How Manchester City and Dortmund could line up

9:44am on Monday 5th April 2021
By Nicholas Hughes

After a week where Mino Raiola has been meeting with leading candidates across Europe, his star client Erling Haaland is set to test himself against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.

His Dortmund side have won just one of their last five fixtures and are coming off the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to Frankfurt.

They will travel to a City side that on Saturday took one step closer to Premier League glory with victory over Leicester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side will come into the side pretty much at full strength, with options aplenty to rotate and use fresh legs.

Joao Cancelo was rested at the King Power and should return to the defence, as was John Stones. Ilkay Gundogan was also given the night off and should take his place in midfield, continuing a stellar campaign to date.

Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden both appeared from the bench and will likely replace Sergio Aguero and Riyad Mahrez in the front three, allowing Gabriel Jesus the chance to start at centre forward having scored twice in just four appearances in the competition so far this season.

Dortmund are similarly healthy across the board, but Jadon Sancho is a notable absentee for the fixture against the side from where he was signed by the Germans.

Emre Can has impressed for Edin Terzic’s side at both right-back and centre half, and should start in the latter position alongside Mats Hummels.

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Fresh from making his England debut against San Marino during the break, Jude Bellingham should be handed another opportunity in midfield next to Thomas Delaney and Mahmoud Dahoud.

In support of Haaland should be Marco Reus and Julian Brandt, who was an unused substitute in the Frankfurt game and will be rested and ready to go from the start.

City will undoubtedly be placing much of their defensive focus on Haaland, while the Norwegian may well want to impress his potential future manager with a match-winning performance for his current team.