By Samuel A. May 8, 2024
Borussia Dortmund showed wonderful resilience over both legs against French champions Paris St-Germain to beat them at the Iduna Park and Parc De Princes 1-0 each to reach their first Champions League final since 2013. Dortmund initially held a 1-0 advantage following the first leg of the semifinal, and then doubled their lead when Mats Hummels was left unmarked five yards out to head in from Julian Brandt’s left wing corner.
PSG, being so unlucky in the matches, struck the bar SIX times over the course of the two legs against the German giants. Zaire Emery had initially hit the bar from a close range volley just before Dortmund added a second to unsettle the tie. Mats Hummels, who had been defensively superb and faultless over the two legs, was left unmarked as he headed home from close range from Julian Brandt’s cross. Kylian Mbappe, in his last European match for PSG, had an effort deflected on to the crossbar, before Vitinha fired against the bar too – the sixth time overall his side had hit the frame of the goal in the tie.
Dortmund are now aiming to take this spirit to the final and get a favorable result that could make them become European champions for the second time in their history after they defeated Juventus 3-1 in the 1997 final. Dortmund have had a disappointing season domestically as they sit fifth, 24 points behind champions Bayer Leverkusen with a couple Bundesliga matches remaining.
At the start of the European campaign, no one could have expected Dortmund to be in the final after they were drawn in a tough group that consisted of PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle, but Edin Terzic’s side finished top, got past PSV Eindhoven in the last 16 and then eliminated Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals.
Even after an excellent 1-0 home win over PSG on 1 May, thanks to Niclas Fullkrug’s goal, many people expected the French side to overpower them in the second leg, however, Dortmund’s side produced a superb team effort at Parc des Princes. Dortmund dominated In a wonderful, boisterous atmosphere! They were excellent in stopping the dangerous Mbappe, scoring the forward often up against two or three opponents, with the defensive partnership of Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck in fine form.
