Dortmund storms Paris and reaches the final
The Germans, with a goal from Hummels, sink a PSG that hit the woodwork up to four times
MADRID, 7 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Borussia Dortmund will play in the final of the 2023-24 Champions League after beating Paris Saint-Germain (0-1) this Tuesday in the second leg of the semifinals, in which a Mats Hummels goal, one of the only survivors of the 2013 final, it was enough for Edin Terzic’s men to compete in the final duel for the second ‘Orejona’.
Forced to come back after 1-0 at Signal Iduna Park, PSG lagged until the beginning of the second half, and it was in their best minutes when the Germans managed to sink them with a header from the German centre-back. Up to four times, six in the entire tie, the wood repelled the shots of Luis Enrique’s men, who once again failed in their objective of winning their first ‘Champions’.
Edin Terzic’s men knew how to hold on, emulating the ‘yellow wall’ that governs their field, and with this they will return to their first final since 2013, the year in which they lost to Bayern Munich (2-1). Now, they will try to achieve their second title after 1997, when they beat Juventus (3-1), against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, who will settle the second semifinal this Wednesday.
Luis Enrique opted for Gonçalo Ramos as ‘9’, allowing Mbappé to fall on the wing. Precisely, the Portuguese was the first to try to worry the German team with a shot, after a cross from the right by the French star, which ended up in the hands of Gregor Kobel.
Despite everything, the Germans seemed comfortable on the grass of the Parc des Princes, withdrawing lines, aware that patience was their best ally. Meanwhile, the Parisians, who clearly enjoyed control of the ball led by Fabián Ruiz and connected safety passes, lacked fluidity in the last third of the field.
In fact, Dembélé tried his luck with a shot that barely worried the visiting goalkeeper, who stopped Vitinha’s shot from distance in two moments near the break. Dortmund, who warned in the 19th minute with a shot from Norwegian full-back Julian Ryerson that went off the post, had the clearest shot of the first half in a counterattack by Adeyemi, who stood up to Donnarumma; The Italian won the head-to-head match.
The French team came out much more energized in the second half. With much more verticality, he tried to create imbalances and was about to find a reward after two minutes, but the post repeated Warren Zaïre-Emery’s chance. The response from Terzic’s team did not take long to arrive.
It was in the 50th minute, on a corner kick taken by Julian Brandt to the far post; There, one of the survivors of the 2013 final, Mats Hummels, received the cross and, with a header, sent the ball into the back of the net before the silence of the Parc des Princes.
The goal did not dampen the momentum of PSG, frustrated again by the post in another shot by Nuno Mendes in the 61st minute and, after a foul by Hummels almost on the line of the area, also looked for the first in a shot by Asensio that Beraldo repelled.
Tuchel moved the bench to defend the 0-1, while the French team continued trying again and again. In the 87th minute, the crossbar prevented Kylian Mbappé’s equalizer, but the misfortunes for Luis Enrique’s team were not over. Just a minute later, Vitinha also found the crossbar.
Even so, they did not give up the spoon and just before the break they made the Germans suffer with shots from Achraf and Kang-in Lee, but glory was denied them. With this, Borussia Dortmund returned eleven years later to a ‘Champions’ final.
–RESULT: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN, 0 – BORUSSIA DORTMUND, 1 (0-0, at rest).
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN: Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Nuno Mendes; Zaïre-Emery (Kang-in Lee, min.76), Fabián Ruiz (Asensio, min.63), Vitinha; Mbappé, Démbéle and Gonçalo Ramos (Barcola, min.64).
BORUSSIA DORTMUND: Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Can, Sabitzer, Brandt (Nmecha, min.85); Sancho (Süle, min.67), Adeyemi (Reus, min.56) and Füllkrug.
0-1, min.50: Hummels.
–REFEREE: Daniele Orsato (ITA). He cautioned Dembélé (min.75) and Achraf Hakimi (min.84) for Paris Saint-Germain and Sabitzer (min.64) and Hummels (min.67) for Borussia Dortmund.
–STADIUM: Parque de los Príncipes.
