Manchester City welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Etihad Stadium in a Champions League clash, with both sides level on points and unbeaten so far this campaign. The match kicks off at 8:00 PM on Wednesday, promising a showcase of City’s possession mastery against Dortmund’s clinical counter-attacking threat. Find our match preview and best bets below.
Best Bets & Predictions
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rayan Cherki Anytime Assist | 5/2 @ SBK (28.6%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Rayan Cherki is making waves in England. He set up two first-half goals for Erling Haaland in Sunday’s win over Bournemouth and also scored and assisted in the EFL Cup victory at Swansea. The French midfielder impressed at Lyon last season, providing 19 assists in Ligue 1 and the Europa League, creating a goal every 156 minutes on average. His vision and link-up with Haaland already pose a serious threat to opposing defenses. |
| Erling Haaland to Score 2+ goals | 9/4 @ SBK (30.8%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | We are backing Haaland to net against his former club at least twice on Wednesday. The Man City front-man has scored a brace in five of his last ten matches and looks like he is going to score with every opportunity at the moment. |
How both teams go into Man City vs Borussia Dortmund
Manchester City have started their European campaign steadily, earning seven points from games against Napoli, Monaco, and Villarreal. They beat Napoli and Villarreal 2-0 and drew 2-2 with Monaco, though their six goals so far make them the lowest scorers in the top 12.
Domestically, City bounced back from a loss to Aston Villa with 3-1 wins over Swansea and Bournemouth. Erling Haaland scored twice against Bournemouth, joining two Liverpool legends in an elite goalscoring club and helping City move into second place, six points behind Arsenal.
Niko Kovac’s Dortmund have been in red-hot form in the Champions League, scoring at least four goals in every game so far. They drew 4-4 with Juventus, beat Athletic Bilbao 4-1, and overcame Copenhagen 4-2 with a Felix Nmecha brace and two assists from Jobe Bellingham. This marks the first time Dortmund have scored four goals in three consecutive European matches, with 12 goals putting them joint second in the group stage behind Paris Saint-Germain.
Domestically, they have been quieter, scoring just once in three straight games against Koln, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Augsburg, though each result was enough to secure victory.
Manchester City team news
Erling Haaland and Rodri both recovered in time to feature in Manchester City’s win over Bournemouth, while Mateo Kovacic remains sidelined with an ankle problem. Bernardo Silva could miss the next Champions League game if he picks up a yellow card, but otherwise Guardiola has a largely fit squad.
Borussia Dortmund team news
Haaland now faces Dortmund, the club he scored 86 goals for in 89 appearances, and he also netted the winner in City’s 2-1 win over them in 2022.
Dortmund should be boosted by the returns of Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Sule, with Julien Duranville the only confirmed absentee. A fit Schlotterbeck is likely to push on-loan Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino to the bench, while Jobe Bellingham’s form may see him replace veteran Pascal Gross.
Season Form & Standings
Both teams arrive in strong European form, each unbeaten with 7 points from 3 matches in the 2025/26 campaign.
| Team | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 7 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 7 |
Head-to-Head
Manchester City have dominated this fixture in recent seasons, unbeaten in four against Dortmund with three wins and a draw.
Last 4 Meetings
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 25/10/22 | Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Manchester City | UEFA Champions League |
| 14/09/22 | Manchester City 2-1 Borussia Dortmund | UEFA Champions League |
| 14/04/21 | Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Manchester City | UEFA Champions League |
| 06/04/21 | Manchester City 2-1 Borussia Dortmund | UEFA Champions League |
Conclusion
Will Manchester City’s supreme ball control and defensive solidity see them extend their unbeaten run against Dortmund, or can the German side’s efficiency in front of goal spring a surprise? We like the look of two player-based bets involving Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland. Both of which can be backed with SBK.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
