Champions League Clash Showcases Growing Differences

Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund

Looking at the behemoth that is the 36-team Champions League table, you would think Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund were well matched.

Both sides have collected a praiseworthy seven points from three matches so far and are placed sixth and seventh respectively – Dortmund sit one place higher due to a slightly better goal difference.

The truth, however, is that the clubs have never been further apart with the Bundesliga side well off the pace and still struggling to keep hold of many of their best players on an annual basis while much richer vultures, City included, circle relentlessly.

Manuel Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan are prime examples of talent City have been able to prise from western Germany over the past decade but, obviously, one other player they snapped up is the name on everyone’s lips.

For, in today’s market, Erling Haaland appears to have been the transfer bargain of the past decade.

Now he goes in search of Champions League 2025 highlights against the side he left three summers ago.

 

Talking Points

There appears nothing more certain than the expectancy that Haaland will score on Wednesday night against his former employer where he also boasted a formidable record. Between 2020 and 2022, he netted an astounding 86 goals in 89 appearances.

His double against Bournemouth on Sunday took his tally to 13 league goals for the season so far and was a contest which outlined just how ruthless a finisher the Norwegian is. He now has 13 Premier League goals this season and a seismic total of 98 in 107 appearances in England’s top flight.

He will spearhead the attack for the hosts whose only absentee should be Mateo Kovacic (ankle), while the German club are set to receive a double defensive boost with the returns of Nico Schlotterbeck (illness) and Niklas Sule (toe).

Dortmund have a genuine attacking threat of their own in Serhou Guirassy and it was the Guinean striker who netted his first goal in more than a month as they won at strugglers Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Friday evening.

Niko Kovac’s side also saw off Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties in the German cup last week so travel to Manchester in fine fettle.

The gap though is clear.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that they reached the Champions League final as recently as 18 months ago.

They are currently in third place, seven points off runaway leaders Bayern Munich and Dortmund seem as far behind as the Bavarians now as they have done for some years and will go nowhere near matching their 2023 title bid when they were left devastated due to last day circumstances.

Just imagine what a side Dortmund would have been had they been able to keep hold of their top talent over the last 14 years or so.

 

History

Before their meetings in the autumn of 2022, a goalless draw in Dortmund preceded by a 2-1 home win in Manchester thanks to late goals from John Stones and Haaland, the two sides had met on four other occasions – all in this tournament.

The first meeting in October 2012 saw the teams play out a 1-1 draw in Manchester with City needing a last-minute penalty from Mario Balotelli to cancel out a Marco Reus opener.

The return a few months later saw Julian Scheiber score the only goal as City were eliminated at the group stages. Dortmund went onto reach the final.

By the time they next met, the emerging force of City was approaching its peak and they won both legs of the 2021 quarter-final tie.

A 2-1 home success, sealed by Kevin de Bruyne and a last gasp Foden goal, was repeated in Germany with Foden on target again, along with a Riyad Mahrez penalty.

 

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Champions League 2025 betting odds quite rightly make City huge favourites, priced 1X2 @ 1.39 and Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 2.16. That is in contrast to Dortmund who are on offer 1X2 @ 5.90 and Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.29.

The draw will pay out @ 4.66 and a re-run of their last meeting at the Etihad gives you odds @ 7.70 with Correct Score 2-1.

As for goals, you probably expect a fair few which is why total 0-1 is up for grabs @ 5.30, compared to 2-3 @ 2.27 and 4-6 @ 2.35, as well as over 3.50 @ 2.16.

Given what I’ve outlined above, these two operate at very different levels now.

   

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.