Il Borussia Dortmund is the first finalist of the Champions League 2023/24. Terzic’s yellow and blacks replicated the 1-0 of the first leg by winning with the same score at the Parc des Princes against Psg by Mbappé, stopped by Hummels’ goal and by four woods (in addition to the two from the first leg). After a miracle of Donnarumma on Adeyemi in the 35th minute, Dortmund managed to break the deadlock in the 50th minute with Hummels on corner developments. This was enough to gain the pass to the Wembley final, resisting the siege of the Parisians before and after: post with empty net for Zaire-Emery then sensational those hit by Nuno Mendes, Mbappé and Vitinha on a haunted evening.
THE MATCH
There are two stories to tell in the evening at the Parc des Princes, unique, fundamental and terribly emotional. The first, the most important, is that of Borussia Dortmund at Terzicthe same team that one year after sensationally losing the Bundesliga on the last day in a crazy harakiri, gained access to the final in the Champions League bringing home a feat leaving it dry, round trip, the Psg di Mbappé and companions. The other, however, leads right to Paris where witchcraft reigned supreme so as not to write a happy ending in the story between the French champion and his team, also stopped in front of their own fans by four poles in addition to the two sensational ones from the first leg to add to an embarrassing amount of wasted scoring opportunities. The only number that matters, however, is the number of goals and that, in Dortmund as in Paris, in the Ruhr as in front of the Eiffel Tower, rewards Dortmund as the first finalist of this Champions League.
In a fiery climate – and not just for the banner of the fans Borussia burned by the locals in the stands – the script was clear from the start. PSG held the ball of the game in their hands, handing over the keys to it Vitinha, trying to open spaces for Mbappé on the left by advancing on the opposite side with Hakimi. The counting of conclusions began early with two chances already in the first five minutes, but without affecting the resistance of the player Dortmund who with courage and organization was able to counteract with dignity even with the dribble. Indeed, the first real scoring opportunity was precisely for the yellow and blacks who, taking advantage of Adeyemi’s restart, forced Donnarumma to one of the most difficult saves of this Champions League. Once the scare passed, PSG let loose in the second half.
Terzic’s after the break became a yellow wall like the iconic one of his own fans, low defense in front of his own area and lots and lots of attention. However, the difference – and it is not a crime to write this – was made by luck, that matter of centimeters which in football, as in any low-scoring sport, can make all the difference in the world. So already in the 47th minute, following a shot by Mbappé blocked by Ramos in the small area, the Zaire-Emery hits the post with an empty net, the starting point of a sensational nightmare. In fact, two minutes later Dortmund scored the 0-1 then defended tooth and nail on the corner developments with Hummels, his best, left free in the area by a wrong marking by Beraldo. The worst, however, came later for the Psg in an incredible and completely tragicomic way, adding up the wasted opportunities between the outward and return journeys.
Before leaving the field, Ramos missed two chances at the spot Nuno Mendes hit an incredible post from distance. In the 75th minute the hope penalty was awarded, but immediately taken away (rightly) by Orsato due to a matter of centimeters due to Hummels’ touch on Dembélé’s foot outside the area and finally, in the midst of the siege on the team’s white weapon The last quarter of an hour was crosses from Mbappé from a few steps away and Vitinha from the distance to make everyone understand that the football gods wanted to speak German this evening. The same ones who, Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid allowing in the other semi-final, could concede one unexpected revenge against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley, as in 2013 against Bayern Munich.
REPORT CARDS
Donnarumma 6,5 – He can’t do anything about Hummels’ goal, but he does it great in the first half when he wins the one-on-one duel with Adeyemi with a super intervention to his left.
Mbappé 5.5 – One hundred and eighty minutes with the spotlight on us and many, many attempts to rewrite the history of PSG. Nothing, lots of dribbling and a few shots but the hopes of all the fans were dashed. Innate class and on another level, but not enough to fly to the final. The final opportunity on the crossbar was sensational.
Ramos 5 – Luis Enrique chooses him as a central offensive terminal, but apart from some movements to disturb the German defense he did not pose any danger to Kobel, on the contrary. His big foot dampens Mbappé’s right-footed shot towards goal, which Zaire-Emery then hits the post, then wastes two great opportunities from the center of the area by shooting at the stars.
Beraldo 5 – On the corner kick converted by Hummels the German defender is completely lost with a completely missed marking. A huge mistake paid dearly by the Parisians.
Hummels 7 – The goal is the icing on an absolute leader’s performance. He plays with space and time to defuse Mbappé and his teammates, anticipating every move with the help of his teammates and beyond. In the opponent’s area he is lethal, but also lucky just at the limit of his own, avoiding a penalty against by millimetres.
Sancho 6 – He never lights up in a truly dangerous way, but he is the number one bogeyman for the Parisian defense and this is enough to make Nuno Mendes worried. He plays with quality off the dribble, but can’t find the illuminating play.
Emre Can 7 – With Ryerson and Hummels he forms the “Bermuda triangle” from the top that sucks in and absorbs practically every attempt from Mbappé. High level positioning, cunning and tactical sagacity match.
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THE SCORESHEET
PSG-BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0-1 (and. 0-1)
Paris SG (4-3-3): Donnarumma 6.5; Hakimi 5.5, Marquinhos 6, Beraldo 5, Nuno Mendes 6; Zaire-Emery 5 (31′ st Lee 6), Vitinha 6, Ruiz 5.5 (18′ st Asensio 6); Dembélé 5.5, Ramos 5 (18′ st Barcola), Mbappé 5.5. Available: Navas, Tenas, Ugarte, Danilo, Kolo Muani, Mukiele, Soler, Skriniar, Zague. All.: Luis Enrique 5.
Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Cobel 6; Ryerson 6.5, Hummels 7, Schlotterbeck 6.5, Maatsen 6; Emre Can 7, Sabitzer 6; Sancho 6 (22′ st Sule 6.5), Brandt 6 (40′ st Nmecha sv), Adeyemi 6 (11′ st Reus 6); Fullkrug 6. A disp.: Meyer, Lotka, Salih Ozcan, Haller, Wolf, Moukoko, Malen, Watjen, Bynoe-Gyttens. All.: Terzic
Referee: Bearded
Markers: 5′ st Hummels
Warned: Dembele (P); Sabitzer, Hummels, Emre Can (D)
Expelled: Nobody
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OPTA STATISTICS
- Mats Hummels (35 years and 143 days) is only the third “oldest” player capable of scoring a goal in a Champions League semi-final – after Edin Dzeko vs Milan, 10 May 2023 (37 years and 54 days) and Ryan Giggs vs Schalke, 26 April 2011 (37 years and 148 days).
- Mats Hummels is the first defender to score away from home in a Champions League semi-final since Joshua Kimmich vs Real Madrid, 1 May 2018.
- Borussia Dortmund will play in a Champions League final for the third time in their history – after those in 1996/97 (won against Juventus) and in 2012/13 (lost against Bayern Munich).
- In the last 20 seasons in the Champions League, it is the first time that a team has scored 30 shots without scoring a goal in a match in the knockout stage of the tournament (PSG 30 shots vs Dortmund).
- Borussia Dortmund kept two consecutive clean sheets in a Champions League knockout stage for the first time since March-April 2013 (vs Shakhtar Donetsk and Malaga on that occasion).
- Starting from the last Champions League (from 2022/23), PSG is the team that has conceded the most headed goals in the competition (seven, Real Madrid with six).
- Among the teams that have played more than six matches in this edition of the Champions League, only PSV (one), Lazio and Inter (both two) have scored fewer goals than PSG in the first half of the competition (just four in 12 matches) .
- Borussia Dortmund ended the first half of a Champions League knockout match with just four shots in total for the first time since 7 March 2023 (two vs Chelsea – in the round of 16 on that occasion).
- PSG is the team that has hit the woodwork the most in this Champions League (14, Manchester City with nine).
- The four woodwork hit by PSG in today’s Champions League semi-final vs Borussia Dormund is a record for a single team in a knockout stage in the competition.
- With an average age of 24 years and 157 days, PSG fielded the youngest starting line-up in a Champions League semi-final since Arsenal vs Manchester United in 2008/09 (24 years and 26 days) – in the match of I’ll return in that case too.
2024-05-07 23:26:15
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