Borussia Dortmund vs Man City LIVE: Champions League team news, line-ups and more tonight
Follow all the action as Manchester City defend a slender first-leg lead against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Pep Guardiola’s side started the tie in perfect fashion, capitalising on an error from Emre Can, as Kevin De Bruyne struck early on at the Etihad. However, Dortmund responded valiantly and drew level with just six minutes remaining as Marco Reus stole in and curled a fine finish into the far corner. But with the tie in danger of tilting in Dortmund’s favour, Phil Foden scored a last-gasp winner to ensure City take a lead into tonight’s second leg.
With a semi-final against PSG awaiting tonight’s winner, City will once again have to stifle the prolific threat of Erling Haaland, who endured a relatively quiet game in Manchester, at least by the Norwegian’s own lofty standards. Guardiola has often been accused of overthinking his tactics in key European games as he’s sought to finally bring a long-coveted Champions League title to the Etihad, however, his side remain firm favourites and will be boosted by the absence of Jadon Sancho, who has failed to recover from injury in time to face his old club. Follow all the action live below:
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Guardiola’s time?
Pep has waited five years for another Champions League semi-final and ten years for a European triumph.
Is this the year he tastes glory once more?
Guardiola last won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2011
Reus and Hummels start
Despite concerns over niggling injuries, both Marco Reus and Mats Hummels start for the hosts tonight. A major boost for Edin Terzic’s men.
Reus and Hummels are both in Dortmund’s starting line-up
Substitute Sterling
What do we make of Sterling being left on the bench then? Guardiola continually seems to prefer Foden ahead of his England teammate.
Sterling did not start in the first leg either
Shake-up
Guardiola has made seven changes from the defeat to Leeds on Saturday afternoon.
And no Raheem Sterling or Gabriel Jesus in the starting line-up, so we would expect either Bernardo Silva or – perhaps more likely – Kevin de Bruyne to take up the false nine role.
Man City team news
And here is the team for Man City tonight:
Line-up: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), Mahrez, Bernardo, Foden
Subs: Steffen, Trafford, Ake, Laporte, Mendy, Fernandinho, Cancelo, Sterling, Jesus, Torres, Garcia
De Bruyne will captain Man City this evening
Borussia Dortmund team news
Here we go then! The Borussia Dortmund team for tonight’s game:
Line-up: Hitz, Guerreiro, Hummels, Akanji, Morey, Can, Dahoud, Bellingham, Knauff, Reus, Haaland
Subs: Burki, Drljaca, Hazard, Schutlz, Brandt, Reiner, Meunier, Piszczek, Tigges, Passlack, Reyna, Raschl
Haaland will lead the line for Dortmund as expected
Fitness doubts
Sergio Aguero has been ruled out of the match this evening, but Aymeric Laporte is back in Manchester City’s 22-man squad.
Meanwhile, Dortmund are waiting on late fitness tests for Marco Reus and Mats Hummels, two players who could be crucial this evening.
Robust defence
Prior to Marco Reus’ strike at the Etihad last week, Manchester City had conceded just one goal in the Champions League all season.
Dortmund need to score at least one if they are to advance this evening, but Stuart Dallas and Leeds proved at the weekend it is not an impossible feat to hit this Man City team where it hurts.
Dias and Stones have established a superb central defensive partnership this season
Borussia Dortmund v Manchester City
It has also been quite the wait for Dortmund to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League again.
Not since the 2012-13 season under Jurgen Klopp have the German side tasted the last four of Europe’s elite competition. They have a massive opportunity to put that right tonight.
Dortmund lost in the final of the 2012-13 Champions League under Klopp
Man City’s quarter-final curse
Manchester City have been knocked out three times in a row in the last eight of the Champions League under Pep Guardiola.
Liverpool, Tottenham and Lyon have all got the better of them in the quarter-finals.
Fourth times the charm?
Guardiola has not reached the semi-finals since 2016
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