Football News

UEFA Champions League, Semi-final, 01/05/24

Paris Saint-Germain will have to overcome a one-goal deficit if they are to reach their first UEFA Champions League final since 2020 after Niclas Füllkrug’s first-half goal gave Borussia Dortmund a slender advantage (1-0) heading into the second-leg at the Parc des Princes next week.

Dortmund set the tone in the opening seconds. With the Yellow Wall roaring, Emre Can went into former Dortmund man Ousmane Dembélé, raising the decibel level further in the Signal Iduna Park. That noise did little to awaken Luis Enrique’s side, who were punished for a subdued first-half performance. 

Marcel Sabitzer gave Les Parisiens any early warning, stealing in behind Nuno Mendes and striking straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma from a tight angle. However, the Italian could do little with Füllkrug’s effort mid-way through the first half. It came from a simple ball over the top from Nico Schlotterbeck and Füllkrug, who caused the back-line plenty of problems, timed his run perfectly, controlled and beat Donnarumma with a thunderous finish. 

To add insult to injury, Lucas Hernandez was injured in the goal-scoring action and was forced off with a knee problem. The Frenchman headed straight down the tunnel and was replaced by Lucas Beraldo. Sabitzer forced Donnarumma into action once again before the break but on this occasion, Donnarumma was equal to the Dortmund midfielder’s volley.

PSG were absent from proceedings, passive and failed to register a single shot on target – improvement was desperately needed. There was a reaction in the second half but quality was still sorely lacking in the decisive moments. PSG had their chances, they just weren’t taken. 

Bradley Barcola had Les Parisiens’ first shot on

Emre Can Marcel Sabitzer Luis Enrique Les Parisiens Nuno Mendes Nico Schlotterbeck Ousmane Dembélé Lucas Hernandez Gianluigi Donnarumma Bradley Barcola Lucas Beraldo