Borussia Dortmund picked up a one-goal win over PSG in the first leg of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League semifinals. Niclas Füllkrug’s goal in the first half was enough to best the French champions on Wednesday evening. Both sides had ample chances, and both sides will feel like they could have done more. Regardless, Dortmund has a lead going into Tuesday’s matchup at the Parc des Princes.
Entering the tie, PSG was the favorite. With arguably the best player in the world in Kylian Mbappe and a domestically struggling Borussia Dortmund side, the Germans faced a tall task. Given the game was in Germany, though, Dortmund pulled on the energy of the Yellow Wall in the Westfalenstadion to have a strong showing in the first half.
Dortmund had the best chance of the game to start through Marcel Sabitzer. A ball played in from the outside via Julian Brandt met Sabitzer who was in alone against Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian made a strong save to deny Sabitzer, and the chance disappeared.
However, Dortmund would find the lead just before the half-hour mark. A long ball over the top from Nico Schlotterbeck ballooned into the path of an onside Niclas Füllkrug. A brilliant first touch from the German striker allowed him to take a shot with his second touch. A beat Donnarumma, and Füllkrug sent the Signal Iduna Park into an uproar.
In truth, Borussia Dortmund should have had a two-goal lead going into the break. A well-worked play on a cross from Karim Adeyemi allowed Füllkrug to set up a first-time volley from Sabitzer. Just 10 yards from goal, Sabitzer struck the ball sweetly, but Donnarumma got down fast and strong enough to parry the ball away. That preserved the one-goal deficit for PSG, perhaps keeping it in the game.
Both Dortmund and PSG leave chances begging in Champions League semis
Donnarumma’s saves in the first half may have inspired PSG to play more aggressively in the second half. PSG opened the second 45 minutes with a…
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Author : Kyle Fansler
Publish date : 2024-05-01 21:14:36
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