Borussia Dortmund sensationally reached the final of the Champions League. After their success a week ago, the black and yellow also beat Paris St. Germain in the second leg. Coach Edin Terzic’s team won again on Tuesday evening (May 7th, 2024) with 1-0 (0-0).
The hero of the day was Mats Hummels, who powerfully converted a header to score the winning goal shortly after the break (50th minute). Borussia also had the necessary bit of luck because, as in the first leg, the ball crashed into the post of the Dortmund goal several times.
Live ticker: PSG – BVB arrow right semi-final arrow right
In addition, when Hummels fouled Ousmane Dembélé, the Italian referee Daniele Orsato ruled that the contact had taken place on the Frenchman’s foot outside the penalty area. A tricky situation.
BVB coach Terzic: “Little things make a difference at this level”
“We prevailed against an outstanding team, that makes us happy and proud,” said BVB coach Edin Terzic. “But we also know that if we had played the game ten times today, we wouldn’t have won it ten times. At this level, little things make a difference, and today we managed to get those little things on our side.”
“It’s a relief, of course. But you know you haven’t won anything, but rather qualified for a new experience,” said BVB player Julian Brandt. You can also have any joy, “but it’s not over yet.”
“All hell broke loose” in the Dortmund dressing room
“All hell was going on in the dressing room, loud music and alcohol,” reported BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl from inside the stadium after the victory – and the pictures that made it out to the football world made it clear that Kehl wasn’t exaggerating .
Now the big goal is to be achieved in the final, the opponent will be determined this evening in the duel between Bayern and Real Madrid. “Today we are the favorites. From tomorrow onwards we won’t be – no matter who it is against,” said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic. “We know it will be extremely difficult. But anything is possible in one game. We’ve proven that.”
Dortmund starting eleven as in the first leg
After almost completely changing the starting eleven in the Bundesliga against Augsburg in Paris, Borussia coach Edin Terzic sent the same team onto the pitch as in the first leg. Paris started with Lucas Beraldo for Lucas Hernandéz, who was injured in Dortmund, and Luis Enrique also put superstar Kylian Mbappé on the left side.
But, to put it bluntly, the super-fast Mbappe was just as ineffective there as he was in the first leg in the center forward position. BVB defended far too well for that. In particular, Mats Hummels, who was outstanding in positional play, and his attentive partner Nico Schlotterbeck defended against almost everything that rolled towards the Dortmund goal. In addition, Julian Ryerson set a lot of accents on Mbappé’s side, both defensively and offensively, thereby creating stability.
Daniela Müllenborn, Sportschau, May 8th, 2024 8:18 a.m
BVB: Hummels’ and Schlotterbeck’s important defensive actions
Hummels thwarted Mbappé’s shot opportunity when he tipped the ball off the foot of the Frenchman, who was ready to finish centrally, and Schlotterbeck riskily deflected a brilliant shot from Fabián Ruiz towards a corner.
Dortmund’s best opportunity in the first half of the game came from Hummels’ defensive action when Karim Adeyemi beat Achraf Hakimi on a counterattack in the penalty area and brought the ball onto goal as he fell, but too centrally to PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Karim Adeyemi shoots in the game against PSG
A lot of pressure from Paris after the break
After the break, Dortmund came under pressure: First Hakimi appeared free in the penalty area, Ryerson cleared, after the following corner by Mbappé the ball hit the post after a shot from 18-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery.
But then Borussia Dortmund struck: After a corner from Julian Brandt, Paris let Hummels escape, who had recognized the free space. His header from five meters not only hit the bottom right corner of the goal, but also left a clearly visible mark on Hummels’ forehead. Dortmund cheered.
Two more Parisian aluminum hits
After Dortmund’s goal, PSG went ahead again – at this point two goals were already needed to reach extra time. Mbappé now appeared centrally more often, which caused a lot of stress in the BVB defense. Terzic now brought in Niklas Süle as the third central defender and Marco Reus, who recently played an outstanding game with two goals against Augsburg after announcing his departure from Dortmund.
The French didn’t let up: Gonçalo Ramos shot from a central position and the ball passed over the goal guarded by Gregor Kobel (60th). Then Nuno Mendes took courage from 22 meters and hit the post again (61st). And then Dortmund were lucky again when Hummels’ foul on Dembélé was seen just outside the penalty area (65th).
PSG despair of Dortmund’s passion
Paris threw everything forward in the final phase: Mbappé hit the side netting (81′), after a dubious free kick whistle, Kang-in Lee served PSG captain Marquinhos, who placed the ball just to the left of the goal and screamed his frustration out of his body ( 82.).
There were more shots that didn’t hit the visitors’ goal: Mbappé hit the post again. And one more thing: Vitinha, who showed a strong performance for the French, shot from distance, again saving the edge of the goal for Dortmund. For the fourth time!
In stoppage time, Schlotterbeck and Kobel saved against Mbappé, who finished centrally – and then it was done.
Marc Eschweiler, Sportschau, May 8, 2024 12:05 a.m
Final on June 1st in London – against Real or Bayern
Dortmund will be in the final on June 1st (9 p.m.) at London’s Wembley Stadium against the winner of the semi-final between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich (tomorrow, 9 p.m., live ticker at sportschau.de). If Bayern prevails, then there will be a repeat of the 2013 final in England, in which Munich prevailed.