IT’S advantage Borussia Dortmund in this huge Champions League semi-final tie against PSG as the German are 1-0 up.
Jadon Sancho and Co came flying out of the blocks, controlling a large percentage of possession.
And it paid off when Niclas Fullkrug beat PSG’s offside trap before firing past Donnarumma.
- RESULT: Dortmund 1-0 PSG
- Live stream: discovery+
- TV channel: TNT Sport 1
- Dortmund XI: Kobel, Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen, Can, Brandt, Sabitzer, Sancho, Adeyemi, Füllkrug
- PSG XI: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, L. Hernandez, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Zaire-Emery, Barcola, Dembele, Mbappe
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‘Good opportunity’
Dortmund boss Edin Terzić praised his side for coming through the test and says he’s going to Paris next week to WIN that game too.
He told DAZN: “It was a well-deserved win, a good team performance.
“We could have scored more goals, but so could they. That’s why the result is OK from my point of view.
“We ran a lot, but that’s necessary in a game like this. You have to earn your way to Wembley. All we need now is a draw in the second leg, but we also want to win next week.
“We have a small lead and a good opportunity.”
Marquinhos reacts
PSG skipper Marquinhos says there is no panic in the dressing room at the moment, as they’ve shown they can come back from deficits in this competition.
He said: “It was a test of two teams who like to go forward, have the ball, and press.
“It was a physical test. We had a lot of chances, especially in the second half, and ones that you can’t miss if you want to qualify for the final of the Champions League.
“At home, we’re going to have to make sure we take them. It’s always difficult playing here. We knew how much of a contest it was going to be.
“One-nil, we’ve overcome it before, especially at home with our supporters. We know we can do a lot better than we’ve done today. We just have to take our chances when they come, and be more decisive, both offensively and defensively.”
In the balance
PSG created plenty of chances and they’ll know that more will be created at home.
And that’s why the bookmakers still make them FAVOURITES to progress.
Winner of the tie
- PSG – 3/4
- Dortmund – Evs
Match report
Confident Parisians have already been block-booking Eurostar trains for the Champions League final in London on June 1.
Yet PSG’s fans will need their team to deliver a much better performance in the second leg as they lost to a terrific strike from journeyman striker Nicklas Fullkrug.
Instead, it could be Jadon Sancho going to Wembley – and he was outstanding here – as a repeat of the 2013 final at the national stadium between Dortmund and Bayern Munich remains a possibility.
Although they rode their luck in the second half, Edin Terzic’s side delivered a precious clean sheet although Kylian Mbappe is likely to be on a mission at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
With Dortmund’s famous yellow wall in full voice, it was difficult to hear the whistle of Premier League referee Anthony Taylor who actually did a decent job and cracked down on PSG’s diving.
As for the other Englishman on the pitch, Sancho looked a different player to the one who seemed as though he had fallen out of love with football at Manchester United.
Sancho impact
Jadon Sancho ended the game with 12 completed dribbles in the 90 minutes.
That’s being reported as the most by a player in a Champions League semi-final since Lionel Messi back in the competition in 2008. He’s gone on to do OK.
The winner
A look at the goal that made all the difference tonight.
Will it make all the difference in the tie?
Mats how it’s done
Mats Hummels was given the man of the match tonight.
UEFA’s Technical Observer Panel said – who pick the award – said: “He was magnificent, both with and without the ball.
“He’s shown his quality, experience and, in particular, his leadership.”
Respect
The Dortmund players all take a seat on the edge of the box at the Yellow Wall end.
They ‘re there to say thank you to the supporters for that incredible backing.
The supporters responding to that great home performance.
Full time by numbers
The stats at the end of a crucial 90 minutes in Dortmund.
PSG with 14 shots in the game but just three on target.
That won’t include the two that hit the post too!
FT: Dortmund 1-0 PSG
Well Dortmund get the lead they probably needed to take into next week.
Niclas Füllkrug the hero on the night with that great first half finish and they defended well in the second half.
Saying that, how did PSG not score with the numerous chances after they break they had!?
They’ll need to be more clinical next week….
FULL TIME!
A huge cheer from the home support and they’ll head to Paris with a lead!
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
90+2. A cross into Mbappe is poorly brought down by the Frenchman and Kobel rushes off his line to pick up.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
FOUR MINUTES ADDED.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
90. Zaire-Emery heads over after a clipped cross to the back post.
He was under pressure but you’d think he might’ve done a bit better with that chance.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
88. Sancho wins Dortmund another corner but PSG defend it comfortably.
Another Dortmund change:
- OFF: Fullkrug
- ON: Moukoko
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
88. Dortmund double change:
- OFF: Ryerson & Brandt
- ON: Wolf & Nmecha
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
86. Fabian Ruiz might be great with the ball at his feet.
But with his head? Absolutely mince.
He’s picked out with a great clipped ball into the box which just misses Hummels and finds Fabian Ruiz coming in, 10 yards out and he heads it miles off target.
How PSG haven’t scored in this second half is anyone’s guess.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
84. CHANCE! Dortmund should be two ahead!
Sancho again – he’s been terrific – with a little through ball into the box for the on running Julian Brandt.
He takes out three players with that pass and Brandt takes a touch to steady himself before shooting low and hard at goal Marquinhos slides in to block it expertly!
Sancho collects again and crosses into the box and Reus heads over under pressure from eight yards out!
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
83. Dortmund change:
- OFF: Adeyemi
- ON: Reus
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
82. There’s a carbon copy move straight after!
PSG again down the right and the cut back finds Vitinha this time but his reversed shot bounces just wide of the left hand post.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
80. WHAT. A. CHANCE. PSG must be level!!
Adeyemi is sleeping in his defensive work and Hakimi is picked out with a run forward into the box.
Mbappe’s run takes two out the game and the defender picks out Dembele 14 yards out, centre of goal and his first time finish is sent over the bar. Massive chance.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
78. They work it short, PSG. But it comes to nothing when the eventual cross in towards Dembele is overhit.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
77. Great play from Dembele and Vitinha to work the ball across the Dortmund box.
Mbappe’s ball out to Nuno Mendes is terrific and his cross is blocked behind for a corner.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
75. Nuno Mendes needs treatment after taking a sore one.
After a couple of minutes he rises to his feet and is immediately faced by Jadon Sancho who is almost taking the mick at this point.
He skips by him twice in the one move but Sancho’s shot takes a deflection and is saved by Donnarumma.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
71. Big chance for PSG – big save from Kobel!
Mbappe with a cheeky chipped through ball 22 yards from goal gets Nuno Mendes onto it and his first time shot is saved by Kobel.
It spins up across his six-yard box and Dembele is steaming in to head home but Maatsen does superbly to beat him to it and head it clear.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
