Man City v Borussia Dortmund: We can still win the group, insists Maicon

Maicon insists Manchester City can still win their Champions League group ahead of the Citizen’s clash against Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad.

The defending Premier League champions surrendered a 2-1 lead in their opening group game at the Bernabéu, with Real Madrid netting twice in the final four minutes to deny Roberto Mancini’s side a famous win.

“We can still win the group but you can’t think like that in the Champions League, we have to take each match as it comes and not think about first, second or third,” said Maicon.

“All the group matches are very delicate, especially considering we didn’t get anything in Madrid – it makes the second match against Dortmund very difficult.”

Maicon admitted City cannot afford to let leads slip in Europe’s premier club competition and called on the Citizens must learn from their experience in Madrid.

“You can’t afford to leave points behind in the Champions League in your home matches but Roberto Mancini knows this better than me and I’m sure we will go and play with the right spirit and the right attitude against Dortmund,” he added.

The Brazil defender has made just one appearance for City since completing a £3.5m switch from Internazionale to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

The 31-year-old lasted 74 minutes of his City debut in Madrid, and despite returning to first-team training, Maicon is wary of rushing back into Mancini’s first-team too soon and risk aggravating his heel injury.

“My objective is to be there so I will do everything I can to be fit for the game but it’s going to be difficult as the last thing we want is for me to play and then be out for longer,” he said.

Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund: Pre-match facts

• City are undefeated in 17 matches in Uefa competition at the City of Manchester Stadium and will look to maintain that run when they host Group D rivals Borussia Dortmund.

• The Citizens have recorded three wins and a draw against German visitors, most recently a 2-0 success against Bayern Munich in their final match of last season’s group stage – albeit not enough to spare them elimination.

• Dortmund lost all three away fixtures in last term’s group stage, including a 2-1 reverse at Arsenal, which means they have been defeated on their last three visits to England.

• Dortmund beat Manchester United 1-0 through a goal by Lars Ricken at Old Trafford, now head of the club’s youth department, to secure a 2-0 aggregate success in the 1996-97 Champions League semi-final en route to winning the trophy.

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