The clear majority of the 81,365 spectators in the Westfalenstadion also felt “pure ecstasy” when it was clear with the final whistle that BVB had reversed the 1-2 defeat from the first leg. With an overall score of 5:4, Dortmund moved up to the top four and will face Paris Saint-Germain there. The French made up for their 3-2 home defeat in the first leg with a 4-1 win at FC Barcelona.
From Dortmund’s perspective, however, the path to the semi-finals was not for the faint of heart. Dortmund led 2-0 at the break thanks to a double strike from Julian Brandt (34′) and Ian Maatsen (37′) – who scored after an assist from Sabitzer. Atletico silenced the crowd in the second half with an own goal from Mats Hummels (49th) and Angel Correa (64th). However, Niclas Füllkrug headed the hosts back to winning ways after a cross from Sabitzer, and the Austrian himself secured the promotion.
APA/AFP/Ina Fassbender Sabitzer (Wed.) could hardly be captured by his teammates in his joy after the decisive goal
After his goal, the ÖFB midfielder said he felt the “pure ecstasy” that reigned in the stands right down to his hair: “And then when 80,000 want to tear down the stadium, you want to tear it down with them. You can’t describe it, it’s something very special.” The happy ending in the quarter-finals is the reward for persevering in a mixed season. “We had to put up with a lot and had setbacks where we were hit,” said the Styrian.
Finalphase
Sabitzer “a very important player”
With his “incredible” gala, according to coach Edin Terzic, the son of former team player Herfried Sabitzer underlined that Dortmund’s offensive department could no longer be imagined without him. Last weekend, the Styrian scored both goals in the 2-1 win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Sabitzer was the first Austrian to score a brace in the yellow and black Dortmund jersey. A supposed third goal by the ÖFB player was disallowed.
“In this form he is a very important player for us,” said BVB coach Terzic after the win in Mönchengladbach. And Sabitzer is currently “in outstanding form”. Sabitzer returned the praise: “I have felt very comfortable here since day one and the trust is there. Things have been going very well for me personally in the last few weeks and I want to continue.” With his two assists against Atletico, the 30-year-old also moved to the top of the assist rating for this Champions League season. With five assists, Sabitzer is the clear number one in this category.
BVB coach Terzic: “Never lost faith”
Borussia Dortmund reached the semi-finals of the Champions League with a surprising 4-2 home win against Atletico Madrid. At the press conference after the game, BVB coach Edin Terzic spoke about the promotion and the atmosphere in Signal Iduna Park.
See you again with PSG
Sabitzer’s form should now also be a guarantee of success in the semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain. This time Dortmund have home advantage in the first leg on April 30th, with the second leg taking place a week later in Paris’ Parc des Princes. These will be the third and fourth duels in the current season of the “premier class.” Because Dortmund already met PSG in the group phase last autumn, back then they were 0-2 away and 1-1 at home. “Paris is a very strong team, but if you get to the semi-finals, you also want to march on to the final,” said Sabitzer.
Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay The semi-final will be a reunion for Dortmund with France’s superstar Mbappe (r.)
The last time Borussia Dortmund made it to the final was in 2013. At that time, BVB narrowly lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich in a German final in London’s Wembley Stadium, also in this year’s final venue. Arjen Robben broke Dortmund’s sporting hearts in the 89th minute. The name Munich also played a leading role in the five-time German champions’ greatest international success to date. In 1997, Dortmund won the final against Juventus Turin as underdogs 3-1 in the Olympic Stadium and won the Champions League title for the only time to date.
Champions League, quarter-final second leg
Tuesday:
Borussia Dortmund – Atletico Madrid 4:2 (2:0)
Dortmund, Westfalenstadion, 81,365 spectators, SR Vincic (SLO)
Torfolge:
1:0 Brandt (34.)
2:0 Bars (39.)
2:1 Hummels (49th/own goal)
2:2 Correa (64.)
3:2 Füllkrug (71.)
4:2 Sabitzer (74.)
First leg 1:2 – Dortmund with the overall score of 5:4 in the semifinals
