Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City continued their preparations for the new season with an International Champions Cup match in Shenzhen on Thursday.
Both teams had opportunities to score in an open first period, but the pair headed down the tunnel at the break on level terms.
Man City made the breakthrough 10 minutes from time when Sergio Aguero netted from close range, but deep into stoppage time Christian Pulisic levelled to send the match to penalties, which the English side won 6-5.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live pre-season coverage continues from Shenzhen as German outfit Borussia Dortmund take on Premier League side Manchester City. Dortmund recorded a 4-1 win over Manchester United in Shanghai last week and will be looking for a Manchester duo here. That said, new Man City boss Pep Guardiola, formerly of Bayern Munich, will know Dortmund better than most!
Surprisingly, these two teams have only met on two previous occasions and both of those matches came in the group stage of the 2012-13 Champions League, where Dortmund went on to reach the final. The pair played out a 1-1 draw in Manchester in October 2012, before Dortmund won the reverse match 1-0. That season, Roberto Mancini's Man City finished bottom of their group on three points.
Under normal circumstances, a match between Dortmund and Man City would be very finely balanced, but the German outfit are so far advanced of the English club in their pre-season preparations. Indeed, Dortmund have played five friendlies this summer in contrast to Man City's one.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Shenzhen. Who have Tuchel and Guardiola selected in their starting XIs? Let's take a look shall we!
TEAMS!
DORT: Burki; Ginter, Sokratis, Bartra, Schmelzer; Rode, Sahin, Mor; Leitner, Ramos, Dembele
CITY: Caballero; Maffeo, Adarabioyo, Angelino, Kolarov; Fernando, Fernandinho; Zinchenko, Barker, Navas; Iheanacho
Much-changed Dortmund team to the one that started against Man United last time out, with Roman Burki, Matthias Ginter, Marc Bartra, Nuri Sahin, Emre Mor and Moritz Leitner all in the XI. Ousmane Dembele keeps his place after impressing against the Red Devils, while Adrian Ramos will lead the line, leaving Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the bench. Tuchel has shuffled his pack here!
Guardiola, meanwhile, has selected the same XI that started the 1-0 defeat to Bayern last time out. First-team regulars Aleksandar Kolarov, Fernando, Fernandinho and Jesus Navas are joined in the selection by youngsters Pablo Maffeo, Tosin Adarabioyo and Angelino, while English teenager Brandon Barker is again given the chance to impress. Kelechi Iheanacho again leads the line for the Citizens.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just under 35 minutes from kickoff on this warm evening in Shenzhen. I shall talk about Man City a little bit later, but let's start with Dortmund, who have lost three key players this summer, but still look very strong ahead of the new season. Indeed, their transfer business in this window has been very, very impressive once again.
Mats Hummels has moved on to Bayern Munich, Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Manchester United and Ilkay Gundogan to Man City, but Andre Schurrle, Mario Gotze, Ousmane Dembele, Sebastian Rode, Raphael Guerreiro, Marc Bartra, Emre Mor and Mikel Merino have all arrived. Teenage attacker Dembele in particular had a wonderful game when Dortmund beat Man United 4-1 in Shanghai last week.
Dortmund opened their preparations for the new campaign with a 5-2 win over Erkenschwick, before beating Wuppertaler SV and St. Pauli in their next two. They then lost 1-0 to 1860 Munchen, but will enter this match off the back of a 4-1 win over Man United last Friday. Mkhitaryan was on the scoresheet for the Red Devils, but Gonzalo Castro netted twice in a strong Dortmund success.
Dortmund only actually lost four of their 34 Bundesliga matches last season, but they finished 10 points behind champions Bayern, who will once again be the team to beat this season. Dortmund also surprisingly exited the Europa League to Liverpool in the semi-finals and were beaten on penalties by Bayern in the final of the German Cup, which was their last competitive match.
The Black and Yellows will face Premier League opposition once again in the shape of Sunderland in their next pre-season match, before taking on Athletic Bilbao on August 9. Then comes the German Super Cup against Bayern on August 14, before friendlies against Sandhausen and Hallescher FC lead them into their German Cup match with Eintracht Trier on August 22. Dortmund's first league game of the new season is at home to Mainz 05 on August 17.
News has just reached us that the initial Man City team that was released was incorrect. Strange set of circumstances, but we have the updated XI, which has a more familiar look to it...
UPDATED CITY XI! Caballero; Clichy, Otamendi, Adarabioyo, Kolarov; Fernando, Fernandinho, Delph; Navas, Iheanacho, Zinchenko
Man City were supposed to be in action against Man United in Beijing on Monday, but the weather made the pitch unplayable and therefore what was due to be the first ever Manchester derby on foreign soil was cancelled. As a result, the English club will enter this match having only played one pre-season fixture. Here are the pictures from the water-logged Bird's Nest stadium on Monday...
Indeed, Man City's only friendly of the summer was against Guardiola's former team Bayern on July 20 and the German outfit ran out 1-0 winners at the Allianz Arena. Like Man United, Man City will have travelled to China for only one match, which is far from ideal at this stage of their preparations. That places more importance on this match for fitness and Guardiola's own planning.
Man City only actually have one more pre-season game penciled in and that will take place against Arsenal on August 7. However, it would not be a surprise to see another match arranged due to the cancellation of the Man United fixture. It would be incredible to enter the new Premier League season having only played two pre-season games. Guardiola will have something in mind!
Man City will open their 2016-17 Premier League campaign at home to Sunderland on August 13, before travelling to Stoke City and then hosting West Ham United before the international break. Their next fixture is a tasty one as they travel to Man United on September 10 and hopefully that one will not be cancelled! The rain is bad in Manchester, but not that bad. Kickoff is fast approaching here!
In terms of Man City's summer transfer business, Gundogan has arrived from Dortmund, Nolito from Celta Vigo and Aleksandr Zinchenko, who once again starts here, from Ufa. At least two more are expected to arrive before the end of August, but it is understood that Guardiola is currently having trouble shifting some of the fringe players at the club, who are on massive wages...
Here we go then. The pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. Far from a full house inside the stadium, but there is a good atmosphere and both teams are well-represented in the stands. Let's hope for an entertaining game of football from Shenzhen!
Slight delay to kickoff here, not sure why, but pre-season matches rarely keep to time! The supporters are in good spirits tonight, which might well mean this game is a boring 0-0.
KICKOFF! Dortmund kick things off in Shenzhen...
... Dortmund take to the field in their normal black and yellow strip, while Man City are in sky blue. It will be interesting to see what type of tempo develops in this match due to the humidity! As mentioned, Dortmund are also very much ahead of Man City in their pre-season preparations.
Iheanacho turns outside the Dortmund box before striking towards goal, but his effort was always wide of the post. Down the other end, Caballero comes out to collect a low Schmelzer cross.
Really open game at the moment as both teams commit players in the final third and continue to move the ball into wide positions. Both sides have had their share of the possession thus far here.
A mistake from Caballero presents Dembele with a shooting chance outside the box, but Otamendi is across to make a wonderful block. Dembele already looks very lively for Dortmund once again.
CHANCE! Schmelzer is again released inside the Man City box and manages to squeeze a low cross towards the far post, but Caballero just about does enough to claw away! Moments later, another Caballero mistake presents Mor with a shooting chance and he curls just wide!
CHANCE! Navas sets up Delph with a low cross from the right, but the England international places his effort wide of the post. Super work from Navas in a wide position there.
Man City might be behind Dortmund in their preparations, but the Premier League side have started well here as they continue to make ground in the final third. Iheanacho has another half-chance after finding space outside the box, but he places the ball straight into Burki's arms!
Delph has just caught Rode with a very late challenge and Dortmund are not very pleased! The referee did not even blow for a foul, but play is stopped as Rode hits the deck and does not rise.
Zinchenko finds a yard of space outside the Dortmund box following another quick counter, but the number 35 turns into traffic and a swarm of yellow surround the teenager. Still goalless here.
Navas threatens to break clear for Man City as the team in blue launch another break, but Sokratis is across to make a smart challenge. Dortmund break down the other end and Dembele has a shooting chance after a mistake from Man City's defence, but the teenager misses the target.
Ambitious from Delph as the Man City midfielder hammers into the stands from distance.
Not too much to report in terms of clear chances in the last few minutes, but both teams are still conceding possession in dangerous areas and you suspect that the first goal will soon arrive here.
Possession football from Man City in the last couple of minutes as they move the ball from left to right and eventually Navas delivers a dangerous cross, but Ginter is on hand to make the challenge. Dortmund again look to launch a quick counter-attack, but the final pass is lacking at the moment.
Water break with 25 minutes on the clock!
We are back underway following that water break, or 'hydration break' as it has been known in the International Champions Cup. Guardiola was having some strong words with a few of his players!
Ramos threatens to meet a through pass for Dortmund and Otamendi cannot keep up, but Caballero reads it well and comes out to clear ahead of the speedy forward! Alert goalkeeping there.
BOOKING! Fernandinho (Man City) is booked for a late challenge on Sahin.
Little under 15 minutes of the first period remaining and we are still all square in this pre-season match. Both teams have had opportunities, but neither has been able to make the breakthrough. I am just looking forward to a whole host of substitutions taking place at the interval. Not!
The tempo of the match has slowed in the last 10 or so minutes, which is not much of a surprise considering the temperature inside the stadium. It is a great fitness exercise for both teams tonight.
Half-chance for Dortmund as Mor does brilliantly to drive away from the Man City midfield before finding Schmelzer, who returns the favour, but the Turk's effort is straight into Caballero's arms.
Penalty shout for Dortmund as Dembele goes down inside the box under a challenge from Otamendi, but the referee is not interested. I have certainly seen those ones given!
Another half-chance for Man City as Iheanacho moves away from Sokratis before attempting to find the bottom corner, but the Dortmund centre-back manages to make a smart block. The resulting corner is then delivered by Zinchenko straight into the arms of the waiting Burki.
This first period has absolutely flown past, which is credit to both teams, who have tried to keep the pace and tempo high. No goals, but it has been an entertaining 42 minutes of action here.
Fernando comes across to clear a clever pass from Mor as Dortmund threaten to make the breakthrough in the latter stages of the first period. The resulting corner eventually comes out to Sahin, who unleashes a strike and his effort is deflected wide for another corner. Good pressure.
SAVE! Wonderful chance for Man City late in the half as the ball falls for Iheanacho some five yards from goal, but Burki is out very quick to make an excellent save!
HALF-TIME: Dortmund 0-0 Man City
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. An open first 45 minutes saw both teams have opportunities to make the breakthrough, but neither has been able to find the back of the net. All in all, it was an entertaining opening half of action!
STATS! Man City just about shaded the first-half possession with 52%, while they had seven attempts - two of which were on target. Dortmund, meanwhile, hit the target with one of their five attempts in the first period. Just the one yellow card to report - Fernandinho in the 30th minute of action.
BENCH WATCH! Castro, Kagawa, Passlack and Bender are all on the bench for Dortmund here and changes are expected at the interval. Man City, meanwhile, have the likes of Aguero, Bony, Silva, Nasri, Nolito and Sterling in reserve and we should see the majority of those in the second period.
Pass me some of that ice please...
RESTART! Man City resume the action in Shenzhen...
... DORTMUND SUBS! Kagawa, Bender, Castro, Larsen, Pulisic, Passlack and Merino have all entered the field for the German outfit. Just trying to confirm who has departed!
Bartra, Ramos, Burki and Sahin remain on the field for Dortmund. Man City, meanwhile, have made some changes and Aguero and Silva are among those. Just waiting for the final confirmation.
MAN CITY SUBS! Aguero, Bony, Silva, Toure, Denayer, Maffeo and Garcia have all entered the field for the Premier League outfit. Some real big-hitters now on the pitch!
Right, now all the subs have been sorted, we can concentrate on the football! The good news is that the worst of the changes is over! I fancy some goals in this half, let's hope I am not wrong!
Smart work from Passlack in a wide position as the Dortmund defender creates a yard of space before delivering into Ramos, but the striker is judged to have leaned on the back of Denayer.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the early stages of the second period, but both teams are committing numbers forward each time they have possession of the ball. Just a reminder that we will have a penalty shootout if the two teams cannot be separated in the 90 minutes here.
Man City have had more of the possession since the interval, with Dortmund now just dropping deep and attempting to play on the counter-attack. Man City's fitness levels have been good for a team that has only played one pre-season game this summer. Still goalless with 56 on the clock.
The referee has just told the Dortmund bench to give their subs bibs! He marched across the pitch with a point to prove and his instructions were clear. Schmelzer sees the funny side of it!
Still goalless on the hour, but the game is starting to open up once again here.
Oh no, the dreaded Mexican Wave! The second period has been disappointing, but come on, not the famous Mexican Wave. The players need to raise the tempo to stop it happening please.
SAVE! Burki gets down to keep out a powerful strike from Bony.
DORTMUND SUBS! Burnic, Larsen and Hober replace Sahin, Ramos and Bartra.
Better from Man City as Silva finds Aguero outside the Dortmund box, but the Argentine's effort was always moving over the crossbar. Man City have some more players warming up here.
Leitner fires wide of the Man City post as another half-chance comes and goes here.
CHANCE! Another opportunity for Man City and it is once again for Bony, who turns away from two defenders before firing over the Dortmund crossbar. Good work from the striker!
Waiting for the first goal of the match like...
Hydration break guys!
We are back underway following the second-half water break. Little under 20 minutes of the second period remaining. If it finishes goalless, there will be a penalty shootout here!
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Dortmund to take the lead as Passlack drives to the goal-line before drilling a low cross towards the far post, but Denayer does very well to clear under pressure from a couple of yellow shirts. You sense that a mistake could well decide this game.
Bony finds himself inside the Dortmund box, but the striker tries to find Aguero and Burnic is across to make the challenge. End-to-end football in the last couple of minutes here.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Dortmund as Castro breaks through into a one-on-one situation with the Man City goalkeeper, but the midfielder's effort is saved over the crossbar!
MAN CITY SUB! Angelino replaces Kolarov for Man City.
GOAL! Dortmund 0-1 Man City (Aguero)
Man City make the breakthrough in the 79th minute as Silva draws the goalkeeper out and plays a simple pass into Aguero, who cannot miss from close range. Finally we have a breakthrough!
Nolito and Sterling are preparing to enter the field for Man City here.
MAN CITY SUBS! Nolito and Sterling replace Bony and Toure for the English side.
Dortmund have had most of the ball since Man City made the breakthrough, but they are just struggling to undo this Man City defence as we approach the final stages of this pre-season game.
We are into the first of five additional minutes here.
Dortmund are the team pressing for an equaliser at the moment, but the German outfit have struggled for the final pass all night and it does appear that they will suffer a defeat tonight.
Dortmund want a penalty as Kagawa goes down inside the box under a challenge from Fernandinho, but the referee is not interested. Oh my word it looked a clear spot kick to me!
Dortmund are still fuming about that penalty incident, but the referee is not interested and Man City are closing on their first win of pre-season. It has been a good workout for both teams.
GOAL! Dortmund 1-1 Man City (Pulisic)
Drama! Dortmund level in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Pulisic finds a route through the legs of the Man City goalkeeper after a quick corner. We are heading for penalties then!
END OF 90 MINS! Dortmund 1-1 Man City
SAVE! Garcia is kept out from the spot!
SAVE! Gunn gets down to keep out Passlack.
GOAL! Abarabioyo slips, but manages to find the bottom corner!
GOAL! Kagawa finds a route past Gunn for 1-1.
GOAL! Delph goes low into the bottom corner.
GOAL! Castro goes down the middle for 2-2 here.
GOAL! Silva goes bottom left to send Man City ahead.
GOAL! Burnic nets for Dortmund and we are level at 3-3.
GOAL! Aguero finds the corner to put the pressure on Dortmund.
GOAL! Pulisic somehow finds a route past Gunn!
GOAL! Nolito scores and Man City lead once again.
GOAL! Super penalty as Hober nets for 5-5 in the shootout.
SAVE! Sterling's spot kick is saved!
SAVE! Gunn keeps out Larsen and we go on here!
GOAL! Angelino scores to send Man City ahead.
SAVE! Gunn keeps out Merino and Man City win the shootout!
FULL-TIME: Dortmund 1-1 Man City (Man City win 6-5 on penalties)
So there we have it. Man City won 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Dortmund in the International Champions Cup. The fans have had a great night, that is for sure! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to join us again for more live coverage soon!
