Dortmund’s Thrilling Triumph: A 4-2 Victory Over Atletico Secures Champions League Semifinal Spot

Marcel Sabitzer’s late goal and two assists helped Borussia Dortmund defeat Atletico Madrid 4-2 on Tuesday, moving them into the Champions League semifinals.

Before Ian Maatsen was put up by Sabitzer to give Dortmund a 2-0 lead for the evening, Julian Brandt opened the score to draw the game.

At the half, Diego Simeone, the Atletico coach, made three adjustments that paid handsomely. The Spanish team regained the lead on aggregate thanks to goals from replacement Joaquin Correa and Mats Hummels.

After nine scoreless games, Sabitzer then set up Niclas Fullkrug for the Germany forward’s first goal in the 71st minute, and three minutes later, Sabitzer scored to put Dortmund into the round of four.

“That was quite an amazing evening, quite a rollercoaster,” stated Hans-Joachim Watzke, CEO of Dortmund. Not every day is the same for Borussia Dortmund. We haven’t advanced to the semifinals since 2013. It’s a wonderful day for every Borussen.

In the semifinals, Dortmund will play Paris Saint-Germain once more. PSG defeated Barcelona 4-1 to go to the last four. The teams have already faced off this season, with Dortmund winning Group F despite losing their first group game 2-0 in Paris and drawing their last game 1-1.

The match will take place on June 1 in London, the site of Dortmund’s 2-1 defeat by fierce rival Bayern Munich in the 2013 title game.
Dortmund’s home winning streak in the Champions League now stands at ten games after their victory on Tuesday.

“They were superior, and when a team is superior they should be congratulated,” Simeone stated, attributing his club’s elimination to missed opportunities from the first leg, in which Atletico dominated but was unable to establish a larger lead.

Jan Oblak needs to be at the top of his game for Atletico. He first stopped Brandt, then Karim Adeyemi, until Brandt eventually broke through in the 34th, evading old teammate Axel Witsel and hitting a hard shot off Oblak’s knee from an awkward angle.

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In the 39th, Sabitzer and Maatsen combined again, with the latter rushing past two players and putting the ball inside the far post. It was the first-ever Champions League goal for the Dutch defender.

However, it took Atletico just four minutes following the interval to draw even after Hummels’ effort to clear Mario Hermoso’s header ended up in his own net.

Shortly after, Correa poked the ball wide, which should have resulted in a goal. Simeone, looking dapper in a black suit, collapsed to the floor in exasperation.

When Correa’s first shot was blocked and he rebounded, he scored without error in the 64th.
It gave the visitors the lead again, but Dortmund scored twice in three minutes to electrify the home crowd, with Sabitzer having a hand in both goals.

Brandt remarked, “This Champions League season is special, and such nights are special.” “It is pure happiness to see all these happy faces here in the stadium.”