Champions League: Borussia Dortmund secures a 1-0 victory over PSG
The final whistle rang through the field after a dizzying, and captivating match that left Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain players reeling. They struggled to comprehend how their joint clashes and oversights had only led to a solitary goal. All were left wondering whether, despite the audacity and vulnerability of the yellow-clad players, Borussia Dortmund could indeed be the champion this year.
Niclas Füllkrug’s maiden half goal was the decider, adding to an unsettling hour where Gregor Kobel’s goal seemed miraculously protected. A misfortunate Kylian Mbappé barely missed with an inside post shot, despite 50 touches and three attempts on goal, leaving with no reward.
However, Dortmund may have deserved that stroke of luck, following an unyielding, determined display coupled with uncommon maturity. Transformed and revitalised, Jadon Sancho shone brightest on the field with his manipulative movement off the right wing and centralised control. Ian Maatsen, on the other side of the pitch, managed to edge out an intriguing confrontation with Achraf Hakimi. The 1-0 result could easily have been 4-4 or any range in-between – an anticipated thrilling standoff from two squads who don’t believe in playing the waiting game.
Füllkrug’s goal had been looming. PSG initiated the match with swift dominance, cycling through their multiple strategies – Hakimi’s right wing advances, Bradley Barcola’s left wing thrusts, and Fabián Ruiz’s timed attacks through the centre – like a customer exploring a menu. In the initial stages, Mbappé’s sheer presence applied pressure to Dortmund’s defensive formation, providing room for Ruiz and Ousmane Dembélé to manoeuvre.
After about thirty minutes of shaky defence and underdeveloped attacks, the host team seemed to find a rhythm. Sancho punched through the static with a series of directional passes before managing to surpass a few defenders near the edge of the pitch and passing the ball to Julian Brandt. The shot was turned away, but Sancho’s daring feint seemed to revitalise Dortmund, jogging their memory of their football prowess.
Minutes later, Nico Schlotterbeck served up the ball neatly for Füllkrug, who skilfully controlled it with his right foot and placed a pinpoint low finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma with his left. Sensing an advantage, the Dortmund faithful roared their team on, swelling with anticipation. At one point, Kobel bamboozled Barcola with a brave 180-degree turn. Marcel Sabitzer narrowly missed doubling Dortmund’s lead, as Donnarumma made an impressive diving save at the other end.
Looking back, the half-time break arrived just when PSG needed it. The Parisian side returned from the interval with added determination and focus. Early into the second half, Mbappé completed a rapid counter-attack with his signature curl from the area’s corner, hitting the post. Hakimi followed this with a remarkable shot that also struck the post. Within moments, Marquinhos delivered a fabulously deceptive low cross that was headed wide by Ruiz. Mirroring their quarter-final bout with Atlético Madrid, Dortmund were skating on thin ice with luck and wishes.
PSG’s issue, and truly, this isn’t a surprise to anyone acquainted with the club’s history, was that Dortmund seemed to effortlessly waltz through their mid-pitch between these isolated exertions of grit. The lack of vigorous defence from PSG’s front line was creating stress in the back lines. Nearly on the one-hour mark, Sancho, having now found his rhythm, sprinted to the right touchline and set up Füllkrug, who squandered an opportunity far simpler than the one he capitalised on earlier.
The day had been blistering hot in Dortmund, and as PSG resumed their barrage, the signs of fatigue became evident among Dortmund players during the pauses in the match. One might suggest that manager Edin Terzic could have leveraged his substitutes earlier, yet their forwards were performing splendidly. Would it have been sensible to introduce a fresh defender to face off with Mbappé and his team?
Eight minutes before the end, Marco Reus finally entered the pitch, and by this juncture, the formation of the match was clear. PSG maintained their offensive stance. Dembélé squandered a great opportunity from Hakimi’s cross while another header was wasted by Ruiz. Despite the tense situation, Dortmund emerged unscathed, much like John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson in the film Pulp Fiction, who find a wall pockmarked by bullet holes behind them. Although the situation remains precarious with only half the battle won, Dortmund’s dream of re-entering the illustrious lights of Wembley seems nearer than ever.