If Borussia Dortmund are to reach their first Champions League final since 2013, making use of this first leg at home was always going to be of the utmost importance. This single-goal victory stands them in good stead going away to Paris Saint-Germain next week.
Edin Terzic’s team will still have much to do in the French capital, and the chances were there for them to increase the margin which they take with them, nevertheless, the advantage is with them after a fourth win from six at home in this season’s competition and a 10th unbeaten.
Niclas Fullkrug was the match-winner on an evening that Dortmund’s performance bellied their underwhelming season. They may be fifth in the Bundesliga and lost 4-1 to RB Leipzig last weekend, but they rallied in front of their own supporters to give PSG plenty to ponder.
The German side were undoubtedly the underdogs going into this semi-final encounter but an impressive showing that saw Jadon Sancho to the fore will give them belief that the odds are there to be defied.
Their goal was simple but effective. A ball over the top was beautifully controlled and dispatched by the 31-year-old German international, who has now scored 16 goals in his debut season at Dortmund having been signed from Werder Bremen last summer.
Fullkrug is, in many ways, the antithesis of Kylian Mbappe. Whereas Mbappe is all long legs and past you in a flash, his opponent is bulkier, slower but still sharp when it counts.
It was the PSG star who came the closest to bringing about parity when he struck the woodwork as PSG came on stronger in the second half. This is the 25-year-old’s final season at the club and he will fight tooth and nail to ensure his final campaign ends with at least a Champions League final appearance on June 1.
Yet, this was not a completely convincing display by Luis Enrique’s side. They were the team in the better form having last weekend claimed their tenth Ligue 1 title in 12 seasons and scored 15 goals in their previous four matches.
Returning to the Parc des Princes just a goal behind will not daunt PSG — they rarely do these things the easy way — but the task of reaching their second-ever final in this competition got somewhat trickier after this first leg.
Story of the game
It is worth remembering that out of these two semi-finalists, it is Dortmund who are previous winners of this competition. The 1997 European Champions possess an accolade that PSG have desperately longed for since Qatari owners took over in 2011.
The meeting between these two sides in the group-stages at Signal Iduna Park ended a 1-1 draw back in December and the early signs on this occasion were for an equally tight match-up.
Sancho gave the home team early energy on the right. He won possession from Nuno Mendes on the touchline and picked out the rampaging run of Marcel Sabitzer, who tried to round Gianluigi Donnarumma but the Italian stood up to save.
Marquinhos also blocked bravely from Julian Brandtas Dortmund built momentum and their goal which came nine minutes before half time was deserved. Nico Schlotterbeck launched a ball over the top and Fullkrug watched the ball as it came over his shoulder.
The striker used his right instep to kill the ball dead before firing a low shot between Donnarumma and his near post. A third goal in four games for the Dortmund forward brought wild celebrations and a deafening noise from the Yellow Wall.
Fullkrug’s strength had already seen off Lucas Hernandez, with the full back going off injured with a jarred knee suffered during the goal, and he outmanoeuvred the PSG defence again whilst he cushioned the ball for Sabitzer whose shot was low but too close to the visitors’ goalkeeper.
PSG’s first half had been below par. Apart from a few Ousmane Dembele efforts wide, there was little to test Gregor Kobel in the Dortmund goal and their attack was rather insipid. That quickly changed after the interval.
One remarkable passage of play had PSG heads in hands as Mbappe cut onto his right foot and curled an effort against the inside of the post and then Achraf Hakimi struck the inside of the other upright with the rebound. A great delivery from Marquinhos found Fabio Ruiz but the midfielder placed his point-blank header wide.
It was becoming a right tussle and duels were occurring all over the pitch — with Sancho and Karim Adeyemiboth getting particular joy on their flanks. Sancho burst past Mendes and pulled the ball back perfectly for Fullkrug but his attempt sailed over the crossbar.
Fullkrug seemed to be involved in everything. He also appealed for a penalty after perceiving a shove in the back from Mendes at the far post but nothing came his way. Then the striker couldn’t keep a header down from a outswinging set-piece.
As the tie continued to grip, Mbappe flicked the ball through for Randal Kolo Muani but the substitute was denied by a strong left hand from Kobel. Dembele should also have worked the Dortmund ‘keeper after being found by Hakimi in the area.
Still Dortmund threatened at the other end with Brandt seeing a shot blocked by Marquinhos. It felt a goal was there for either team but neither would have been too displeased with it ending as it was. Dortmund have the advantage and next week’s return is a little more interesting for it.