Dortmund surprises and beats PSG in the first round

Luis Enrique criticized the journalists the day before by questioning him about PSG’s undisputed favoritism and perhaps it was not just another pose from the Asturian coach. He knew, because he already experienced it in the group stage, that the Westfalenstadion is a unique stage with that endless background in which 25,000 standing fans are crowded. And that a semi-final is like an unwritten book without a predefined script beyond the classic a priori conjectures.

Well, it turns out that the first chapter of this work was written by the surprising Dortmund with a short but valuable victory thanks to a great goal from the omnipresent Füllkrug in the first period that punished PSG’s rather vulgar football in that period. A team, that of Luis Enrique and Mbappé, that earned the tie in the second leg, but that crashed into the posts and the Swiss goalkeeper Kobel.

They will need more from the Bondy star to come back in the Parc des Princes and certify their place in the second Champions League final in their history. At the moment, a German club, fifth in the Bundesliga but capable of reinventing itself every year, either after being left without Lewandowski, Dembélé, Haaland or Bellingham, wins by the minimum, and that becomes strong at the foot of that immense Yellow Wall, where they already have 11 consecutive games without losing in Europe.

Borussia Dortmund

Kobel, Ryerson (Wolf, min. 87), Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen, Can, Sabitzer, Brandt (Nmecha, min. 87), Adeyemi (Reus, min. 82), Sancho y Füllkrug (Moukoko, min. 90+1 ).

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0

PSG

Donnarumma, Achraf, Marquinhos, Lucas Hernández (Beraldo, min. 42), Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz, Dembélé, Mbappé and Barcola (Kolo Muani, min. 65).

Gol: 1-0: min. 36, filling jug.

Referee: Anthony Taylor (United Kingdom). Yellow for Maatsen, Fabián and Schlotterbeck.

Incidents: First leg of the Champions League semi-finals. Nearly 80,000 spectators at the Westfalenstadion, including 4,000 Parisian fans.

The Gauls tried to lower the decibels from ball possession, but, as happens so often in this inscrutable game, their apparent control of the situation did not translate into control of the match during the first half. Just a couple of distant and deflected shots from Dembélé and, already in stoppage time, a poisonous cross-shot from the former Barça player that wandered around the small area until it was cleared by Ryerson, the typical big, Stakhanovite Norwegian defender.

Very little of Mbappé, just an individual play more plastic than decisive. He doesn’t seem happy as a striker because he needs more spaces to unbalance due to power and speed. He was annulled by the Rhineland solidarity block, where even Adeyemi struggled in defense. Dortmund were less intimidated than against Atlético, perhaps because they feared the Parisians more and had nothing to overcome since it was only the first round, but when they attacked they generated more danger. Especially on the sides, through Jadon Sancho on the right and the aforementioned Adeyemi on the left. Neither Achraf Hakimi nor Nuno Mendes are great defensive backs.

More about Füllkrug than Mbappé

The fight was unbalanced by Füllkrug in a very German move. Enormous precision and practicality, without subtleties. Long ball from a center back, perfect control of the local striker’s run and great definition with his left foot. Three touches, Marquinhos who stays and breaks the offside, and a great goal from Dortmund. More wood in the tie. It also happened that Lucas Hernández was injured in that action.

The battle resumed with PSG much more dominant and intense. So much so that in a matter of minutes he generated three great chances, in addition to a shot from Barcola into the hands of Kobel, the first on goal of the night by the Gauls. Mbappé only needed half a meter to get in line and launch a right-handed shot straight to the enemy’s left post. Next, it was Achraf who shot against the right post. Two miracles that saved the Germans before Fabián Ruiz, with a header, missed a perfect chance to tie.

It was another game, although Dortmund also continued to cause concern with that gusty game. He was even able to extend his lead after a colossal drive by Sancho that, this time, was not well defined by Füllkrug. The striker, and the entire stadium, would later ask for a penalty for a slight push from Nuno Mendes, but the English braid acted like a Swede. In a strategy action ‘made in Germany’, Füllkrug headed easily, but without good direction. The shock was beautiful, much more intense than in a contained initial period.

Dembélé had it, after a fantasy pass from Mbappé, but the ball stayed a little behind him and Kobel saved his shot. Helvetian is huge. Already in the final stretch, with everyone very tired and little movement on the benches, Dembélé filled the ball after a wonderful drop shot by Hakimi. Another chance in limbo and more sharp responses from a Dortmund managed in a notable way by Brandt. The solution, next Tuesday at the Parc des Princes.

2024-05-01 21:21:33
#Dortmund #surprises #beats #PSG