Phil Foden’s Double Downs Borussia Dortmund As Manchester City Sparkle

If Phil Foden performs truthful do Manchester City is simply a truism reiterated by this two-goal show that helped expanse Pep Guardiola’s improving squad to 10 points from 4 games astatine nan stage’s halfway juncture.

Factor successful Erling Haaland who dressed up his captaincy for nan eve pinch a 27th extremity (for nine and country) and Waldemer Anton’s 72nd-minute jab location was solely an irritation.

But aft nan onslaught Borussia Dortmund had much moments – Karim Adeyemi missed astatine point-blank – and truthful contempt Rayan Cherki’s 4th successful added time, Guardiola is judge to punctual his charges not to let nan force to wrest nan inaugural arsenic nan visitant did for nan closing phases.

The bottommost line, though: City are adjacent to nan cohesive proposition that makes them formidable and nan ceiling is again precocious for nan 2022-23 treble winners.

Guardiola trained nan squad connected Wednesday morning, preferring to springiness players Tuesday disconnected pursuing Sunday’s “so demanding” 3-1 triumph complete Bournemouth here. This uncommon move – “I’ve done it a fewer times” – caused nan oculus to look for immoderate discernible effect connected their hit 7 aliases truthful hours aft being put done nan drills.

By half-time, nan reply was a definite no. Dortmund monopolised nan shot successful an opening transition that pinned their hosts backmost and a loose Josko Gvardiol walk allowed Adeyemi to beryllium played done on nan correct and momentarily frighten Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal. Adeyemi was soon breaking again on nan aforesaid flank and zipping successful a shot from which Maximilian Beier grounded to prosper.

Before this, a City foray had Phil Foden crossing, nan Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel repelling, and a throw-in being claimed. In this aforesaid sequence, Savinho fed Foden who powered a changeable Kobel parried downwards, past nan in-rushing Brazilian blazed high.

As against Bournemouth connected Sunday, City were successful breakaway alternatively than percussive passing mode. Savinho zipped complete from his helping 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, connected receiving adjacent opportunity, he scored – a extremity that derived from classical Guardiola passing play. Camped successful Dortmund territory, Nico González located Tijjani Reijnders successful an inside-right zone. He pinged nan shot to Foden and pinch a swish of his near ft Kobel was beaten pinch a calmly rolled finish.

Phil Foden fires Manchester City ahead. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters

A “floodgates open” moment, because City soon added a second. Savinho’s tally and changeable was palmed distant by nan overworked Kobel earlier Jérémy Doku collected connected nan near and put nan shot backmost in, on nan turf, and Haaland smashed in.

Pan near to a Guardiola whose joyousness was soon replaced by irritation owed to nan latest item of imperfection from his unit. A enigma really because Kobel was soon tested again by a Reijnders hit, past Haaland marauded and offered up a uncommon treat: nan show of him turned winger, floating complete a transportation from which Nico O’Reilly missed stabbing location City’s third.

Perhaps Guardiola’s ire was vented to forestall slackening off: if truthful he was horrified to witnesser his defence slumber pinch Adeyemi lurking nether a precocious shot Donnarumma chose to punch retired alternatively than catch.

Dortmund arrived arsenic nan third-placed broadside successful nan Bundesliga, 7 points down Bayern Munich, having been beaten only erstwhile successful 14 games this term: a 2-1 conclusion successful Der Klassiker astatine nan Allianz Arena 3 weeks ago.

In 4 erstwhile meetings pinch City (all Champions League) Dortmund had won only erstwhile – 1-0 successful a December 2012 group crippled – and erstwhile nan 2nd half began they were acold distant from a repeat.

Savinho astir killed each dream pinch a snapshot Kobel again had to save. Then Gvardiol dropped nan shot into Dortmund’s threat area and they cleared their ranks – conscionable about.

This clip past twelvemonth City struggled for consistency and solidity: keywords successful nan Guardiola manifesto. Here, arsenic against Bournemouth and connected much matchdays than not this term, each were present.

When González and O’Reilly played keep-ball astatine halfway Niko Kovac’s broadside were a quasi-circular yellowish wall. Seconds later and City, successful their hypnotic fashion, had Savinho moving by Dortmund’s six-yard container and forcing a corner: a sketch of really Guardiola’s broadside person dismantled truthful galore foes.

Erling Haaland smashes nan shot location for Manchester City’s 2nd goal. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

So, too, was Foden’s 2nd goal. Doku tapped to González who tapped to Reijnders. The walk went to nan Stockport Iniesta who swivelled and again hit Kobel from agelong range.

City were successful playful mood. A Doku walk was backheeled to Haaland who returned nan shot and, erstwhile it came curving over, Savinho mightiness person volleyed nan sweetest of finishes but blasted over.

Beforehand, Guardiola delivered an update connected Rodri: “It [his hamstring issue] doesn’t consciousness cleanable – he will not beryllium retired for a while.” When nan No 6 does return City will beryllium moreover better.