As Guardiola prepares his side for a crucial Premier League meeting with Liverpool next, the victory reinforced City’s return to fluency and sharpness in possession, traits that define their best phases under the Catalan manager.
City are now fourth in the Champions League table and looking increasingly like the title contenders of recent seasons.
Dortmund, meanwhile, must respond quickly to avoid stalling, as their next challenge comes in the Bundesliga against Hamburg, where the objective will be both physical recovery and restoring confidence. The defeat at the Etihad revealed areas Dortmund must address, defensive compactness, midfield resistance under pressure, and the capacity to maintain intensity across 90 minutes.