Was last night the night Dortmund announced themselves in Europe?

Dynasties can begin in the most inauspicious and initially underwhelming circumstances, but all great oaks once began as small acorns of course.

Borussia Dortmund could be described as great oaks in their German domestic league having won the Bundesliga two years on the bounce but, as strange as it seems to say about a team that won the Champions League in 1997, they are perhaps more small acorns on the European stage.

In the past two seasons, Jurgen Klopp’s side have flattered to deceive in first the Europa League and then the Champions League, failing to transfer their awe-inspiring domestic form onto the European stage.

Perhaps their attack-minded approach played against them on the European stage when they came up against more savvy outfits who could pick them apart on the counter attack.

However, the fact that Dortmund regularly took apart Bayern Munich (the epitome of the cultured, experienced European side) in the league and cup in Germany meant that it was only a matte of time before Dortmund showed just what they’re all about in Europe.

Last night, in their game at the Etihad against Manchester City, The Black Yellows showed they are here to stay.

The attacking verve of the side seriously troubled City (who, to be fair, are an inexperienced side in the Champions League) and they would have won the game if it had not been for an imperious display by Joe Hart and a very harshly given penalty in the closing minutes.

Klopp encourages high pressing and fluid movement in his team which disrupted City’s flow, shut down their midfield creativity and kept City to a handful of real chances through the superb defensive partnership Neven Subotic and Mats Hummels (who’s withdrawal also, crucially, did not upset their defence balance).

Meanwhile, up the other end, the interaction between Marco Reus, Mario Goetze and Robert Lewandoski was very troubling for the City defence as were the bombing runs from Sven Bender and Lukasz Piszczek.

The confidence that Dortmund should take from this game should be huge. Yes they didn’t win the game but the consumate ease with which they broke down City at times and the relative paucity of City chances shows how well they played.

The outcome of last night will mean that City face an uphill battle to get out of this group and Dortmund could push on and make the impact in Europe their domestic form warrants.