Charles Jackson
Paris Saint-Germain will face Borussia Dortmund again in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, on Tuesday, with the Germans 1-0 up of the opening leg. Niclas Fullkrug’s goal makes the difference in the Parc des Princes encounter, as Edin Terzic’s men look to stop Luis Enrique’s side from extending their run of 24 consecutive scoring games in the French capital. BVB are the best defensive team in this current edition of the UCL, with five clean sheets following last week’s narrow victory and a rotated XI destroyed Augsburg 5-1 at the weekend at Signal Iduna Park.
Dortmund have a place in the Champions League secured after last week’s victory, which guaranteed the Bundesliga an extra place in the UCL via the UEFA coefficient, along with Italy’s Serie A. net if the worst case scenario happens. A further 2-0 victory for PSG would be enough to advance and BVB will be willing to avoid that against the injured Parisians, who would love nothing more than their second final, which could yet offer a rematch against 2020’s conquerors, the Bayern Munich or the narrative clash to end all clashes against Real Madrid, the possible future home of PSG star Kylian Mbaooe.
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How to watch and odds
- Date: Tuesday, May 7th | Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Parc des Princes – Paris, France
- To attend: Paramount+
- Chances: PSG-225; Draw +380; Dortmund +500
First leg
Flying close to the sun has been a familiar scenario for PSG in Europe this season and it remains a recurring theme now with a 1-0 deficit to overturn after the first leg for the second time in successive rounds. Barcelona were eliminated after the Ligue 1 champions overcame a 3-2 home defeat and now the trick must be applied in reverse, with a one-goal deficit to bring home, which should – theoretically – be more easy for Paris to achieve. Fullkrug’s 36th-minute shot in Dortmund made a difference in the opening match, and now it’s up to PSG to create the chance they created in Germany, but this time to take it. Terzic’s side also created more chances but only managed one shot on target at the start of the season and Luis Enrique makes this Parisian team look much better now than they did before. Since the opening day of this season in Ligue 1, PSG have failed to score at the Parc des Princes, while BVB’s five clean sheets are the competition’s best on Tuesday, so something has to give.
Dortmund’s route
Terzic’s side overtook Atletico Madrid in spectacular fashion with an aggregate score of 5-4 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2012-13 under Jurgen Klopp. Dortmund automatically qualified for the Champions League by winning the first leg and could repeat the 1996-97 feat if they continued until the end. 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 two of their last seven meetings with PSG, the other being in the 2019-20 round of 16, but extended their unbeaten run to 11 UCL games with last week’s victory.
PSG’s journey
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 take the French champions to the final for the first time since 2020, but the Ligue 1 giants would need a 3-0 home win to replicate the aggregate result here. Last week’s defeat ended Paris’ 15-game away run without losing in all competitions.
Team News
PSG: Lucas Hernandez’s season at PSG is over, as are his UEFA Euro 2024 hopes with France and possibly in 2024 following surgery following last week’s serious injury. Hernandez and Presnel Kimpembe – both regular players for the French national team when fit – have now fallen victim to long-term injuries that could have major ramifications on their careers. Lucas Beraldo is more likely to intervene than Milan Skriniar and Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola’s wasted display in Germany possibly opens the door for Marco Asensio, Lee Kang-in or Gonçalo Ramos to help Kylian Mbappe in attack for what is almost certainly his last UCL game at the Parc des Princes with PSG.
PSG XI Potential: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery; Dembélé, Ramos, Mbappé.
Dortmund: Julian Ryerson was forced out injured against Augsburg, while Ramy Bensebaini, Julien Duranville and Sebastien Haller were also left out. Ryerson and Haller should be in good form on Tuesday, but Karim Adeyemi is a little worried after taking a knock. Assuming he is fit, Adeyemi and Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho should start again.
Potential Dortmund XI: Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, you can; Sancho, Brandt, Adeyemi; Fullkrug.
Prediction
PSG’s home form and ability to recover should still make them favorites for this game, but only just and a Dortmund goal could be a killer. A one-goal home win, which would require extra time and possibly penalties, would not be a huge surprise, but Luis Enrique’s Parisians will imagine breaching the German defense more than once. If it goes beyond 90 minutes, it could end 3-1 for Paris after extra time. Choice: PSG 2, Dortmund 0.
