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Shot-shy Manchester City missed out on the consolation of a Europa League place and ended up as English football’s worst-ever performers in the Champions League group stage.
Real Madrid came to City’s aid by beating Ajax, but Roberto Mancini’s side were unable to help themselves, as they put in a limp display and went down to a 57th-minute goal from Julian Schieber.
It left City not only out of Europe, but with the lowest points total of any English side at this stage of the competition. Blackburn managed four points, including a win, in 1995-96, but City depart this season’s competition with just three.
Out of reach: Julian Schieber slid in to put Borussia Dortmund one up
MATCH FACTS
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Hummels, Kirch (Bittencourt 88), Felipe Santana, Schmelzer, Leitner, Gundogan, Perisic, Reus (Blaszczykowski 46), Grosskreutz, Schieber (Lewandowski 77)
Subs not used: Langerak, Piszczek, Gunter, Mustafa Amini
Goal: Schieber 57
Manchester City: Hart, Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Nastasic, Nasri (Zabaleta 68), Sinclair (Aguero 57), Garcia, Barry, Dzeko (Balotelli 65), Tevez
Subs not used: Pantilimon, Meppen-Walter, Evans, Nimely
Booked: Garcia, Lescott, Balotelli
Referee: Milorad Mazic
Attendance: 62,000
Strains of Blue Moon from the City support before kick-off were drowned out by a rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone, as much a favoured anthem for Borussia Dortmund as for Liverpool.
The PA system even played Three Lions in the build-up, and if it was an attempt to make the City contingent feel at home, a glance at the team sheets could only have improved their mood.
While Roberto Mancini stuck to his promise of chasing a Europa League place with intent, Dortmund counterpart Jurgen Klopp rested Manchester United targets Robert Lewandowski and Mario Goetze, the latter having picked up a minor knock on Saturday.
With David Silva left behind to nurse hamstring and back problems, Scott Sinclair was given a rare start on the left. Opportunities have been few and far between for the summer signing from Swansea, and he looked eager to impress, as he wrong-footed Oliver Kirch with a smart turn and whipped in a low cross that was cleared.
Rubbing it in: The Dortmund players celebrated as Joe Hart looks on
Rare start: Scott Sinclair was handed a berth by Roberto Mancini
If Kirch’s defending had not been of the highest order, he at least showed a surer touch at the other end in the 12th minute.
City’s defence failed to deal with a left-wing cross from Ivan Perisic and, after controlling a bouncing ball 20 yards out, Kirch tested Joe Hart’s handling with a rising left-foot shot. Fortunately for City, it was up to the task, as the England keeper clutched it head high.
News of an early Real Madrid goal against Ajax might have put an extra spring in City’s step but, as has so often been the case this season, there was little of the zip that made them champions last May.
Joleon Lescott was handed a chance to shine, after largely being frozen out by Matija Nastasic. While Nastasic had to adapt to an unfamiliar left-back role, Lescott resumed his centre-back partnership with Vincent Kompany and showed he should perhaps not have been left out in the first place.
Never more so than when Marco Reus burst clear from the halfway line in the 21st minute, only for Lescott to stop him in his tracks with an expertly timed tackle.
Rising: Javi Garcia (right) leaps for a header
Catch me if you can: Samir Nasri is chased by two Dortmund players
City were more than holding their own in a low-key first half and threatened a breakthrough in the 24th minute, after Edin Dzeko had pulled the ball back. Carlos Tevez was poised for a tap-in until Marcel Schmelzer intervened.
City were finding understrength Dortmund a tough nut to crack, for all their possession. They faced the added frustration of a yellow card for Javi Garcia, despite claims he took the ball cleanly from Perisic.
Dzeko had a long-range effort pushed round a post in the 33rd minute, but the nearest thing to a first-half goal came at the other end. Reus cut in from the right and left Nastasic in his wake, before drilling a fierce left-foot shot that had Hart at full stretch.
Welcome back: Edin Dzeko (left) was back in Germany again after leaving Wolfsburg
The decision to award a goal-kick suggested the ball may have clipped the outside of the post rather than Hart’s fingertips.
If City lacked a killer touch in the first half, the same applied to Dzeko’s unconvincing attempt to finish off an inviting cross from Samir Nasri in the 46th minute. The inswinging centre was measured to perfection, and Dzeko was barely six yards from goal, yet his header was too close to Weidenfeller to cause problems.
City began to suffer and Perisic connected brilliantly with a cross from substitute Jakub Blaszczykowski to unleash a 53rd-minute volley that a startled Hart just managed to palm over the bar.
The pressure told in the 57th minute, as City went behind to a close-range Schieber finish. Blaszczykowski squared the ball and Schieber was on hand to force in.
Tussle: Mario Balotelli tries to shake off Marcel Schmelzer
Impressive: Dortmund fans held yellow and black cards to show the club's logo before the match
MATOKEO MECHI ZOTE USIKU UEFA Champions League
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