As Dortmund’s Niclas Fuellkrug scores in semi-final first leg to outshine PSG’s Mbappe & Co, German defender Mats Hummels puts their success down to...
Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Fuellkrug celebrates his goal against PSG on Wednesday. Pics/Getty Images
Niclas Fuellkrug gave Borussia Dortmund a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday as the journeyman striker outshone superstar Kylian Mbappe on the night. Seeking a return to the final for the first time since 2013, the 1997 winners were dogged and determined, outmuscling their heavily favoured opponents in front of more than 80,000 fans.
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Mbappe hits post twice
Fuellkrug, playing in his first Champions League season at the age of 31, collected a lofted pass from centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck in the 36th minute and blasted a low shot into the left corner of the net. PSG, led by Kylian Mbappe, hit the post twice in quick succession early in the second-half but could not break through.
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PSG’s Kylian Mbappe (left) shoots wide against Borussia Dortmund
“I think we today showed a classic team performance. Each helped the other to win the game. We needed a bit of luck a couple of times, but we can be very satisfied with our performance,” said long-serving centre-back Mats Hummels. “It was a very satisfying, very grown-up performance from us.”
Dortmund, who had already lost and drawn against PSG this season in the group stage, can continue to dream of a return to Wembley 11 years after their last Champions League final. Despite the setback, however, PSG will remain confident of overturning the deficit at home next week against a side they thoroughly outclassed at their home venue in September.
“The Parc [PSG’s stadium] and our supporters are giving us hope for the second leg, and we know we can do much better,” PSG captain Marquinhos told Canal+. Dortmund manager Edin Terzic said pre-match PSG were “built to win the Champions League” since the Qatari takeover a decade ago.
Mats Hummels
Nowhere was the contrast between the two clubs greater than PSG’s global superstar Mbappe, playing in his last season for his hometown club, and journeyman Dortmund striker Fuellkrug, who was playing second-division football this time two years ago. Terzic said on Wednesday that winger Jadon Sancho’s excellent performance in his side’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain was brought out by the “big stage.”
Terzic lauds winger Sancho
“He’s shown that really often in training. It’s maybe not so easy to bring it onto the field, especially when you haven’t had rhythm for a while. We know his quality and we saw it again today. We knew we needed a performance like that from Jadon,” he said.
Spurred on by a passionate home crowd who booed and whistled every Mbappe touch, Dortmund had the best of the opening stages, Jadon Sancho shining down the right flank. Marcel Sabitzer had Dortmund’s best chance of an opener after 14 minutes, blasting straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma from a tight angle.
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