Manchester City 4-1 Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings: Phil Foden Inspires Man City To Secure Dominant Win in UCL

Manchester City produced an enthralling display of attacking football to sweep aside Borussia Dortmund 4–1 in a Champions League showdown that underlined their European credentials. From the very first whistle, Pep Guardiola’s Man City were irresistible—pressing high, moving the ball with blistering pace, and slicing through the Dortmund defence almost at will.

Phil Foden set the tone with a stunning strike from distance before Erling Haaland added a typically ruthless finish to double City’s advantage. Though Borussia Dortmund showed brief flashes of resistance and managed a consolation through Waldemar Anton, the hosts were in complete control throughout. This was more than just a victory—it was a statement of intent from a team operating at the very peak of its powers. Check out Sportsdunia's Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings:

Manchester City Player Ratings vs Borussia Dortmund

Here are Manchester City Player Ratings from Man City vs Dortmund UCL game.

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma - 7.0: He didn't have a ton to do for large parts of the game, but he was solid when called upon. Made a couple of important saves, especially one from Serhou Guirassy in the second half. His distribution was decent, and he commanded his area well. Couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. A relatively quiet but competent evening for the Italian giant.

Defenders

Matheus Nunes - 6.0: A steady, if unspectacular, performance. He kept things simple, recycled possession well, and didn't make any glaring errors. From our perspective, he sometimes looked a little passive and could have been more adventurous going forward. Still, he did his job without much fuss, which is all you can ask for sometimes.

John Stones - 6.5: A very composed display at the heart of the defence. His passing was almost perfect, as we've come to expect. He read the game well, making a couple of key interceptions and blocks. What stood out to us was his calmness under pressure. He wasn't tested much, but what he had to do, he did with class.

Josko Gvardiol - 6.0: A bit of a mixed bag from the Croatian. He was physically dominant and made some crucial clearances, but he also gave away five fouls, which is just too many. He seemed a little rash at times, diving into challenges unnecessarily. We noticed his frustration a couple of times. He has the talent, but he needs to channel his aggression better.

Nico O'Reilly - 5.5: It was a difficult night for the young defender. He got caught offside and missed a big chance from a header that he should have buried. He also picked up a yellow card and seemed to struggle with the pace of Dortmund's attackers at times. A learning experience for him, for sure. He'll have better nights.

Midfielders

Nico González - 7.5: This guy was everywhere. Ten ball recoveries is a phenomenal statistic and it showed on the pitch. He was the engine room, breaking up play and starting attacks with his crisp passing. We were really impressed by his work rate and tenacity in the tackle. A truly commanding midfield performance that deserved a goal.

Tijjani Reijnders - 8.0: What a creative force he was before being substituted. Two assists, including a beautiful setup for Foden's first goal, tells its own story. His vision and weight of pass were exceptional all evening. The only blemish was an error leading to a shot, but his attacking contribution far outweighed that single mistake. A fantastic outing.

Phil Foden - 9.5: Simply unplayable. The undisputed Man of the Match. Two brilliant goals from outside the box, four shots on target, and three key passes. Everything good about City's attack went through him. His movement, close control, and finishing were from another planet. This was one of those performances where you just sit back and admire the genius at work. The highest-rated player on the pitch by a mile.

Forwards

Savinho - 6.5: A livewire on the wing but so frustrating to watch at times. He completed four dribbles and created a couple of chances, but he also lost possession 18 times and got booked. There's a brilliant player in there, but his decision-making let him down. He needs to add more end product to his game to reach the next level.

Jérémy Doku - 7.5: A constant menace on the other flank. His raw pace and dribbling ability terrified the Dortmund defence. He got an assist for Haaland's goal and was always looking to be positive and run at his man. Ten duels won shows he wasn't afraid to do the dirty work either. A really exciting performance.

Erling Haaland - 8.0: He got his goal with a typically ruthless finish. He might have only had 25 touches, but he made them count. He was a constant physical presence, occupying the centre-backs and creating space for others like Foden to exploit. He could have had another, but his job is to score goals, and he did just that. Classic Haaland.

Substitutes

Rúben Dias - N/A: Came on late to see the game out.

Bernardo Silva - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Rayan Cherki - N/A: A late cameo with the game already won.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 8.5: His tactical setup was spot on. His team played with an intensity and quality that Borussia Dortmund just couldn't live with. The decision to give Foden a free role paid off spectacularly. The substitutions were managed well to rest key players. A near-perfect night for the gaffer.

Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Here are Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings from Man City vs Borussia Dortmund game:

Goalkeeper

Gregor Kobel - 7.5: He conceded four goals, but honestly, he was Dortmund's best player. He made eight saves, some of which were absolutely world-class. Without him in goal, this could easily have been a 7-1 or 8-1 scoreline. It's a thankless task facing City in this form, and he stood up to the challenge bravely. He deserved so much better.

Defenders

Waldemar Anton - 6.5: He got on the scoresheet with a well-taken goal, which is a big plus. However, as part of the defence, he struggled to contain City's fluid attack. He looked overwhelmed at times, but he never stopped trying and his goal was a nice consolation. A mixed evening for him.

Nico Schlotterbeck - 6.0: As the captain, he tried to organize a defence that was being pulled apart. His passing was very secure, but he and his partner were given the runaround by Haaland and Foden. He made some important clearances but ultimately couldn't stem the sky-blue tide. A tough night at the office.

Ramy Bensebaini - 4.5: A really poor performance. He was on the pitch for 67 minutes, during which his team conceded three goals. He committed four fouls and looked off the pace throughout. City's attackers targeted his side, and he simply had no answers. Subbed off, and it was no surprise.

Daniel Svensson - 4.0: From our perspective, he was the worst performer on the pitch. He was dribbled past four times and picked up an early yellow card. He looked completely out of his depth against the likes of Doku and Foden. A brutal lesson for the midfielder who was tasked with defensive duties.

Midfielders

Felix Nmecha - 7.0: One of the few Dortmund players who can hold their head high. He worked tirelessly in midfield, making tackles and trying to drive his team forward. He created two chances, including a big one, and looked composed on the ball. It was a losing battle, but he fought it with courage and quality.

Marcel Sabitzer - 5.0: We honestly barely noticed he was on the pitch. He had just 31 touches in 67 minutes and offered very little either defensively or offensively. The game completely passed him by. He was rightly substituted as he was making no impact whatsoever. A very disappointing showing.

Julian Ryerson - 6.5: A strange performance. He provided the assist for Dortmund's goal with a great cross and created three chances in total. But defensively, he was a liability, getting dribbled past four times. He offered a threat going forward but was a weak link at the back. A real mixed bag.

Forwards

Karim Adeyemi - 6.0: He was busy and got into some good positions, but his final product was lacking. He had five shots but only one was on target. He showed flashes of his pace and danger but was ultimately wasteful in front of goal. You felt if he had been more clinical, Dortmund might have made it more of a game.

Serhou Guirassy - 5.0: A night to forget for the striker. He missed a big chance and was largely anonymous for the 67 minutes he was on the pitch. He struggled to get involved in the game and lost most of his physical duels against City's defenders. He just couldn't impose himself on the match.

Maximilian Beier - 5.5: Similar to his fellow attackers, he struggled to make a significant impact. He worked hard but was easily marshalled by the City defence. He was substituted in the second half after a quiet and ineffective performance. Not his night at all.

Substitutes

Pascal Groß - 6.0: Added a bit more stability in midfield but the game was already gone.

Emre Can - 5.5: Came on and gave away a couple of fouls. Didn't change much.

Carney Chukwuemeka - 6.0: Looked tidy in possession but couldn't influence the result.

Jobe Bellingham - 5.5: Hardly touched the ball after coming on.

Fábio Silva - N/A: Came on too late to be rated.

Manager

N. Kovač - 5.0: His team looked tactically outclassed from the very first minute. They were too open at the back and couldn't handle City's press or movement. His substitutions felt like damage control rather than an attempt to get back into the game. He has a lot to think about after this heavy defeat.

Sportsdunia’s Player of the Match goes to Phil Foden with 9.5/10 ratings.