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Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings: 8/10 for star duo De Bruyne, Foden; Emre Can gets 4

April 8, 2021 6:30 am
Reading Time: 10 mins read
In fine form (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

In fine form (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

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Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden starred as Manchester City eked out a narrow 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Borussia Dortmund made a bright start at the Etihad with Jude Bellingham having a shot saved early in the game. However, Manchester City slowly wrestled back control and were in the lead in the 19th minute as Kevin De Bruyne turned home Riyad Mahrez’s cutback.

A little after the hour mark, Manchester City were awarded a penalty for a foul on Rodri by Emre Can. However, the referee overturned the decision after consultation with VAR. Soon after, Dortmund seemed to have equalised through Jude Bellingham but a bizarre piece of officiating saw the goal ruled out and instead a foul given on Ederson.

Early in the second half,e the visitors were denied an equaliser again, with Erling Haaland forcing a fine save from Ederson. Phil Foden had a shot saved at the other end near the hour mark while Kevin De Bruyne also forced Marwin Hitz into a good stop soon after.

As we entered the final ten minutes, Dortmund were back on level terms with captain Marco Reus finding the back of the net after some good work from Bellingham and Haaland. And just when it seemed like the game would end in a stalemate, Foden popped with a winner in the 90th minute to City an advantage heading into the second leg.

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Here’s how we rated the performances of both sets of players on Tuesday night.

Manchester City

Ederson Moraes: 5/10

Huge let-off for the Brazilian in the first half thanks to some very questionable refereeing which ensured Bellingham’s goal didn’t stand after Ederson had made a meal of his attempted clearance. Brilliant save to deny Haaland early in the second half to follow up on the first-half stop to keep Bellingham out. Could have done better to stop the equaliser though.

Kyle Walker: 6/10

Had some difficulties early in the game and was a bit lax on the ball. But grew steadier as the minutes ticked by. Got forward well and delivered some dangerous crosses. Defended well for large parts although he was guilty of losing Reus for the goal.

John Stones: 6.5/10

Did not have it easy against the threat of Haaland and things were made trickier by his centre-back partner not being at the top of his game, but coped well for the most part. Sharp on the ball, misplaced just three of his 80 passes.

Ruben Dias: 6/10

One of the few games in which that the Portuguese looked a bit flustered and uncomfortable at times. Got beaten by Haaland in the lead-up to a chance in the second half. Recovered strongly from thereon though.

Joao Cancelo: 6/10

Back into the side at the expense of Benjamin Mendy, Dortmund did well to keep him from getting forward as much as he would have liked. Did play in some neat passes forward, one of which led to a chance for Foden. Sound defensively.

Kevin De Bruyne: 8/10

Almost everything that Manchester City conjured up on the night went through their captain. Was heavily involved in the buildup to the opening goal before he himself buried into the back of the net. Came close in the second half on a couple of occasions and played a part in the second goal as well with a stunning cross, after having created a couple of chances for the Englishman. Top-class.

Rodri: 7/10

Held the fort down expertly in the middle of the park. Needed to stay alert with Dortmund trying to hit City on the counter and did so without much problem. Helped initiate attacks with his quick and precise distribution.

Ilkay Gundogan: 7/10

Against his former club, the German international played in a slightly deeper role than he has done of late, offering defensive support to Rodri in the middle. Kept things ticking along nicely without really standing out. Got the assist for the late winner from Foden.

Riyad Mahrez: 7/10

Picked over Raheem Sterling, the Algerian justified his selection as he caused problems down the right with his sharp movement. Got the assist for De Bruyne’s goal and went on to play a game-high four key passes.

Bernardo Silva: 6/10

Starting as the false-nine, the Portuguese attacker did well to lead the press for Manchester City. Showed good movement and link-up but was never really a goal-threat. Withdrawn just before the hour mark.

Phil Foden: 8/10

Looked up for it from the start with his movement on and off the ball standing out. Played a role in the build-up to the opening goal and could have scored himself in the second half but was denied by Hitz on a couple of occasions, although he could have done better with the first attempt. Made amends to pop up and score the late winner. Such a prodigious talent.

SUBSTITUTES

Gabriel Jesus: 6/10

On for Silva just before the hour-mark. Offered a better focal point to the City attack.

Borussia Dortmund

Marwin Hitz: 6/10

Not tested a great deal but did manage to keep out a few efforts in the second half, particularly the one save to deny Foden in the 65th minute standing out. Couldn’t have done much to stop either goal.

Mateu Morey: 5/10

Tried to get stuck in and keep things tight but it was always going to be difficult for the Spaniard against the quality of someone like Foden. Didn’t get forward much on the overlap.

Manuel Akanji: 6.5/10

Largely solid from the Switzerland international as he made some strong challenges and important clearances. Pretty reliable on the ball as well, completing 70 of his 75 attempted passes while a stunning darting run forward in the first half almost led to a chance.

Mats Hummels: 6.5/10

Much like his defensive partner, the seasoned centre-back was quite solid and resilient for the most part on the night. Won his fair share of aerial duels and made a game-high five clearances. Could have been a bit more accurate with his passing at times.

Raphael Guerreiro: 6.5/10

Didn’t manage to get forward as often as he does on the left-wing largely due to the looming threat of Riyad Mahrez. Held his discipline well throughout though and did look dangerous on the few times that he did venture forward.

Jude Bellingham: 8/10

A top-notch performance from the teenager, who showed why he is already becoming a regular fixture in the England national team squad. Forced a save from Ederson early in the game and did put the ball into the net soon after City’s goal only to be denied by a horrific decision from the referee. Worked hard off the ball as well, tracking back regularly, before playing a crucial role in the equaliser. Bright future ahead.

Emre Can: 4/10

Moved back into midfield after having started in defence last time out, the former Liverpool man was guilty of giving the ball away leading to the first goal for Manchester City. Could have conceded a penalty soon after but the decision was thankfully overturned. Booked. Never really looked comfortable.

Mahmoud Dahoud: 6.5/10

May not have been the most standout player on the pitch but showed the value he brings to the side as he was always forward-thinking with his passes and almost managed to create a chance for Haaland early in the second period. Did his bit off the ball as well making a few tackles and interceptions as well before making way for Thomas Delaney.

Ansgar Knauff: 6/10

A surprise selection by Edin Terzic, handing the youngster with just three senior appearances under his belt a start in a game of this magnitude. Showed some signs of nerves but grew past them. Worked hard off the ball, tried to make things happen when on it, playing a couple of key passes. Decision-making wasn’t always spot-on though while he completed only half the passes he attempted.

Erling Haaland: 6/10

Manchester City’s top transfer target heading into the summer, Haaland failed to make the best of impression on his trip to Etihad. Should have done better to control the ball when in a good position in the first half. Was denied a goal early after the half-time break by Ederson before he set Reus up for Dortmund’s only goal of the game. Not quite at his lethal best of late.

Marco Reus: 7/10

Looked bright each time he got on the ball and wasn’t shy of putting in the hard yards when not in possession. Got the only goal for his team late in the game which could come in handy despite the outcome of the game.

SUBSTITUTES

Gio Reyna: 5/10

Came on for Knauff in the 63rd minute. Did little of note during his half-hour run on the pitch.

Thomas Delaney: N/A

Replaced Dahoud in the 80th minute.

Thomas Meunier: N/A

On for Morey for the final ten minutes. Culpable for Foden’s late goal due to his poor positioning.

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