Manchester City climbed to fourth in the Champions League standings after a dominant 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, closing the gap to just two points behind the top three — Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Inter Milan.
Dortmund started brightly, pressing high and keeping City under pressure early on. But the momentum shifted once Phil Foden opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a precise low shot from the edge of the box. Just seven minutes later, Erling Haaland made it 2-0, converting Jeremy Doku’s cross with a powerful finish as City took control of the game.
The visitors struggled to cope with City’s tempo and fluid movement, forcing goalkeeper Gregor Kobel into several key saves before halftime. Foden struck again in the 57th minute, slotting into the same corner to make it 3-0. Dortmund managed to pull one back through Waldemar Anton’s volley after a short free-kick routine, but Rayan Cherki’s stoppage-time goal sealed a comprehensive win for the hosts.
The result extended City’s unbeaten home run in European competitions to six matches and strengthened their position in the race for qualification, with crucial fixtures against Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen up next. Dortmund, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back from their first Champions League defeat when they host Villarreal later this month.
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac admitted his side were outclassed. “City were simply the better team. We started well but didn’t create enough chances and became too passive. It’s a deserved defeat, though conceding four goals is too much. Goal difference might be important later,” he said.
City boss Pep Guardiola was full of praise for both sides. “The first 15 minutes, I thought, ‘Wow, what is this?’ They were very good and pressed us hard. But we responded well and delivered a strong performance. Dortmund are a great team, and I’m proud of how we played. We’re not Bayern or Arsenal — but we’re close,” he said.
Elsewhere in Wednesday’s Champions League action, Inter Milan maintained their perfect record with a 2-1 win at FC Kairat, Chelsea were held 2-2 by Qarabag, Pafos edged Villarreal 1-0, Galatasaray cruised past Ajax 3-0, Bayer Leverkusen beat Benfica 1-0, Atalanta defeated Marseille 1-0, and Newcastle overcame Athletic Club 2-0.
