Match Report: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Manchester City (Champions League)

Manchester City ensured they will top their Champions League group after a goalless stalemate away to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday evening.

Pep Guardiola’s side had the worst of the opportunities in the first-half as the home side had multiple efforts on goal, but the Bundesliga outfit were overall wasteful with the chances afforded to them.

The second-half looked to have started better for City as they were awarded a penalty, but Riyad Mahrez saw the spot kick saved, much to the travelling fans’ disappointment, and this feeling continued as neither side could find the all important breakthrough.

The result carries on City’s unbeaten European campaign for this season, having already recorded three wins and one draw prior to the clash at Signal Iduna Park.

After some cagey opening minutes, the game’s first real chance came for the home side via a free-kick, after Joao Cancelo brought down Karim Adeyemi, earning himself a yellow card.

The free-kick was shot wide by Julian Brandt, never really troubling incoming City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who was making his competitive City debut on the night.

Little in the way of opportunities happened before City earned a second yellow card of the evening, this time for Julian Alvarez after the Argentine forward fouled Thorgan Hazard.

Dortmund continued to have the better chances with multiple shots on Ortega’s goal from the likes of Adeyemi and Youssoufa Moukoko, but all to no avail.

City’s chance finally came in the added on minute of injury time when Phil Foden’s free-kick was met by the head of Nathan Ake, but the Dutch defender could not get his effort on target meaning the teams went into the break goalless.

There was to be no goal on his return to the Westfalenstadion for forer Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, who was hooked off by City coach Guardiola ahead of the next 45 minutes.

Fellow ex-Dortmund player Manuel Akanji came on against his former side for the second-half, replacing Joao Cancelo which can be assumed was a substitution out of caution for the latter’s earlier attained yellow card.

After some initial early Dortmund pressure, City’s chance came as Emre Can brought Riyad Mahrez to the ground illegally, giving the visitors a penalty.

Mahrez then saw his penalty saved by Gregor Kobel, making it the second penalty that the Algerian winger has missed for City in this season’s Champions League after his poor effort away to Copenhagen two weeks ago.

As Dortmund tried to counter attack, Ilkay Gundogan earned himself a yellow card against his former side, as he fouled Moukoko.

Akanji then claimed a yellow card for himself at his old stomping ground after his arm was used to block an incoming shot from Adeyemi, just outside of the City box, but Hazard’s resulting free-kick was hit straight at the wall.

Guardiola had evidently seen enough, as he decided to make his third change of the night, bringing on Jack Grealish for his compatriot Phil Foden.

This change was followed up by another, as City academy graduate Cole Palmer came on for some minutes in place of the dejected Mahrez.

The match stayed goalless, but the result helped both Dortmund and City as the former qualified for the last 16, and the latter confirmed their place as first in Group G.

City are next in action on Saturday as they take on Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in the early kick-off, hoping to leapfrog Arsenal at the top of he table.

The Cityzens’ next Champions League fixture will be next Wednesday as they play out the final game of the group against Spanish side Sevilla.