Manchester City produced a dazzling performance at the Etihad Stadium as Phil Foden’s brilliant double inspired a 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. The win lifted Pep Guardiola’s side to 10 points from four games, reinforcing their growing rhythm as they head toward the knockout stages.
City captain for the night, Erling Haaland, added his 27th goal of the season, while Waldemar Anton’s strike for Dortmund provided only a brief interruption to the hosts’ momentum. Despite a late goal from Rayan Cherki, City maintained control for much of the match, showcasing the attacking fluency and composure that has defined their resurgence in recent weeks.
Guardiola had given his players Tuesday off before an intense training session on Wednesday morning, and there were no signs of sluggishness when the match kicked off. Dortmund began brightly, controlling possession and testing City’s back line, with Karim Adeyemi and Maximilian Beier both threatening early on. However, once City found their rhythm, the visitors struggled to contain them.
Foden opened the scoring after a slick passing move involving Nico González and Tijjani Reijnders, slotting calmly past Gregor Kobel. Moments later, Savinho’s driving run and shot led to Haaland doubling City’s lead, smashing home after Jérémy Doku’s clever assist.
Dortmund briefly found a foothold when Anton reduced the deficit, but City quickly reasserted dominance. Foden’s second goal was pure artistry — a precise, long-range finish following neat interplay between Doku, González, and Reijnders. The midfielder’s composure and intelligence underlined why he remains such a pivotal figure in Guardiola’s evolving system.
Haaland and Savinho continued to torment Dortmund’s defence, with City playing at their fluid, expressive best. Guardiola will be pleased with his team’s energy and structure, though he urged caution against lapses in concentration.
With Rodri expected to return soon from a minor hamstring issue, Manchester City look increasingly like the formidable side that captured the treble in 2022–23. As they prepare to face Liverpool next, confidence is high that this performance could mark another step toward reclaiming European glory.
