Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund Champions League Picks and Predictions: Trust Haaland

Erling Haaland has been an offensive force for Manchester City and his elite output should continue against his former team, Borussia Dortmund. Our betting picks like him to not only score, but tally the game's first goal.

Sep 13, 2022 • 15:24 ET • 4 min read
Erling Haaland Manchester City Champions League Soccer
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

Rampant Manchester City hosts Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, with the winner set to take a stranglehold on Champions League Group G. 

Both sides won their opening Champions League encounters, as City whitewashed Sevilla 4-0 away from home and Dortmund kept a clean sheet in their 3-0 comprehensive home win over Copenhagen. City are arguably the most formidable offensive side on the continent going into the pivotal contest, while Dortmund has an injury crisis afoot. 

Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund best odds

Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund picks and predictions

Erling Haaland will be feverishly anticipating playing his former team for the first time since his big-money summer move to Manchester City. The world’s most dominant striker assimilated to life in the Premier League as well as expected, considering his outrageous goal return. 

The towering Norwegian has the power, pace, and precision to cause fits for every rearguard he faces, no matter how experienced or adept. He bagged back-to-back Premier League hat tricks against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest before adding another vital goal at Villa Park in City’s most recent outing, which ended 1-1. 

Haaland has goals in five straight matches in all competitions, including a brace at Sevilla in his first Champions League outing with City. The 22-year-old has 10 goals in six Premier League matches, four ahead of Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Premier League’s second most potent striker. 

His two goals against Sevilla brought his Champions League count to 25 in only 20 matches. It’s the most prolific goal-scoring start from any player in Champions League history, which is saying something given the pedigree of the elite competition. Haaland has 12 goals in seven matches thus far with the Cityzens. 

While Dortmund has an acute understanding of what to expect from their former ace, it seems nobody knows how to slow the striker. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Dortmund’s backline scratching their heads, frustrated about how to combat Haaland’s irrepressible appetite for goals. 

Conversely, Haaland knows Dortmund’s rearguard intimately and should have a precise understanding of where their strengths and weaknesses lie.  

To bag the opener against his former teammates would be quintessential Haaland. He has the added benefit of playing at Etihad Stadium, where the feverish crowd should galvanize the domineering Norwegian. However, Haaland is as prodigious no matter where he plays, another impressive attribute that separates him from other elite frontmen.

My best bet: Erling Haaland to score the first goal (+175 at BetMGM)

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Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund betting preview

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Side analysis Over/Under analysis Game info Injuries Weather

Side analysis

Borussia Dortmund is missing five regulars for the trip to City, as Mahmoud Dahoud, Sebastien Haller, Gregor Kobel, Mateu Morey, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens all ruled out. In addition, Belgian international Thorgan Hazard’s availability is in doubt after limping off against Copenhagen with a thigh injury. 

The laundry list of injury concerns contributed to Dortmund’s 3-0 away defeat to RB Leipzig on Saturday, a loss that came on the back of three successive victories. It’s challenging enough to take anything from Etihad Stadium with a full complement of players, so Dortmund’s current injury crisis will severely concern Edin Terzic. 

In terms of injury concerns, City isn’t in the best shape, either. However, most of City’s personnel problems are in their rearguard, which won’t concern Pep Guardiola too much. John Stones and Kyle Walker might not be able to play, while Aymeric Laporte is still unavailable.

Guardiola has more than enough coverage and has all of his attacking weapons at his disposal. Moreover, City won’t rest any key players for the pivotal contest, a foreboding thought for Dortmund. Guardiola’s side is unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions, scoring 24 goals, an average of 3.4 per game.

Over/Under analysis

Six of City’s last seven encounters resulted in the Over, while Pep’s side has bagged at least three in all but one of their previous seven. In addition, they scored at least four goals in four of those seven matches. 

Four of Dortmund’s previous six also resulted in the Over. With Dortmund’s extensive injury list, City should be able to continue their prolific offensive form. However, Dortmund has enough going forward to grab a consolation goal against a depleted City defense. 

Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund game info

Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: DAZN

Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund key injuries

Manchester City: Aymeric Laporte D (Out), John Stones D (Doubtful), Kyle Walker (Doubtful).
Borussia Dortmund: Mahmoud Dahoud M (Out), Sebastien Haller F (Out), Gregor Kobel GK (Out), Mateu Morey D (Out), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens F (Out), Thorgan Hazard M (Doubtful).

Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund weather

The temperature will be a cool 61 Fahrenheit for the late kickoff. Winds will be light to moderate at about 9 mph, and humidity is expected to be 74%. Chances of precipitation are low, at about 7%. 

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