Borussia Dortmund will travel to France for next week’s second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie with a slender advantage after coming out on top in Wednesday night’s pulsating opening showdown. Nicklas Fullkrug’s first-half strike was enough to seal a 1-0 victory for Edin Terzic’s side, who got a sensational performance from man-of-the-match Jadon Sancho at a bouncing Signal Iduna Park.
It was simply incredible than an action-packed, end-to-end second half between two sides who also met twice during the group stage did not yield a single goal, with Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi both hitting the post within mere seconds of each other and the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Julian Brandt and Vitinha all going close late on. Gianluigi Donnarumma also pulled off a couple of key saves to thwart Marcel Sabitzer, with Mbappe similarly denied by Gregor Kobel.
The result also means that the Bundesliga has now definitely beaten the Premier League to a coveted fifth Champions League spot for next year, which will be bad news for one of Tottenham or Aston Villa. Dortmund, meanwhile, are likely to find themselves as the major beneficiaries if they do not win the competition this year, given that they currently sit fifth in the Bundesliga table with only three matches left to play this term.
Dortmund vs PSG highlights
Live updates
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
Dortmund have come flying back into this game after a strong start to the second half from PSG - who should have scored again when Fabian Ruiz sent a point-blank header wide somehow.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
53 mins: PSG are well on top now, surging with momentum as Mbappe forces a save from Kobel.
The French superstar is now very much in this game after a sleepy first half.
Dortmund need a foothold back or this could be a very long second half indeed.
Fabian Ruiz into the book.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
51 mins: PSG hit the post twice in quick succession!
Mbappe finally has an impact with a brilliant curling strike that beats Kobel all ends up before crashing back off the woodwork.
He goes again and after a block Hakimi guides his low effort back off the frame of the goal.
Nuno Mendes then blasts off target.
How are PSG not level?!
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
50 mins: A lively start to the second period as Barcola has PSG’s first shot on target on the night, but it’s easily dealt with by Kobel.
At the other end, Adeyemi raids forward and finds Sancho, who loses his footing but picks himself up before being denied by a last-ditch challenge.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
Back underway in Dortmund.
A big response needed from PSG here, but there’s still so much time left in the tie.
Very far from panic stations at this point, but they won’t want to fall any further behind.
No further changes at the break.
Here is the goal that broke the deadlock and sent Signal Iduna Park into raptures.
Great pass from Schlotterbeck and a brilliant first touch and authoritative low strike from German frontman Fullkrug.
But Luis Enrique will be fuming with one ball forward totally undoing his defence.
And Hernandez was injured trying to stop it, just to really compound PSG’s misery.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
It was a rather cagey affair with both defences firmly on top before being sparked into life by that excellent Fullkrug goal.
PSG trail and it could be worse, with Donnarumma twice denying Sabitzer.
They need much more from Mbappe and Co. after the interval.
The Parisians have yet to have a single shot on target.
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
Half-time
Dortmund 1-0 PSG
39 mins: Having gone behind, PSG are also losing a key player here.
Hernandez has gone down and won’t be able to continue having been hurt while trying to defend the goal.
Lucas Beraldo replaces him at centre-back.
GOAL! Dortmund 1-0 PSG | Niclas Fullkrug 36'
36 mins: Signal Iduna Park erupts as the deadlock is broken!
A brilliant first touch to take down a superb long Schlotterbeck pass forward and wicked low strike from Fullkrug beyond Donnarumma, brushing aside Hernandez.
A great effort but far, far too easy from PSG’s perspective.
Hopefully that sparks this tie into life...
