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If Phil Foden performs so do Manchester City is a truism reiterated by this two-goal show that helped sweep Pep Guardiola’s improving team to 10 points from four games at the stage’s halfway juncture.
Factor in Erling Haaland who decorated his captaincy for the eve with a 27th goal (for club and country) and Waldemer Anton’s 72nd-minute jab home was solely an irritation.
But after the strike Borussia Dortmund had more moments – Karim Adeyemi missed at point-blank – and so despite Rayan Cherki’s fourth in added time, Guardiola is sure to remind his charges not to allow the opponent to wrest the initiative as the visitor did for the closing phases.
The bottom line, though: City are close to the cohesive proposition that makes them formidable and the ceiling is again high for the 2022-23 treble winners.
Guardiola trained the squad on Wednesday morning, preferring to give players Tuesday off following Sunday’s “so demanding” 3-1 win over Bournemouth here. This rare move – “I’ve done it a few times” – caused the eye to look for any discernible impact on their rhythm seven or so hours after being put through the drills.
By half-time, the answer was a definite no. Dortmund monopolised the ball in an opening passage that pinned their hosts back and a loose Josko Gvardiol pass allowed Adeyemi to be played through along the right and momentarily threaten Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal. Adeyemi was soon breaking again along the same flank and zipping in a ball from which Maximilian Beier failed to prosper.
Before this, a City foray had Phil Foden crossing, the Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel repelling, and a throw-in being claimed. In this same sequence, Savinho fed Foden who powered a shot Kobel parried downwards, then the in-rushing Brazilian blazed high.
As against Bournemouth on Sunday, City were in breakaway rather than percussive passing mode. Savinho zipped over from his wing and caused Daniel Svensson to scythe him down but Foden’s free-kick pitter-pattered into Kobel’s gloves.
This proved a sighter for City’s playmaker. Because, on receiving next opportunity, he scored – a goal that derived from classic Guardiola passing play. Camped in Dortmund territory, Nico González located Tijjani Reijnders in an inside-right zone. He pinged the ball to Foden and with a swish of his left foot Kobel was beaten with a calmly rolled finish.
A “floodgates open” moment, because City soon added a second. Savinho’s run and shot was palmed away by the overworked Kobel before Jérémy Doku collected on the left and put the ball back in, along the turf, and Haaland smashed in.
Pan left to a Guardiola whose joy was soon replaced by irritation due to the latest detail of imperfection from his unit. A mystery really because Kobel was soon tested again by a Reijnders hit, then Haaland marauded and offered up a rare treat: the sight of him turned winger, floating over a delivery from which Nico O’Reilly missed stabbing home City’s third.
Perhaps Guardiola’s ire was vented to prevent slackening off: if so he was horrified to witness his defence slumber with Adeyemi lurking under a high ball Donnarumma chose to punch out rather than catch.
Dortmund arrived as the third-placed side in the Bundesliga, seven points behind Bayern Munich, having been beaten only once in 14 games this term: a 2-1 defeat in Der Klassiker at the Allianz Arena three weeks ago.
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In four previous meetings with City (all Champions League) Dortmund had won only once – 1-0 in a December 2012 group game – and when the second half began they were far away from a repeat.
Savinho nearly killed all hope with a snapshot Kobel again had to save. Then Gvardiol dropped the ball into Dortmund’s danger area and they cleared their ranks – just about.
This time last year City struggled for consistency and solidity: keywords in the Guardiola manifesto. Here, as against Bournemouth and on more matchdays than not this term, each were present.
When González and O’Reilly played keep-ball at halfway Niko Kovac’s side were a quasi-circular yellow wall. Seconds later and City, in their hypnotic fashion, had Savinho running by Dortmund’s six-yard box and forcing a corner: a diagram of how Guardiola’s side have dismantled so many foes.
So, too, was Foden’s second goal. Doku tapped to González who tapped to Reijnders. The pass went to the Stockport Iniesta who swivelled and again beat Kobel from long range.
City were in playful mood. A Doku pass was backheeled to Haaland who returned the ball and, when it came curving over, Savinho might have volleyed the sweetest of finishes but blasted over.
Beforehand, Guardiola delivered an update on Rodri: “It [his hamstring issue] doesn’t feel perfect – he will not be out for a while.” When the No 6 does return City will be even better.
