Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Man City: Pep Guardiola’s side top Champions League group despite goalless draw
Match report as Riyad Mahrez saw a second-half penalty saved by Gregor Kobel; Youssoufa Moukoko also missed a huge chance to score for Dortmund in the first half; Man City top Group G with one game to spare as Dortmund also reach the last 16
Man City’s Riyad Mahrez missed another Champions League penalty on Tuesday evening
Man City secured top spot in their Champions League group – despite another missed penalty from Riyad Mahrez – and Borussia Dortmund reached the last 16 after a 0-0 draw at Signal Iduna Park.
Although far from a European classic, both teams took away what they needed from the match with a game to spare, wrapping up proceedings in Group G. Man City failed to have a shot on target in the first half – the second time that has happened in the Champions League this season, having also failed to do so against Dortmund in the reverse fixture – and the hosts should have gone ahead before the break, but Youssoufa Moukoko turned an effort wide from close range.
Erling Haaland and Joao Cancelo were replaced at half-time. The in-form striker was kept very quiet by former teammate Mats Hummels, while Cancelo was caught out one too many times by the impressive Karim Adeyemi.
Explaining his decision, Man City manager Pep Guardiola said both players had felt unwell before the game, telling BT Sport: “Erling had a little bit of fever before the game. Joao as well. He had a knock in his feet. He was looking tired, Joao, as well. So that’s why we changed it.”
When asked later about Haaland’s injury, the Spaniard said: “I spoke with (the medical staff) at half-time and they were a little bit concerned, but I saw him walking more or less normally. We will see.”
Man City had a golden chance to wrap up three points when Emre Can tripped Mahrez over inside the area, giving the visitors a stonewall penalty. However, the Algerian missed his second Champions League penalty of the season, seeing his effort well-saved by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
“Of course it’s a problem,” Guardiola told BT Sport of the miss. “Since I was here we missed 24 or 25 penalties, most of them in Champions League, it’s too much.
“I always admire the courage, the responsibility to do it. But we miss a lot of penalties. We have to improve. The little details and margins in this competition is the key, the difference.
“Riyad scored a lot in big important moments, here [in 2021 Champions League quarter-finals]. If he feels it next time, he is going to take it. But we have to improve.”
However, a point was enough for both sides, who both go into the hat for the last 16 draw on Monday, November 7.
The first half lacked the kind of intensity that rippled through the iconic Signal Iduna Park stands, but Dortmund had the best chances. In the 16th minute, Karim Adeyemi made one of his multiple drives into the area, but his shot went straight at Man City debutant Stefan Ortega Moreno.
The goalkeeper was there again soon after as Giovanni Reyna found his gloves too. It was a neat give and go between Adeyemi and Jude Bellingham in midfield, with the former again striding into the box. He held the ball up well, eventually rolling it into the feet of Giovanni Reyna, but his shot was tame.
Dortmund should have taken the lead in the 36th minute. Adeyemi fired in a cross from the right with Moukoko there to collect. However, with only the goalkeeper to beat, he fired the ball well past the post from mere yards out, putting his head in his hands straight after.
A poor Rodri shot from range was the pick of Man City’s chances up until the one minute of added injury time. Nathan Ake fired a bullet header over the bar from Phil Foden’s fizzing free-kick, although City ended the half without any shots on target.
At half-time, Pep Guardiola introduced Bernardo Silva and another former Dortmund player in Manuel Akanji for Haaland and Cancelo as he looked to inject some life into his City team.
Dortmund had a few half openings early on – Ortega again in good form to collect anything coming his way – but the saved penalty just before the hour seemed to galvanise Man City as they started to create some clear openings.
