In the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, Borussia Dortmund achieved a stellar victory over Paris Saint-Germain with a scratch score of 1-0, winning on aggregate 2-0. Despite their unglamorous season and lack of celebrity prominence within the team, Dortmund outshone their detractors, including those who dismissed their survival in the dreaded ‘group of death’ – a group they not only survived but triumphed in comfortably.
The encounter, particularly in the quarter-finals, with Atlético Madrid was expected to be a one-way affair in Madrid’s favour, a prediction that was proven incorrect yet again as Dortmund defied the odds. This trend continued into the semi-finals where Dortmund had to face a confident PSG side ready to reverse the 1-0 deficit they carried from the first leg.
Regardless of their domestic struggles which have seen them slump to the fifth position in the Bundesliga, Dortmund found an unprecedented vitality that was clearly visible during the matches. This was specifically evident when they clashed with PSG at Parc des Princes, transforming the match into a dazzling show of their team’s unity, tenacity and defensive prowess – a perfect exhibition of their determination to win.
Despite a lacklustre performance in the first half by Luis Enrique’s team, there was a surge in their attempts to best Dortmund in the second half, four of which hit the goalpost. However, three of these near-goals took place after Mats Hummels’ decisive goal. Their lack of perfect aim was their downfall, further augmenting the euphoria experienced by Dortmund.
The atmosphere during the first leg of the match in Dortmund was undeniably electric and akin to a decibel-breaking rock concert. The local crowd, however, was set on replicating and surpassing this energy at their home ground. From an hour before the match, the distinct jeers could be heard for Dortmund’s goalkeepers who had begun their warmups.
Numbers also played a role in the victory, especially those connected to historical significance. For PSG, this marked their fourth European Cup though they have only made it to the final once, while for Dortmund, this was a fifth with hopes to reach the final for the third time. The ultimate aspiration is to replicate the success of their counterparts in the ’97 class, the legends who managed to overpower Juventus – Matthias Sammer, Paul Lambert, and Karl-Heinz Riedle to name a few.
Edin Terzic’s squad underwent an intense sensory challenge, the litmus test for the players. The helmsman had all ten of his on-field starters from the first leg against Augsburg rested on Saturday; veering too far away from the strategy that had garnered the slight lead from the previous week was never in his agenda.
Luis Enrique took an unexpected move by putting Gonçalo Ramos at the front, thereby enabling the positioning of Kylian Mbappé on the left – undoubtedly his most threatening side. Bradley Barcola was demoted to the bench. PSG realised the necessity for patience, also precision, in their game, as Terzic insisted that his squad concede nothing between the lines. The team’s compactness off the ball was foundational.
Jadon Sancho had proven remarkable in the first leg, consistently growing more self-assured, giving Nuno Mendes a challenging evening. He appeared determined to continue this strong form, particularly noticeable in the first half with his courage to steer the ball and pose challenges. His handling of the ball was impressively confident. The spectators’ reactions upon Mendes winning a duel with him were particularly revealing.
The first half saw PSG dealing with a solid yellow defence, Dortmund’s players moving in unison, Julian Brandt was pulled towards the left centre midfield three when not holding possession. Despite this, Brandt and Marcel Sabitzer were not intimidated to make forward pushes.
Terzic’s strategy was effective in the first half. PSG dominated ball possession, but they didn’t execute noteworthy plays. Whenever they had a glimpse of a decisive pass or shot, they hurried and lacked control, a case in point being Ousmane Dembélé’s off-target slash in the 31st minute. That was most probably the closest PSG reached before half-time, as Dembélé was in a good position. It wasn’t very close, though.
There remained an incessant sense that Dortmund might strike back, almost doing so at 36 minutes after a weak contact by Mbappé on a half-chance. It was Karim Adeyemi speeding along the field and releasing a low hit, only to be foiled by Gianluigi Donnarumma’s hefty left hand. It was a moment that felt like it could be a game-changer.
At the outset of the latter half, the Virage Auteuil was illuminated by a plethora of red flares, with avid PSG supporters eager to witness a revival from their squad. A glimmer of hope almost came to fruition as Mbappé orchestrated a promising play after a concise corner, resulting in the ball rebounding towards Warren Zaïre-Emery situated at the distant post. Despite the challenging angle, Zaïre-Emery was able to direct a shot towards an exposed portion of the goal, only for it to collide with the post.
Battling to gain control of the proceedings, PSG’s Marquinhos failed to execute an accurate reverse pass after securing a tackle, leading to an unwarranted corner. The error was magnified further as Hummels took advantage of Brandt’s service to secure a goal, causing the travelling Dortmund supporters to erupt in jubilation. Beraldo, who was supposed to be marking Hummels, was criticised for not being closely positioned.
Fuelled by urgency, PSG continued their endeavour but could not find the clinical edge. Ramos squandered a few enticing opportunities, and Mendes’ attempt crashed against the distant post. It was clear that luck was not favouring PSG.
To compound their stress, near-goal experiences from Mbappé and Vitinha, who struck the goalpost during the final moments, further intensified their frustration. – Guardian