Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund. UEFA Champions League Group G.
Etihad StadiumAttendance50,441.
Match report as Manchester City came from behind to defeat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 thanks to Erling Haaland's late volley; the win maintains Pep Guardiola's side's place at the top of Champions League Group G but the coach was unhappy with the rhythm
Thursday 15 September 2022 13:49, UK
Pep Guardiola compared Erling Haaland to Johan Cruyff and Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the prolific Norwegian's outrageous finish against his old club completed a dramatic turnaround as Manchester City defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola's side had looked to be heading for Champions League defeat when Jude Bellingham headed Dortmund in front early in the second half but John Stones levelled it late on from distance before Haaland had the final say with his measured volley from Joao Cancelo's inviting outside-of-the-boot cross.
Man City, who stay top of Group G with maximum points from their two matches, had been below par for much of the match - Stones' shot in the 80th minute was their first on target all evening - but with Haaland in the team there is always that threat.
It was Haaland's 13th goal in just nine appearances since his summer move to City from Dortmund.
City manager Guardiola, who played under Dutch great Cruyff at Barcelona, said: "Maybe the people who know me know the influence of Johan Cruyff in my life as a person, a mentor, a manager.
"Years ago, he scored in Camp Nou an incredible goal versus Atletico Madrid. It was quite similar today with Haaland and the moment he scored it I thought, 'Johan Cruyff'. It was quite similar.
"It was a really good one and the assist from Joao was exceptional."
People maybe talk about that I don't touch the ball enough, but I don't care. I know what I'm going to do, what I have to do, and this is exactly what I'll keep doing... My dream is to touch the ball five times and score five goals.
If that comparison was not favourable enough, Guardiola also felt Haaland reminded him of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
He said: "I remember my dear friend Ibrahimovic had this ability to put the leg on the roof and Erling is quite similar on that.
"I think it is his nature. He is elastic, he is flexible and has the ability to make the contact and put the ball in the net."
Soccer Special's Clinton Morrison was lost for words after watching Haaland's wonder goal against Borussia Dortmund...
Erling Haaland on BT Sport:
"We showed what we are in the end. I'm proud of the last 20, 25, 30 minutes. Two great goals."
Asked by the reporter if his former club knew how to stop him, Haaland said: "They didn't stop me, I scored! But yeah, they played well, and I was quite sure I was going to be followed the whole game because they know me very well."
It had been so close to being Bellingham's night. The 19-year-old England international had showed his class while the Premier League champions struggled to show anything like their best form. Jack Grealish had shots blocked. Kevin De Bruyne saw crosses cleared. The Etihad waited patiently.
But when the opportunities did come in the second half, they came for Dortmund. Marco Reus went close from one counter-attack and then turned supplier soon after, Bellingham nodding beyond Ederson to spark wild scenes in the boisterous away end.
The game opened up once Guardiola sent for his substitutes - Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva all being introduced - and suddenly Haaland was in the game. Nevertheless, Guardiola will be desperately disappointed by the lack of energy before that.
Falling behind in front of their own fans has become an unwelcome habit for City, having famously extricated themselves from difficulty here against Aston Villa on the final day of last season and again more recently versus Crystal Palace.
One day it will cost them. With Haaland around, that day may not be soon.
Sky Sports' Adam Bate:
Haaland's finish was reminiscent of a famous Cruyff goal for Barcelona against Atletico Madrid in 1973 - labelled the impossible goal as he rose to volley the ball in at the far post. More modern audiences might be reminded of Ibrahimovic.
What is certain is that there are very few players in the game's history capable of the moments that this young man continues to produce. Borussia Dortmund were once the beneficiaries of this extraordinary talent. On this night, they were the victims of it.
Haaland now has 13 goals in his last eight games for Manchester City. It is a freakish return and yet such is his brilliance one wonders whether such a high output might be sustainable. Not quite like this, perhaps, but City are not even finding him as they can right now.
This was an unconvincing performance by the team in which he was starved of service throughout. But when the ball did reach him he looked astonishingly sharp, turning away from trouble, finding the openings for others. When City click, he could really have fun.
For now, it is enough. Dortmund did well. City struggled. Yet, as the supporters strode away from the stadium, it was the stunning denouement that will have been freshest in their mind. A hint of Cruyff, shades of Zlatan. But only one Erling Haaland.
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:
Mature beyond his years, the clamour for a more important role for Bellingham within the England set-up looks only to get louder as Qatar approaches. The debate is now not whether he's on the plane, it's whether you can leave him out of England's first game on November 21 against Iran. Southgate has already seen his talents up close when deployed in an aggressive midfield role that supported the strikers.
He was man of the match after an excellent showing when playing the full friendly with Ivory Coast earlier this year before bossing the midfield after replacing Kalvin Phillips - who played just four minutes from the bench in this clash - against Germany in the Nations League over the summer.
Inexperience is not a valid argument anymore. Bellingham already has a full Championship season and almost three Bundesliga campaigns under his belt, not to mention his 18 Champions League appearances. Yet again, he was Dortmund's most potent and creative player against City's midfield. Bellingham had already drawn Rodri into a booking having burst past him in midfield on 53 minutes before showing his eye for goal is developing with every minute he plays. His reading of the situation to beat the City defenders to Marco Reus' cross was very Frank Lampard-like. The way he moves with the ball is very Steven Gerrard-like.
The days of debating whether Lampard and Gerrard can play together are gone. But England may have found someone who combines the skillset of both.
Can you squeeze him in somewhere? Heck, England should be building their midfield around him.
It is a quick turnaround for Manchester City because they are in action in the early kick-off on Saturday as they make the trip to face Wolves at Molineux. They return after the international break with the derby against Manchester United on October 2.
Borussia Dortmund's own derby comes rather sooner than that. They host Schalke in the Revierderby at the Westfalenstadion on Saturday afternoon.
