Gregor Kobel early with a fierce strike from distance, and although Savinho fired the rebound over, it set the tone for a dominant display.
Foden wouldn’t be denied for long. Ten minutes later, Tijjani Reijnders picked out the England international in a pocket of space, and Foden found the bottom corner with a precise left-footed finish to open the scoring.
As has become routine, Erling Haaland soon joined the scoresheet. Jeremy Doku’s persistence down the left paid off as he recycled a loose cross and squared for Haaland, who hammered the ball home from close range for his 12th goal of the season.
Dortmund’s threat was limited in the first half, though Karim Adeyemi forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a rare save just before the break. City, however, remained in complete control and continued to dictate the tempo after halftime.
Foden struck again shortly after the restart, curling another brilliant effort into the same bottom-left corner he had found earlier a near carbon copy of his opener that left Kobel rooted. The Etihad crowd roared as the home side continued to push forward, with Savinho missing a good chance to make it four when he volleyed over from Foden’s inviting cross.
Dortmund managed a late response when Waldemar Anton converted Julian Ryerson’s cutback to make it 3-1, briefly unsettling the home side. John Stones was forced into a crucial block to deny Adeyemi soon after, as the visitors threatened to reduce the deficit further.
But City restored their two-goal cushion in stoppage time. Substitute Rayan Cherki capped off a flowing move by calmly slotting home to seal the victory and round off another impressive Champions League performance.
The result means City have now gone 23 consecutive home matches unbeaten in the Champions League group stage, a run that underlines their dominance at the Etihad and strengthens their push for top spot in the section.
