It was another tense night of UEFA Champions League action on Wednesday but when push came to shove, Manchester City dug deep and secured the win they needed to see off the challenge of Borussia Dortmund. The Germans were the ones who went ahead and were well on their way to going through on away goals, but a pair of goals in the second half ensured it was City who made it into the semi-finals.
The rise of Jude Bellingham
Somehow, at the age of just 17, Jude Bellingham is already one of the most talked about prospects in world football. The former Birmingham City star is tearing it up with Borussia Dortmund and last night, he proved to the world that he’s not all hype with an outstanding touch and finish to give Dortmund the lead. It may not have been enough to take them through, but believe us when we tell you his star power will only continue to rise.
Manchester City’s character test
Pep Guardiola has felt the pain of being knocked out of the Champions League on multiple occasions with Manchester City, and when they were 1-0 down and behind on away goals, he probably felt a sense of deja vu. Thankfully for City fans this team seems to be made of something different, and they showcased the sort of resilience that is necessary for these high-pressure situations. It may not have been a perfect performance but that second half just shows you how much they really want this.
Still the favourites?
Manchester City are currently priced as the 5/4 favourites to win this season’s Champions League with 888sport, leading the way over PSG, Real Madrid and Chelsea. There’s a lot riding on the UCL this season for City because while the quadruple may be the end goal, being dubbed the Champions of Europe is really what Pep Guardiola is after. They know they have to be pretty much perfect across all four competitions in order to progress, and the next step sees them tackle the incredibly tough challenge of Paris Saint-Germain for a place in their first ever European Cup final.
Match Report
Borussia Dortmund: Hitz (6), Guerreiro (6.5), Hummels (6.5), Akanji (6), Morey (6), Dahoud (7), Can (6.5), Bellingham (7.5), Reus (6.5), Haaland (6), Knauff (6), Reyna (6), Brandt (6), Tigges (6), Hazard (6)
Manchester City: Ederson (6), Walker (6.5), Stones (7.5), Dias (7), Zinchenko (7), Silva (6.5), Rodrigo (7.5), Gundogan (7.5), Mahrez (8), De Bruyne (8), Foden (8.5), Sterling (6)
Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande
Goals: Bellingham :: Mahrez pen, Foden
Yellow Cards: Bellingham
Red Cards: N/A
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