Millions will tune in to watch the ‘Erling Haaland derby’ between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City this evening where the Norwegian’s every move is certain to be tracked by an audience of millions. Haaland scored the winner for City when they came from behind to beat the Germans in September. Can the 22-year-old punish his old employers again today?
You can jump into our stats pack for the Champions League Group G clash between Dortmund and City below, which features information about shots, goals, xG, cards, corners, fouls and more from the sides’ domestic campaigns. Use the following stats pack as well as my Stats Pack Guide to assist your bet builder selections today.
Predicted Lineups
Mateu Morey, Luca Unbehuan, Marco Reus, Thomas Meunier and former City youngster Kamie Bynoe-Gittens are out injured for Dortmund, while Salir Ozcan is suspended.
Jude Bellingham will be determined to put on a show this evening as will 17-year-old sensation Youssoufa Moukoko up front.
Pep Guardiola has far fewer personnel issues to deal with, though Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker both remain sidelined. Manuel Akanji will hope to face his former club in defence.
Phil Foden and ex-Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan were both named on the bench against Brighton on Saturday and both players could return to the City XI this evening.
Team Stats
Borussia Dortmund have been blowing hot and cold in the Bundesliga this season, though they did manage to hammer Stuttgart 5-0 at the weekend.
Dortmund have been racking up more attempts per 90 in Germany (14.50) than they have in the Champions League (11.5), though they’ve been conceding exactly the same amount at the other end (12). BVB’s Bundesliga games have been heavy on cards and six players were cautioned when Dortmund played Man City in September.
Manchester City are closing in on top spot in the Premier League and their stats for the domestic campaign so far have been worth of potential title winners . City have been hitting a huge 3.27 goals per 90 in England where they also top the pile for shots on target (6.27 p/90).
Remarkably, City have actually been racking up more attempts per 90 in the Champions League (20) than the Premier League this term (16.90), though they have also been collecting more cards in the UCL (1.00 vs 0.64 per 90).
Player Shots and Shots on Target
17-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko (1.81 SOT per/90) looks like being the next superstar off the production line at Dortmund, though the teenager hasn’t been quite so effective in Europe yet (1.3 shots per game).
Julian Brandt has been clocking 2.7 attempts per appearance in the Champions League, while Karim Adeyemi has been hitting 2.83 shots per 90 in the Bundesliga and 2.0 in the UCL.
Erling Haaland dominates the domestic shooting metrics at Man City this season and the Norwegian has been testing keepers with 2.45 shots on target per 90. The 22-year-old’s numbers climb to an even loftier 3.50 shots on target per 90 in the Champions League.
Phil Foden (2.32 shots per 90) and Kevin de Bruyne (2.61) have been posting excellent numbers in the Premier League, though Belgian (3.3) has been more effective than Foden (1.6) in the Champions League.
Player Goals and Assists
With six goal contributions in ten games (4G, 2A) Youssoufa Moukoko has been Dortmund’s dangerman in the Bundesliga this season and though the 17-year-old scored again at the weekend (vs Stuttgart), he has yet to net in the Champions League.
Jude Bellingham also scored against Stuttgart on Saturday and the England star has already notched four times in as many appearances in the Champions League this term. The 19-year-old bagged Dortmund’s goal at The Etihad Stadium last month.
Erling Haaland is inching towards the 20-goal mark in the Premier League already following another brace against Brighton at the weekend and the unstoppable 22-year-old has also registered five times in just three Champions League appearances since joining the Manchester giants.
Haaland seems certain to score against his old club this evening, just as he did in September. Joao Cancelo and Kevin de Bruyne have three and two assists respectively in the Champions League this season, though the Belgian midfielder looks like the best option to set Haaland up again.
Borussia Dortmund Cards
Emre Can (1.71 fouls per 90) has been providing physicality to Dortmund’s midfield this season and the 28-year-old has collected three cards for his indiscretions.
Can forms a combative partnership with Jude Bellingham (three cards) in midfield and both players gave fouls away against Man City last month. Karim Adeyemi (three cards) also has a mean streak that can draw cards further up the pitch.
Kevin de Bruyne (fouled 1.67 times per 90) has match-winning power in both feet and the Belgian is often targeted by opponents in midfield as a consequence. Emre Can will be aiming to unsettle de Bruyne this evening.
Phil Foden (1.51) should face an interesting test or two against England teammate Jude Bellingham when he drifts centrally, while Joao Cancelo (1.67) could have his forward surges checked with vigour by Adeyemi.
Match-Ups to watch
Emre Can vs Kevin de Bruyne
Jude Bellingham vs Phil Foden
Karim Adeyemi vs Joao Cancelo
Manchester City Cards
Manchester City picked up three bookings against Dortmund in September – which is an unusually high tally for the Cityzens – and Rodri was among those booked. The Spanish international tends to do most of his team’s dirty work in midfield.
Joao Cancelo hasn’t been cautioned in the Champions League this season, though the Portuguese fullback has been carded (two) more often than any other City player in the Premier League this term and he has been clocking 1.0 fouls per 90 in the UCL.
Swiss defender Manuel Akanji might be a little more jittery than usual this evening when he returns to his old stomping ground. It might be worth checking the prices for the 27-year-old in both the foul and card markets later today.
Jude Bellingham’s (fouled 3.36 times per game in the Bundesliga) influence at Dortmund seems to grow by the week and the 19-year-old has been fouled more often per game on average (2.5) than any of his BVB counterparts in the Champions League. Rodri will be following Bellingham closely this evening.
The pacey Donyell Malen (fouled 1.78 times per 90) will relish facing former Dortmund defender Akanji, especially if the latter is filling in at right back, while raiding fullback Marius Wolf (fouled 1.64 times per 90) could run into Joao Cancelo while marauding forward.
Match-Ups to watch
Rodri vs Jude Bellingham
Manuel Akanji vs Donyell Malen
Joao Cancelo vs Marius Wolf
