Borussia Dortmund – Paris Saint-Germain: Yellow Wall Preserves A Lead For Paris (1-0)
A rocking Westfalenstadion enjoyed its biggest and best night in a decade as French champions Paris Saint-Germain visited to contest the first leg of a Champions League semifinal. After an enthralling end-to-end affair, the hosts got away with a slender lead which they will hope to defend in the French capital.
Tactical analysis and match report by Neel Shelat.
For the first time in over a decade, Borussia Dortmund prepared for a Champions League semifinal. Just like last time, their dream was to lift the coveted trophy in Wembley, potentially against domestic rivals Bayern Munich, but they had the small matter of defeating Paris Saint-Germain to concern themselves with before getting carried away. Having flattered to deceive in the Bundesliga over the last ten years and never more so than last season, they would have been desperate to make up for it by lifting silverware of global prestige.
Paris Saint-Germain, for their part, were just as intent to get their hands on the trophy. Having comfortably established themselves as the dominant force in Ligue 1 now, they were only a Champions League title away from completing their cabinet after the QSI takeover. Even a super team with Lionel Messi and Neymar could not do the job, and with Kylian Mbappé set to leave this summer, this felt like their best chance in the foreseeable future to achieve their ultimate ambition.
Borussia Dortmund sprung no surprises in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation with Gregor Kobel’s goal protected predominantly by a back four of Julian Ryerson, Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck and Ian Maatsen. Marcel Sabitzer supported Emre Can in midfield . . .
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