Manchester City’s Champions League campaign could be affected by Erling Haaland’s injury. The Norwegian international has a fractured leg and will miss the next two weeks, but the club are confident that he can play for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, six changes have been made by Bernardo Silva, including a recall for Robert Lewandowski, who reunited with former City teammate and is set to make his debut.
Erling Haaland’s injury may affect Manchester City’s Champions League campaign
Erling Haaland is the talisman of Manchester City’s defence, but his recent injury has raised some questions about his availability this season. The Denmark international has suffered a hip and thigh injury in recent seasons. The City boss is aware of this and has sent sports therapist Mario Pafundi to monitor him. The club is planning to rest and rotate Haaland at opportune times during the season. Guardiola has said that he wants to keep Haaland fit for the turn of the year kooora.
Haaland, 27, has already played a lot since joining Manchester City. Only Joao Cancelo has played more minutes for the Citizens than Haaland in the Premier League. He has started all nine Premier League and Champions League matches for the club, including the Community Shield defeat by Liverpool. He has played a total of 824 minutes for the Citizens this season and has been a constant threat in the back line.
Bernardo Silva makes six changes
A draw against Dortmund leaves City top of the CL group on goal difference, while Dortmund need only one point to qualify for the last 16 of the competition. In the first half, Dortmund dominated possession and should have been 1-0 up at the break. However, despite their superiority in possession, the Red Devils failed to create a clear chance. Julian Brandt’s free-kick found a stanchion, and Adeyemi’s low shot was blocked by Stefan Ortega. In the second period, City have their best chances. However, Youssoufa Moukoko spurns the clearest opportunity to score when he sidesfoots Adeyemi’s low cross.
Both sides have missed chances, but City are slowly building their momentum. They missed a penalty early in the second half and then a penalty attempt from Riyad Mahrez was saved by Gregor Kobel. After the break, City will be on the brink of progress, and it will be interesting to see how City get there in the knockout stages.
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Robert Lewandowski reunites with former City teammate
Former City teammate Robert Lewandowski is set to face his former club Bayern Munich on Tuesday. The Germany international scored twice against Sevilla last week and has already amassed 25 goals in 20 Champions League appearances. This season he has also netted 10 goals in six Premier League games.
The former City striker has enjoyed success in the Premier League and the Bundesliga. At Bayern Munich, he scored 22 goals in 26 Bundesliga games and was named the league’s top goalscorer twice. The Poland international also played in the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final and has won five VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season awards. He has scored more than 300 goals in the Bundesliga and is the league’s all-time leading foreign goalscorer.
In the Champions League, Robert Lewandowski reunites with his former teammate, Erling Haaland. The two players will face each other in the group stage. The two players will meet in Group G against Sevilla, Copenhagen, and Juventus.
Stefan Ortega Moreno makes debut
Stefan Ortega Moreno made his Manchester City debut on Friday night. The former Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper is expected to provide back-up for Ederson in goal. He describes the City squad as “amazing”. Ortega could replace American goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who is set to join Middlesbrough on loan. Steffen is seeking first team football and has been linked with a move to the Championship club.
Impact Ortega made a series of good saves, including a penalty kick in the 54th minute, but was unable to keep a clean sheet. Munich had nine chances to score and Ortega was not able to stop them. This was only Ortega’s fourth clean sheet of the season and he will face a much stiffer test against RB Leipzig next weekend.
John Stones’ comeback inspires City to 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund
After a frustrating first half, Manchester City came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on Wednesday night. In a suffocating first half, City were frustrated and had little success in attacking the opponent’s goal. But after the break, City were in control and started dominating the game. After falling behind to a goal by England starlet Jude Bellingham, John Stones’ screamer gave City the lead and eventually sparked City’s comeback. Then, with 10 minutes remaining, they equalised when Haaland met a cross by Joao Cancelo.
In the first half, Manchester City’s defence looked shaky and prone to mistakes, and a shaky defensive display was the only thing holding City back. But when Stones equalised with 10 minutes remaining, the City defence began to come alive. It was a moment reminiscent of Vinny’s wonder goal against Leicester. Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, started the second half with great intensity and scored two goals in under ten minutes. The first came from a haphazardly cleared corner and was headed past Ederson by Jude Bellingham.
