Man City vs Dortmund Prediction: UEFA Champions League | 06/04/2021

Manchester City vs Dortmund Prediction

Manchester City vs Dortmund

Knowing that the English Premier League title is all but assured, Manchester City are this tie’s outright favourites, as they aim to make a first UEFA Champions League (UCL) semi-final appearance since 2015/16. They have recorded four straight clean-sheet wins in all competitions, with that sequence aiding what is now 12 European home games without defeat (W11, D1).

 

City have additionally won their last three UCL knockout fixtures played here. Notably, Pep Guardiola’s side haven’t drawn a competitive home game since December 15 (W11, L1), and their last three home victories have seen them go ahead early, in or before the 15th minute.

 

While Borussia Dortmund’s wait for any European glory (24 years) is less than half that of Man City’s own European drought (51y), they too are feeling the pressure. After an Easter Saturday defeat to Frankfurt, ‘Die Borussen’ will now likely need to win the UCL to re-enter it in 2021/22.

 

Despite winning just three of their last 12 UCL knockout matches (W3, D1, L8), Dortmund possess an even record (W4, L4) in UCL/European Cup quarter-finals, but English opponents have proven troublesome lately. Damningly, the 2013 UCL runners up have lost each of their last five outings against such teams.

 

Dortmund have not performed well in England overall (W4, D1, L8). However, they’ll take some confidence from scoring in each of their last 20 competitive away games (W11, D2, L7), and from drawing their only previous visit to the Etihad Stadium (1-1) back in October 2012.

 

Players to score: City’s Kevin De Bruyne has assisted four goals and scored one in three UCL appearances this term, while he’s netted two career goals against Dortmund. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland, son of ex-City man Alf-Inge, is the competition’s leading goal scorer (ten goals) and has netted five times across Dortmund’s last four UCL away matches.

 

Hot stat: City haven’t conceded a UCL goal in 706 minutes – only Arsenal (995 minutes) have bettered that record!

 

Prediction: Manchester City [3] vs [2] Dortmund