Photo Credit: Reuters
Borussia Dortmund have exceeded everyone’s expectations this season after knocking out Paris Saint-German in a more than memorable contest in the Parc des Princes. This is the German’s side’s first UEFA Champions league final since Jurgen Klopp’s team in 2013.
Before the match, Paris Saint German coach Luis Enrique said that, “The aim is not to win by two goals, but to win.” This was his war cry with his team seeking to overturn their first leg defeat in Germany a week before. The home team, PSG were eager to set the pace of the game in the opening minutes as Achraf Hakimi who lit up the right flank with every advance resulting in a cross seeking out the powerful and lethal, Kylian Mbappe who kept creeping up on the left hand side.
The German visitors, under fire from the cauldron of Parisian noise, battened down the hatches and left no room for error. However they were almost undone when Mbappe dribbled past three defenders and lined it up for Ousmane Dembele who unfortunately skied it high from close range. Dortmund then took the opportunity to hit back as a golden chance fell to Karim Adeyemi who only managed to shoot it directly to Donnarumma who couldn’t have had an easier save.
After the break, PSG emerged with fire in their bellies. Seemingly, Luis Enrique’s pep-talk at half-time had gotten to them. In full hunger but with lack of luck, Warren Zaire-Emery should have given PSG a fighting chance when he was the lucky receptor of a loose ball from six-yards out. Breaths were held but he inexplicably sliced the ball onto the post with the baying home gasping with disappointment.
After avoiding PSG’s gnawing teeth, Borussia Dortmund decided to continue their roles as the orchestrators of this contest as the script saw Matt Hummels nodding the ball into the net following Julian Brandt’s corner enabling Dortmund to double their aggregate lead. The hosts retaliated and went straight on the offensive.
Their efforts saw Nuno Mendes majestic effort from the edge of the box strike the post. This was a mind numbing 12th time PSG has hit the woodwork in this UCL campaign. Dortmund thereafter parked the bus. Total lockdown. They saw that their best chance of progression was preserving what they had. In the closing moments we saw Vitinha and Mbappe strike the crossbar.
Now Dortmund have to wait 24 hours to know their final opponents as Real Madrid take on Bayern Munich.
