The match: 4-2
It was clear that Atlético de Madrid’s victory in the first leg, acquired by a goal difference at Civitas Metropolitano (2-1), was not enough to believe they were safe. The visitors’ frenzied end to the match, punctuated by an important goal from Sébastien Haller, indicated that at home, Borussia Dortmund would not be left behind at the Westfalenstadion to get a glimpse of the semi-finals, a first since 2012-2013. Mission accomplished at the cost of a totally crazy match and a 4-2 success. PSG, winners of Barça, are now waiting for them.
From the outset, the charge sounded. Immediately on the attack, BVB should have opened the scoring and found themselves tied over both matches. However, Marcel Sabitzer procrastinated at point blank range and with a heroic save, César Azpilicueta tackled to ward off the danger (3rd). In the process, Alvaro Morata almost punished the Germans but seized a golden opportunity by shooting his ball to the right of Gregor Köbel’s goal (5th).
The yellow and black tide then swept over Jan Oblak’s goal. With a subtle ball delivered from the outside of the right foot, Mats Hummels put Julian Brandt into orbit, who had gone on the edge of offside to deceive the Slovenian goalkeeper with a cross shot from a tight angle (34th). Five minutes later, in a similar position, full-back Ian Maatsen even doubled the lead (39th).
BVB got scared after returning from the locker room
To imagine the qualification recorded at the break is to admit not knowing what the BVB is capable of. Because in the art of scaring and sabotaging yourself, Edin Terzic’s training is specialist. As proof, Atlético de Madrid returned to the game by scoring in quick succession thanks to a blunder by Hummels (49th) and a goal full of anger from Angel Correa in the middle of a defense that was far too passive (64th) .
We therefore thought Dortmund were completely scattered but Niclas Füllkrug, who fought like a pitbull on each ball throughout the game, equalized with a magnificent header (71st) before Marcel Sabitzer, already the author of two assists, deceived Oblak’s turn with a precise shot from the left (74th). At the end of the match, Füllkrug then Sabitzer, with a supersonic half-volley, again forced Oblak to deploy (87th). Stronger than their evening opponents, Marco Reus and his teammates will play against PSG, already faced in the group, for a place in the final on April 30 and May 8.
10
BVB remained undefeated in their last 10 home matches in the Champions League (6W, 4L), a new record for the club in C1.
The player: a gala Sabitzer
BVB qualified for the C1 semi-finals this Tuesday evening. “Little Thumb” among the eight survivors still in the running, the Germans defied the predictions by dismissing Atlético de Madrid, thanks to Marcel Sabitzer, author of a breathtaking performance. The Austrian could have dived from the start, after wasting a huge opportunity (see above) but it didn’t happen.
Omnipresent in all sectors, the midfielder gave himself a statistical performance with two assists (for Maatsen and Füllkrug) and a goal full of anger. He could even have ended his match with a fabulous hat-trick but Oblak intervened on his long-range attempt at the end of the match. Not always consistent, Sabitzer would be inspired to repeat an identical copy during the semi-finals if he wants to take the yellow and black to Wembley on June 1st.
