You’ve seen the highlights. You know the names. But when you actually sit down to look at Man City vs Dortmund, it’s weirdly one of those fixtures that feels like it should be a historic, century-old rivalry, yet it’s almost entirely a modern phenomenon.
Before 2012, these two teams were basically strangers. Since then? They can't seem to stop running into each other in the Champions League. It’s a matchup defined by "what ifs," narrow escapes, and a specific brand of tactical chess that usually ends with Pep Guardiola rubbing his forehead in frustration while Edin Terzić (or whoever is in the hot seat) tries to figure out how to stop a freight train.
Most people think City just steamrolls the Bundesliga side. Honestly, that’s not really the case. While the record books show City holding the upper hand, the actual 90 minutes are usually a stressful, nail-biting mess.
The Night Phil Foden Took Over the Etihad
Let's talk about the most recent meeting on November 5, 2025. It was Bonfire Night in the UK, and Phil Foden decided to take that quite literally. He scored two absolute rockets.
City won 4-1, which looks dominant on paper, but for the first 20 minutes, Dortmund’s high press actually had City looking a bit rattled. It was Tijjani Reijnders—a newer face in this City engine room—who finally found the pocket of space to feed Foden for the opener. Then, of course, Erling Haaland did the Erling Haaland thing. He scored against his old club. Again.
There’s a weird sort of respect there. Haaland doesn’t really celebrate with the usual madness when he scores against BVB. He just sort of nods, like he’s apologizing for being so good.
Dortmund did pull one back through Waldemar Anton in the 72nd minute, and for a second, the Etihad got that familiar, quiet "here we go again" vibe. But Rayan Cherki, coming off the bench, put the game to bed in stoppage time.
Why the Head-to-Head is Deceiving
If you look at the stats, City has four wins to Dortmund’s one. But look closer.
- April 2021: City needed a 90th-minute Foden goal to win 2-1 at home.
- September 2022: Another 2-1 win where Haaland scored a "Karate-style" volley in the 84th minute to steal the points.
- October 2022: A 0-0 draw where Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty and Gregor Kobel looked like he had twelve arms.
Basically, Dortmund is the "banana skin" team. They don't have the budget of City, but they have this annoying habit of staying in the game until the very last second.
The Jude Bellingham Factor (and the "Disallowed" Goal)
You can't talk about Man City vs Dortmund without mentioning Jude Bellingham. Even though he’s moved on to Madrid, his ghost still haunts this fixture.
Remember 2021? Bellingham was just a kid, and he scored a goal that was controversially ruled out because the referee thought he fouled Ederson. Spoilers: he didn't. Even the City players looked a bit confused by that one. It’s one of those "Butterfly Effect" moments—if that goal stands, maybe Dortmund knocks City out, and the whole trajectory of the Champions League changes.
Bellingham always seemed to play with a chip on his shoulder against English teams, and BVB became the perfect platform for that. It’s a theme that continues; Dortmund remains the best "finishing school" in the world for talent that eventually ends up playing against them.
Tactical Reality: Control vs. Chaos
Pep Guardiola wants total control. He wants the ball to move like it’s on a string.
Dortmund, traditionally, wants chaos. They want to catch City in transition. In the recent 4-1 win, we saw City move to a 4-1-4-1 with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal (a big shift from the Ederson era) and Nico González anchoring the middle.
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Dortmund’s 3-4-3 was designed to squeeze the wings. It worked—until it didn't. The problem with playing City is that you have to be perfect for 90 minutes. City only has to be "City" for five.
What to Watch for Next Time
If these two draw each other in the knockout stages (which, let's face it, feels inevitable), keep an eye on the full-backs. In the 2025 clash, Jeremy Doku and Savinho were basically living in the Dortmund half.
Man City vs Dortmund is rarely a boring game. It’s high-octane, it’s usually full of goals, and there is almost always a late drama.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Bettors:
- The "Late Goal" Rule: Seriously, check the stats. A massive percentage of goals in this fixture happen after the 80th minute. Don't turn the TV off early.
- Haaland's "Former Club" Tax: He has scored in nearly every appearance against Dortmund since leaving. The psychological edge is real.
- Watch the Midfield Rotation: City’s new look with Reijnders and Cherki gives them a verticality they didn't have a few seasons ago. Dortmund struggles with runners from deep.
The rivalry might be young, but the intensity is as high as any "Classico" in Europe. Next time they meet, expect fireworks—and probably another Foden masterclass.
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To get the most out of the next match, watch the first 15 minutes of the second half. That's usually when Pep makes the tactical tweak that breaks Dortmund's structure. If you're tracking player stats, keep an eye on the "Big Chances Created" metric for Savinho; his chemistry with Haaland is starting to look scarily similar to the prime De Bruyne years.