Niclas Fullkrug scored the only goal of the game as Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund secured a narrow 1-0 lead over Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. Fullkrug was played through by a wonderful Nico Schlotterbeck ball over the top. The Germany international took the ball down and expertly fired past Gianluigi Donnarumma. Niclas Fullkrug netted a superb winner as Borussia Dortmund secured a narrow 1-0 first-leg advantage at home to Paris Saint-Germain to leave their UEFA Champions League semi-final finely poised.
The Germany international took a magnificent first touch before rifling past Gianluigi Donnarumma on 36 minutes to give the hosts a deserved interval lead.
Kylian Mbappe had cut a peripheral figure in the visiting attack, but that all changed in the second period when the 25-year-old struck the far post with a sublime curler before Achraf Hakimi crashed against the other upright seconds later. Fullkrug then blazed a volley from the impressive Jadon Sancho’s cross over the top while Ousmane Dembele somehow fizzed over late on as both sides went close in a thrilling end-to-end finale.
The two teams will now reconvene for the second leg in the French capital on Tuesday with the winner meeting Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final at Wembley on June 1.
Much of the pre-match talk centred upon PSG’s Ligue 1 title joy at the weekend, the quest to land a quadruple and Mbappe’s potential date with destiny to sign off his career with the club in the perfect way at Wembley.
However, BVB and that famous Yellow Wall had other ideas. The hosts were excellent, full of energy down both flanks with Fullkrug’s fantastic strike setting them on the path to a worthy win.
To a man, Dortmund were excellent with English fans and media taking particular note of the display Sancho produced as a constant menace down the right. It was a throwback performance on the biggest of stages and hopefully suggests he is on the road back to his very best.
PSG and Mbappe will remain confident they can turn the tide on home turf despite ruing a series of missed chances. They will feel they are still favourites but it’s all to play for heading into the second leg.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – NICLAS FULLKRUG (BORUSSIA DORTMUND)
Pretty much anyone in a BVB shirt was a candidate here with huge shouts for Sancho. However, Dortmund’s 31-year-old striker led the line brilliantly, providing his team-mates with a focal point to play off and capping another fine home display with a brilliantly taken goal that proved the difference on the night.
PLAYER RATINGS
BORUSSIA DORTMUND: Kobel 7, Maatsen 8, Ryerson 8, Schlotterbeck 8, Hummels 8, Sabitzer 8, Can 8, Sancho 8, Adeyemi 8, Brandt 8, Fullkrug 8*. Subs: Reus n/a, Wolf n/a, Nmecha n/a, Moukoko n/a.
PSG: Donnarumma 8, Hakimi 6, Mendes 6, Marquinhos 7, Hernandez 6, Ruiz 6, Zaire-Emery 6, Vitinha 7, Barcola 6, Dembele 6, Mbappe 7. Subs: Beraldo 6, Kolo Muani 6
Matchcast: Full match stats and commentary
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
14’ – DORTMUND CHANCE! Donnarumma makes a good stop to deny Sabitzer from a narrow angle on the right side of the area after more sharp work down that flank from the hosts.
36’ – GOAL! – Dortmund 1-0 PSG: (Fullkrug). What a strike! Fullkrug races on to a long ball over the top, takes a brilliant first touch and then drills a super low strike beyond Donnarumma.
52’ – PSG CHANCES! Mbappe comes alive on the left side of the box but his delicious curler crashes back off the far post. The ball stays alive and falls for Hakimi but his low effort flashes back off the other post.
61’ – DORTMUND CHANCE! Fullkrug skies a volley over the ball from eight yards out after a wonderful run and cross from Sancho down the right.
73’ – PSG CHANCE! Kobel produces a HUGE save to deny Dembele after a magical pass from Mbappe had unlocked the BVB defence.
81’ – PSG CHANCE! Dembele hammers over from 12 yards out after Hakimi cut in from the right and picked him out with a sharp pass.