The only two teams with seven points after three rounds of UEFA Champions League (UCL) group phase action go head-to-head as Manchester City host Borussia Dortmund in what promises to be a pulsating encounter at the Etihad Stadium.
City will be ruing their missed opportunity to make it nine points from nine after twice surrendering the lead against Monaco on matchday two their only dropped points of the campaign so far. Softfootball understands that Pep Guardiola’s men have responded strongly, securing five wins from their last six competitive games (L1), including a solid 3-1 Premier League victory over Bournemouth on Sunday.
The English champions will take confidence from their formidable UCL home record, having gone 22 home group-stage matches unbeaten since September 2018 (W19, D3). That consistency underlines their dominance on home soil, and with their attacking form firing again, few would bet against them extending that streak.
Meanwhile, Dortmund travel to Manchester after a narrow 1-0 win away to Augsburg on Friday night. Despite Bayern Munich’s relentless form leaving them trailing in the Bundesliga race, Edin Terzić’s side have been quietly impressive this season with just one defeat from their last ten UCL matches (W6, D3).
Manchester City are hoping to stir the tension a bit, as they uploaded a throwback video of a flawless Joe Hart performance against Dortmund back in 2012 on their official X account.
Watch the video below:
The Yellow and Blacks have scored four goals in each of their three UCL outings so far, including two on the road, showing their attacking intent remains lethal. Dortmund shouldn’t be underestimated — even as underdogs — especially considering their resilience in Europe.
City have the upper hand historically in this fixture, leading the UCL head-to-head (W3, D2, L1), and remain unbeaten in their last eight games against German opposition (W5, D3). Guardiola himself is unbeaten in ten consecutive matches versus Dortmund (W6, D4).
Team News
Manchester City are close to full strength again with Rodri back in action. The Spanish midfielder’s return will provide stability in the middle of the park.
For Dortmund, Nico Schlotterbeck missed Friday’s Bundesliga clash with illness but could return for this vital European tie.
Possible Lineups
Manchester City (4-3-3):
Donnarumma; Nunes, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Gonzalez; Savinho, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland
Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1):
Kobel; Schlotterbeck, Anton, Bensebaini; Couto, Nmecha, Bellingham, Svensson; Adeyemi, Beier; Guirassy
Softfootball’s Prediction
Manchester City’s UCL home dominance and attacking depth make them clear favourites, but Dortmund’s sharpness in front of goal could test them after the break, especially with Serhou Guirassy’s habit of scoring late.
Prediction: Manchester City 3–1 Borussia Dortmund
