Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) might be looking out to overturn their setback in opposition to Borussia Dortmund within the Champions League semifinal return leg on Tuesday, aiming to redeem their missed alternatives from the primary match.
Despite quite a few possibilities within the preliminary leg, PSG suffered a 1-0 defeat at Signal Iduna Park.
The match was vital because it marked the ultimate Champions League house sport for one in all Dortmund’s icons, Marco Reus.
In the primary leg, former Dortmund participant Ousmane Dembele had a difficult sport in opposition to his previous workforce, contributing to PSG’s failure to transform their possibilities.
In distinction, Dortmund’s Niclas Fullkrug demonstrated ruthless attacking prowess, scoring an excellent purpose within the thirty sixth minute.
He expertly acquired Nico Schlotterbeck’s move, took a chic contact, and unleashed a robust shot previous the Parisians’ shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma, marking his third purpose within the 2023-24 Champions League, his debut season within the match.
Dortmund secured their fifth clear sheet of the Champions League season, largely as a result of PSG’s missed alternatives.
PSG had the luxurious of a weekend off from Ligue 1 motion to arrange for the essential second leg, regardless of already having secured the league title as soon as once more.
While PSG have usually fallen quick within the Champions League, they did overturn a first-leg deficit in opposition to Barcelona within the quarterfinals.
They now have the chance to make historical past by changing into the primary workforce to achieve the ultimate after dropping each their opening quarterfinal and semifinal matches.
PSG’s latest kind, together with a seven-game streak with out a clear sheet and solely three wins of their final eight house matches, doesn’t bode nicely.
However, they’ve been constant scorers on the Parc des Princes, failing to attain at house solely as soon as for the reason that begin of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season.
Dortmund, aiming to finish PSG’s 24-game scoring streak on the Parc des Princes on their technique to an sudden Champions League last, proudly carry the title of defensive masters on this season’s European Cup.
Their fifth clear sheet in final week’s slender victory is the very best within the match.
Their dominant efficiency in opposition to Augsburg on Sunday, with Marco Reus shining with one purpose and two assists, was a becoming response to a latest Bundesliga droop.
This included a draw with champions Bayer Leverkusen and a 4-1 loss to RB Leipzig.
Despite the announcement of Reus’s departure on the finish of the season, Dortmund’s future seems shiny with gamers like Youssoufa Moukoko stepping up.
Moukoko scored two targets within the 5-1 victory over Augsburg, showcasing his potential as Reus’s successor.
Dortmund’s have to excel within the Champions League has lessened since defeating PSG, as this secured the Bundesliga a fifth Champions League spot based mostly on their UEFA coefficient.
Dortmund are actually assured to complete both fourth or fifth within the rankings.
The security internet of the coefficient will not result in a drop in efficiency from Dortmund, however their monitor file at PSG’s stadium shouldn’t be promising.
They have did not win or rating in three earlier visits, together with a 2-0 defeat in September’s group stage match, the place they managed only one shot on course.
Another dominant victory for PSG would arrange a conflict with both Bayern Munich or Real Madrid for the European title.
PSG’s defender Lucas Hernandez, already sidelined from Euro 2024 as a result of an ACL harm sustained through the 2022 World Cup, suffered an analogous setback within the first leg.
This means he might not play once more till 2025.
Hernandez joins Presnel Kimpembe on the sidelines, together with Layvin Kurzawa and Sergio Rico.
20-year-old Lucas Beraldo is prone to change Hernandez, given Milan Skriniar’s inconsistent kind.
After Dembele and Barcola’s unsuccessful performances final week, Luis Enrique might take into account Marco Asensio, Lee Kang-in, or Goncalo Ramos to help Kylian Mbappe in assault.
Mbappe is about to play his last Champions League match for PSG on Tuesday until they will rectify their previous attacking errors.
Dortmund additionally confronted defensive setbacks final week, with proper again Julian Ryerson leaving the sector with cramps.
He was absent from the match in opposition to Augsburg, the place Ramy Bensebaini, Julien Duranville, and Sebastien Haller had been additionally unavailable as a result of harm.
Both Ryerson and Haller are anticipated to recuperate from their minor points in time for Tuesday’s match.
However, Karim Adeyemi, who was a dynamic presence within the first leg, picked up a knock over the weekend and can must be assessed. There is optimism that he might be match, although.
If Adeyemi is cleared to play, he might be amongst a number of Dortmund gamers returning for the second leg.
This record additionally consists of Jadon Sancho, on mortgage from Manchester United, whose 12 profitable dribbles final Wednesday set a file for an English participant in a Champions League match.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
