Manchester City have secured top spot in Champions League Group G and Borussia Dortmund have joined them in the last 16 after both sides played out a goalless draw at Westfalenstadion this evening.
The Citizens were presented with the best opportunity to break the deadlock just before the hour mark when Riyad Mahrez was brought down in the penalty area, but the winger saw his effort from 12 yards saved by Gregor Kobel.
Dortmund's youthful side displayed their threat in the final third on numerous occasions, particularly in the first half, but the hosts failed to score on home soil for the first time since June 2020, ending a run of 55 games across all competitions in which they scored at least once – City, meanwhile, have drawn a blank in successive Champions League group games for the very first time.
Nevertheless, Dortmund have put aside last season's group-stage elimination and have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, while a draw was enough for Man City to seal top spot in Group G with a game to spare.
City unsurprisingly dominated proceedings with just under 70% possession in the first half, but the Citizens were largely frustrated by Dortmund, who had the better chances in front of goal.
Neither goalkeeper was tested until the 15th minute when Man City debutant Stefan Ortega kept out a tame effort from Karim Adeyemi, who posed a constant threat for Dortmund down the right flank.
Indeed, Adeyemi teed up Youssoufa Moukoko for the best chance of the first half nine minutes before the interval, but the 17-year-old starlet directed his effort from around eight yards out wide of the far post.
Erling Braut Haaland did not get a sniff in front of goal against his former club in the first half, and Pep Guardiola decided to replace the striker with Bernardo Silva after the break, while another ex-BVB player in Manuel Akanji came on for Joao Cancelo who was on a yellow card.
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Dortmund began the second half brightly, but a moment of madness from Emre Can gave Man City a perfect opportunity to open the scoring, as the midfielder needlessly stretched a leg out to trip up Mahrez inside the area.
Mahrez – who missed a penalty in the goalless draw with Copenhagen two weeks ago – stepped up again from 12 yards, but he saw his effort saved by Dortmund's stopper Kobel, who comfortably kept out a poor strike from the Algerian.
City's No.26 has now missed 10 of his 32 penalties in his professional career, including four for the Citizens in 2022.
Julian Alvarez then came close with a right-footed half-volley in the 67th minute, but Kobel was there to keep out the Argentine before denying Phil Foden the chance to follow up the rebound.
With both Dortmund and City aware that a draw was enough for them to secure the top two positions in Group G, the two sides eventually saw out the game with both teams ruing good opportunities to win the match.
Elsewhere in Group G, Sevilla cruised to a 3-0 victory at home against Copenhagen, but the Spanish outfit will have to settle for third place which will sees them drop down into the Europa League.
Man City will now turn their attention to Saturday lunchtime's Premier League clash away at Leicester City, while Dortmund will travel to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
Oliver Thomas
