City Unleashes a 4-1 Champions League rout of Dortmund as Foden shines

Match Overview

Manchester City extended their imposing form in the Champions League with a 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad, in the fourth round of the group stage.

City struck through Phil Foden twice (22', 57'), Erling Haaland in the 29th minute, and substitute Rayan Sharqi at 90+1', while Valdemar Anton pulled one back for Dortmund in the 72nd minute.

City move to 10 points, sitting fourth, while Dortmund remain on seven points in eleventh place.

Dortmund showed early bravery, pressing with audacity, but City settled into their rhythm as the game progressed. The hosts intensified their attacking play, building danger in wide areas and through quick combinations, while Dortmund’s defense and goalkeeper Kobel repelled several threats in the opening spells.

In the 22nd minute, City broke the deadlock after a smart move that found Foden in space inside the area, finishing calmly past Kobel on the left. Two minutes later, City nearly added a second as Foden’s pace caused problems before the ball was cleared off the line. By the 29th, Haaland had doubled City’s lead with a powerful finish from inside the box, giving the Norwegian his 18th goal of the season.

City continued to press in the first half, with a string of chances and close calls, and the rhythm persisted after the break. A relentless City performance culminated in a third goal from Foden in the 57th minute, before Dortmund briefly threatened with a late surge that was quelled by City’s resilience.

In the 72nd minute, Dortmund finally found a way through when Anton converted a set-piece, briefly reigniting hopes of a comeback. City, however, sealed the victory late as Sharqi, a lively substitute, drove forward and finished with a composed strike in stoppage time, wrapping up the 4-1 win.

As the final whistle blew, City sat on 10 points, while Dortmund lingered on seven, leaving the group increasingly open as the campaign progresses.

Punchlines: City’s attackers must have booked a table at the net—they kept ordering goals all night. And Dortmund learned the hard way: in Europe, even a good plan often needs a bigger chair in the dugout.