Manchester City put the rest of the continent on high alert last week when they made mincemeat of Sevilla in a 4-0 drubbing that would have set knees knocking across Europe. Erling Haaland was the chief architect of Sevilla’s demise and on Wednesday, the Norwegian hotshot will take aim against his former employers Borussia Dortmund.
Below, we’ve assembled a series of stats ahead of the action at The Etihad Stadium which should come in useful for bet builder enthusiasts on Wednesday evening. You’ll find details on shots, fouls, corners, XG and more in our rundown. Apply our data to the betting markets to give you an edge of the bookies.
Predicted Lineups
Kyle Walker is inching his way back to fitness, however, Wednesday’s game will come too soon for the England international and Joao Cancelo will take up the cause at right back in his absence.
Centre-half Manuel Ajanji is in line to face his old club, as is Erling Haaland who has hit nine goals in his last four starts.
Winger Thorgan Hazard and midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud are sidelined for Dortmund, while keeper Gregor Kobel is still carrying a muscle injury.
Englishman Jude Bellingham will anchor the midfield alongside Salih Ozcan, with skipper Marco Reus floating in the spaces behind Anthony Modeste up front.
Team Stats
Manchester City are unrivalled in the Premier League this season for xG for (2.4) and xG against (0.75) per 90, and the champions are also conceding fewer shots on target than any other side in the division (1.83 p/90).
City are also allowing opponents to win remarkably few corners per 90 (1.67) this term, while their domestic card count is also admirably low (0.67 p/90).
Borussia Dortmund have won four and lost two of their six Bundesliga fixtures this season and the team’s underlying stats have a very symmetrical look about them.
Their cards stats are identical (2.17 for/against p/90), while their shots for (12.67) and against tallies (12.17) per 90 are also well-matched. Their goals for (1.33) and against (1.17) figures have a similar look and it’s interesting to note that BVB have notched just eight times in the league this term. Missing a certain Norwegian perhaps?
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Erling Haaland’s impact at City has been immediate and the goal-scoring sensation tops the rankings in Manchester for shots on target (2.62) and shots (4.68) mustered per 90.
Argentinean forward Julian Alvarez has posted some impressive early numbers too, though there is a good chance he’ll be among the substitutes on Wednesday. Kevin de Bruyne (3.28 shots p/90) offers plenty of penetration from deeper positions.
Anthony Modeste is one of Dortmund’s metric leaders for shots on target p/90 (0.84) in the Bundesliga, though the veteran has converted just one effort so far.
Skipper Marco Reus has been racking up 2.17 shots per 90, as has Jude Bellingham, though the duo’s accuracy hasn’t quite been up to scratch. 17-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko (1.36 SOT p/90) provides a lively option from the bench.
Player Goals and Assists
Erling Haaland is already into double figures for the campaign in the Premier League and the 22-year-old scored his first two Champions League goals for City against Sevilla last week.
Pep Guardiola has already dropped a hint or two about the dangers of becoming over reliant on the Norwegian however, and players like Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez will need to up their output soon.
Marco Reus is Dortmund’s leading marksman in the Bundesliga, though his modest two-goal haul shines a light on the team’s issues in the final third.
Reus was among the goalscorers again when Dortmund put three past FC Copenhagen in their Group E opener last week. Jude Bellingham also got in on the act against the Danes, though he has yet to register domestically.
Manchester City Cards
Pep Guardiola is an advocate of using technical fouls as a defensive strategy and Joao Cancelo (0.93 fouls p/90), Ilkay Gundogan (1.22) and Rodri (1.79) are three of the craftiest masters of that particular dark art.
Rodri’s battle with Jude Bellingham should be a fascinating duel, while Gundogan – if the German starts against his former club – is worth watching closely against Dortmund’s fast-breaking players like Gio Reyna.
Borussia Dortmund Cards Drawn
Jude Bellingham (4.55 dribbles p/90) excels at beating the press and carrying the ball through opponents’ lines and the 19-year-old draws his fair share of fouls as a result (2.83).
Schemer Gio Reyna’s creative skillset makes him a target for destroyers (fouled 2.50 p/90) while the intelligent runs of Marco Reus (1.67) can often be stopped by illegal roadblocks.
Match-Ups to watch
Joao Cancelo vs Marco Reus
Rodri vs Jude Bellingham
Ilkay Gundogan vs Gio Reyna
Borussia Dortmund Cards
Thomas Meunier is a modern raiding fullback, though, like many players of his ilk, he is often more comfortable going forward than he is defending. Expect some awkward moments from the Belgian (2.37 fouls p/90) if he is isolated by Jack Grealish.
Marco Reus (2 cards) performs a key role in breaking up play out of possession when dropping back into midfield to help out, while summer signing Nico Schlotterbeck (2 cards) could press the panic button if Erling Haaland gains a yard on him.
Manchester City Cards Drawn
Jack Grealish (fouled 4.00 p/90) was famously the Premier League’s most-fouled player when he was at boyhood club Aston Villa and the wide attacker remains a heavy tackle magnet for City.
Inventive diminutive pair Bernardo Silva (1.43) and Phil Foden (1.37) tend to have their passing patterns interrupted by overzealous challenges, while Erling Haaland (1.13) could be on the end of some rough treatment when he reacquaints himself with old friends.
Match-Ups to watch
Thomas Meunier vs Jack Grealish
Marco Reus vs Bernardo Silva
Nico Schlotterbeck vs Erling Haaland
This should be a cracking spectacle and it’ll be interesting to see if Haaland can score against his former club. Remember to keep your stakes sensible if you’re having a bet, your bet should add enjoyment and if it doesn’t, you’re staking too much.
