Borussia Dortmund pissed off Erling Haaland on his return and held Manchester Metropolis to a 0-0 draw Tuesday to clinch a spot within the Champions League knockout stage with a sport to spare.
Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel additionally saved a second-half penalty from Riyad Mahrez to earn Dortmund the purpose it wanted to make certain of ending second in Group G. Dortmund is thru due to its higher head-to-head report towards Sevilla.
“It was crucial for us to take a degree and never lose. We’re tremendous glad to have certified,” Kobel stated.
Metropolis is assured of topping the group earlier than its ultimate sport towards visiting Sevilla subsequent week, when Dortmund visits FC Copenhagen.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzić opted for a youthful assault with the 17-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko flanked on both aspect by Gio Reyna (19) and Karim Adeyemi (20). Julian Brandt and Thorgan Hazard accomplished a really offensive lineup.
Metropolis counterpart Pep Guardiola rotated his aspect and handed former Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper Stefan Ortega his debut on his return to Germany.
However Dortmund made the higher begin and may have scored within the sixteenth minute when Adeyemi shot straight at Ortega. Terzić berated the Germany ahead for not doing higher.
Adeyemi then mixed properly with Jude Bellingham earlier than establishing Reyna, whose low shot was too near Ortega.
In the meantime, veteran defender Mats Hummels was cheered by the house followers for getting the higher of former teammate Haaland on a number of events. Guardiola took off his star ahead on the break, bringing on Bernardo Silva in his place whereas former Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji changed the booked João Cancelo.
Mahrez then had an awesome likelihood to interrupt the impasse with a penalty within the 58th after he had been fouled by Emre Can, however Kobel saved the Algerian’s spot kick.
“I used to be really wanting ahead to (Haaland) taking the penalty, however sadly he wasn’t on the sphere,” Kobel stated.
It was Mahrez’s second consecutive penalty miss within the competitors.
Metropolis confirmed marked enchancment as Dortmund’s gamers drained from their earlier efforts and Kobel was pressured into motion once more to disclaim İlkay Gündoğan and Julian Alvarez.
The guests continued probing for a late winner however this time Dortmund held on. Haaland determined their earlier assembly 2-1 in Metropolis’s favor with a late objective final month.