Charles Jackson
Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain face each other again this Wednesday in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, having already faced each other this season in the group stage. Edin Terzic’s men and Luis Enrique’s side came from behind in their respective quarter-finals to eliminate their Spanish opponents and set up the first leg at Signal Iduna Park.
BVB are winless in their last two Bundesliga games, after a draw with champions Bayer Leverkusen and a defeat at the hands of rivals RB Leipzig for a place in the UCL. Dortmund are currently fifth in the German top flight and five points behind RBL with just three games to go, although fifth place could be enough for the Champions League if Germany secure the second-best coefficient position.
PSG recorded wins over Olympique Lyonnais and Lorient before a draw with Le Havre AC, but it was actually Lyon’s victory over Monaco which confirmed Les Parisiens’ 12th Ligue 1 title last weekend. Luis Enrique’s men can now focus on their UCL exploits and a potential second final after their debut in 2020, as well as the Coupe de France final against OL.
Here are our stories, how you can watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Wednesday, May 1st | Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Signal Iduna Park – Dortmund, Germany
- To attend: Paramount+
- Chances: Dortmund +175; Draw +260; PSG +138
How Dortmund got here
Terzic’s side overtook Atletico Madrid in spectacular fashion with an aggregate score of 5-4 to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2012-13 under Jurgen Klopp. Dortmund could automatically qualify for the Champions League by winning it, which would emulate their 1996-97 feat, although they are huge underdogs here. In fact, BVB came out ahead of PSG in Group F, with Milan dropping out of the UEFA Europa League and Newcastle United exiting. The Germans have won just one of their last six meetings with PSG, in the 2019-20 round of 16, but are unbeaten in 10 UCL games at home in a run that has included this year’s last 16 opponents PSV Eindhoven.
How PSG got here
Luis Enrique’s men defeated Barcelona in spectacular fashion to reach the semi-finals with a 6-4 aggregate victory sealed in Catalonia. This is PSG’s third quarter-final appearance in the last five seasons, which is a huge improvement on some of their previous efforts. Real Sociedad fell to quarter-final victims Barça in the round of 16 and it was Dortmund who finished ahead of the Parisians in Group F, although PSG won 2-0 at home and drew 1-1 away . That 3-1 combination would be enough to send the French champions into the final for the first time since 2020 and the Ligue 1 giants are unbeaten in their last 15 away games in all competitions since the defeat in Milan.
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Team News
Dortmund: Ramy Bensebaini and Sebastien Haller are out, while Ian Maatsen, Donyell Malen and Mats Hummels are doubts ahead of the clash. Emre Can and Maatsen served national suspensions at the weekend, but both could start ahead of Salih Ozcan or Felix Nmecha. Niclas Fullkrug should lead the line with Jadon Sancho and Karim Adeyemi on the flanks.
Potential Dortmund XI: Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, you can; Adeyemi, Brandt, Sancho; Fullkrug.
PSG: Presnel Kimpembe remains out for a long time, while Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nuno Mendes, Lucas Hernandez and Fabian Ruiz were rested at the weekend and are expected to return here. Kylian Mbappe will be looking to add to eight of his 43 Champions League goals scored so far this season and should be joined by former Dortmund player Ousmane Dembele as well as the hero of the second leg against Barça – Bradley Barcola.
PSG XI Potential: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Danilo, Hernández; Vitinha, Zaire-Emery, Ruiz; Dembélé, Mbappé, Barcola.
Champions League Calendar
TV semi-final schedule
All times US/East
Prediction
This one looks like it will be tight on paper and a draw wouldn’t be a total surprise. However, PSG are very good away from home, despite Dortmund’s historically good home performance in Europe. Whatever the outcome, there is unlikely to be much in the way of the return to Paris next week. Choice: Dortmund 1, PSG 2.
