Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain: Talking points as Fullkrug’s strike makes difference in close Champions League semifinal

Borussia Dortmund hosted Paris Saint-Germain at the Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday in the first leg of their semifinal clash in the Champions League.

The game

PSG had more of the ball in the first half already, but they never really did anything to cause problems for Gregor Kobel in the Dortmund goal. On the other hand, the Bundesliga side threatened occasionally, for the first time in the 14th minute when Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced into action to deny Marcel Sabitzer. Julian Brandt tried from range in the 29th and was blocked by Marquinhos, but there was no stopping Niclas Fullkrug seven minutes later.

The striker was found by a brilliant pass from the back from Nico Schlotterbeck and fired expertly past Donnarumma to put the home side ahead.

Dortmund entered the second half with plenty of attacking intent, but their plan to increase the lead was almost undone in the 51st minute when first Kylian Mbappe and then former Dortmund right-back Achraf Hakimi hit the post for PSG. Three minutes later, Bradley Barcola broke down the left and employed Mbappe again, but the France captain fired straight into the well-positioned Kobel. Marquinhos then whipped in a great cross from deep that caught the Dortmund defence at unawares, but Fabian Ruiz failed to head on target unmarked from six yards.

Though there was no equalizer yet, the chances created lifted the spirits of the visitors, whose pressure in and around the Dortmund box gradually increased.

Dortmund finally responded around the hour mark as Fullkrug’s initiative brought them back into the opposition half for a while, and after Brandt’s shot flew wide of the post, Jadon Sancho escaped Nuno Mendes to serve up for Fullkrug on the edge of six yards, but Fullkrug was nowhere nearly as accurate as he was in the 36th minute.

In the 63rd minute, Mendes used his hands to push Fullkrug while the Dortmund striker was in the air on the edge of six yards, rendering him unable to reach the ball,…

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Author : Veselin Trajkovic

Publish date : 2024-05-01 21:18:37

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