It was long believed that the yellow and black anti-Haaland trap would work, but six minutes from time, the Norwegian flew to six meters to acrobatically catapult the ball into the back of the net on a cross from Joao Cancelo and register his 13th goal in 8 matches this season (2-1, 84th).

He pulled his team, once again, from a very bad step, after for example scoring a hat-trick against Crystal Palace (4-2), while his team was down 2-0.

And Dortmund can leave with regrets after leading 1-0 and containing their former center forward for a long time.

Pep Guardiola, fifth coach to reach the bar of 150 matches in C1, had been questioned before the match on the advantage that could represent for the Germans knowing Erling Haaland well, Borussia player for two and a half years.

The relative discretion of the Norwegian until his goal may suggest that it was indeed not trivial.

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We will think in particular of the superb and very timely rescue of a sliding tackle from Mats Hummels in the 72nd, on a cross from Phil Foden, while Haaland rode behind him to push the ball deep.

Six minutes earlier, on receiving a superb uncontrolled pass from Kevin De Bruyne, Haaland, at the six-yard corner, had touched the outside of the post.

But by finally finding the way to the goal, he once again showed that he was of the caliber of very great finishers and the standing ovation of the stadium when he left (90 + 1) was more than deserved.

Stones lightning, Haaland magic

Before that, City had long stumbled on the yellow and black wall, creating few chances during a lively but sterile first period, observed by a Guardiola in turn out of him then annoyed on the sidelines.

Back from the locker room, it was the Germans who got off to the best start under the impetus of Marco Reus who first narrowly missed the target (52nd) before sending a tight cross at the near post to Jude Bellingham, who surprised Ederson, gone to his far post (0-1, 56th).

Guardiola then released Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gündogan, replaced by Julian Alvarez, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva -- a change planned before the goal -- and with Dortmund then looking to hold on to their meager advantage, the rest was a long attack-defense exercise.

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But City have not been unbeaten at home in the Champions League for almost four years and a visit from Lyon (1-2) for nothing.

It took until the 80th minute and a left-footed flash from John Stones from 22 yards out to see City come back to 1-1 before the Haaland magic happened.

With 6 points out of six and the prospect of facing twice Copenhagen, the weakest team in the group, City are already very well on their way to a new qualification in the round of 16.

© 2022 AFP