Why Dortmund's win is bad news for the Premier Leaguepublished at 22:55 British Summer Time 1 May 2024
22:55 BST 1 May 2024
Now, I don't want to be accused of being too Brit-centric - even though we are the British Broadcasting Corporation.
But this win for a German side over a French team has significant meaning for the English Premier League.
Why? Because Dortmund's victory means the Premier League has missed out on a fifth Champions
League spot next season.
Coupled
with Bayern Munich’s draw with Real Madrid on Tuesday, it secures second place for in the European coefficient which ranks the continent's leagues.
That means will now Italy in getting a fifth automatic
spot in next season’s tournament.
'One-nil, we’ve overcome it before'published at 22:48 British Summer Time 1 May 2024
22:48 BST 1 May 2024
FT: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Paris St-Germain
Image source, Getty Images
Paris St-Germain captain Marquinhos, speaking to Canal+: "It was a test of two teams who like to go forward, have the ball, and press. It was a physical test.
"We had a lot of chances, especially in the second half, and ones that you can’t miss if you want to qualify for the final of the Champions League. At home, we’re going to have to make sure we take them."
"It’s always difficult playing here. We knew how much of a contest it was going to be.
"One-nil, we’ve overcome it before, especially at home with our ers.”
'You have to earn your way to Wembley'published at 22:47 British Summer Time 1 May 2024
22:47 BST 1 May 2024
FT: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Paris St-Germain
Image source, Getty Images
Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic, speaking to DAZN: "It was a well-deserved win, a good team performance.
"We could have scored more goals, but so could they. That's why the result is OK from my point of view. We ran a lot, but that's necessary in a game like this. You have to earn your way to Wembley.
"All we need now is a draw in the second leg, but we also want to win next week. We have a small lead and a good opportunity."
'We are not over the finish line yet'published at 22:31 British Summer Time 1 May 2024
22:31 BST 1 May 2024
FT: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Paris St-Germain
More from Dortmund defender Mats Hummels on Niclas Fullkrug's winner: "If you opponent tries to press you and play with a high line you have to try to come in behind. It was a great ball from Nico Schlotterbeck and a great run from Niclas Fullkrug. We had a few other chances like this, Karim Adeyemi tried to go there, but didn't get the outcome. It is always a danger and creates chances for us."
On next week's second leg: "It is 90-minutes to the final and we know we want to get there.
"We put our heart onto the pitch to achieve this and we are one little step closer but, we are not over the finish line yet."
'We know it is hard to beat us here'published at 22:28 British Summer Time 1 May 2024
22:28 BST 1 May 2024
FT: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Paris St-Germain
Image source, Getty Images
Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels, speaking to TNT Sports, about his side's narrow win: "It was intense but it was a lot of fun to play in this stadium with the fans behind us. The team gave it all, 100%, and we worked well together.
"We didn't play perfect so it is good to see we don't play perfect and still can get such a good result against a very good team. All round we can be very happy."
On his side not losing in their past 11 Champions League home games: "We know how hard it is for opponents to beat us here. If you come to Dortmund you know how hard it is. the problem is we still have to go to Paris, we know how hard it is to to go there. I don't think I've ever won there. But we can look forward to a great game on Tuesday."
Postpublished at 22:09 British Summer Time 1 May 2024
22:09 BST 1 May 2024
FT: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Paris St-Germain
Niclas Fullkrug had not ever played in the Champions League until this season, but the 31-year-old striker has made quite the impact.
The Borussia Dortmund striker has been directly involved in six Champions League goals this season - three goals and three assists.
Only one other German player has managed as many in their their debut campaign - his team-mate Marco Reus, who was also involved in six goals in 2012-13 for BVB.
Borussia Dortmund have only won one of their six meetings with PSG in all competitions (D3 L2), beating them 2-1 in the first leg of the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League round of 16, before being eliminated 3-2 on aggregate.
Paris Saint-Germain have never won an away match against Borussia Dortmund, losing one and drawing two of their three visits, including a 1-1 draw in the group stages of this season’s UEFA Champions League. Indeed, this is the first time two teams have faced in the group stage and semi-finals in a single campaign in the competition since Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in 2012-13.
Borussia Dortmund are playing in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the fourth time; they’ve reached the final on two of the three previous occasions (1996-97 and 2012-13), with their only elimination at this stage coming in 1997-98 against Real Madrid.
This is Paris Saint-Germain’s fourth appearance in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. They’ve lost all four games in their two previous two-legged ties (vs Milan in 1994-95 and Man City in 2020-21), although they did beat RB Leipzig in a single match in 2019-20.
Borussia Dortmund are unbeaten in their last 10 UEFA Champions League home games (W6 D4), their longest ever such run in the competition. Indeed, only three teams are on longer current unbeaten home runs in the competition: Manchester City (31), FC Bayern München (15) and Real Madrid (12).
Paris Saint-Germain have averaged 65% possession in the UEFA Champions League this season; their most in a single campaign on record (since 2003-04). Along with having more possession in all eight UEFA Champions League games under Luis Enrique, the French side have also allowed the fewest opposition es per defensive action in the current tournament (8.7).
Borussia Dortmund’s per game average of 1.8 expected goals against is the highest of any team to progress from the UEFA Champions League group stages this season (18 xG against in 10 games). However, based on the quality of shots faced, Dortmund have conceded ten fewer goals than expected in the tournament this term (8 conceded from 18 xG against – excluding own goals).
Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé has scored eight goals in this season’s UEFA Champions League, his t-best return in a single campaign (also 8 in 2020-21). The Frenchman is also just two goals away from becoming the ninth different player to score 50 UEFA Champions League goals – he’s scored a brace in his last two away games in the competition.
Marcel Sabitzer has assisted five goals in the UEFA Champions League this season, with two of those coming in their second leg victory over Atlético de Madrid. The only Borussia Dortmund player to make more assists in a single campaign in the competition is Ousmane Dembélé (6 in 2016-17), who now plays for opponents Paris Saint-Germain.
Vitinha has completed 96% of his es under pressure in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages this season (212/222); the highest percentage of any midfielder (min. 10 such es). The Portuguese also has the most line-breaking es of any Paris Saint-Germain player in the knockout stages this term (45).