Mats Hummels Leads Borussia Dortmund to Champions League Final with 1-0 Win Over PSG
Mats Hummels’ crucial goal propelled Borussia Dortmund to a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League semi-final second leg.
This victory not only secured Dortmund’s place in the prestigious final at Wembley but also highlighted their tactical prowess and determination on the European football stage.
Borussia Dortmund shocked Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in their Champions League semi-final second leg. Winning 1-0 on the night and going 2-0 on aggregate to the final at Wembley next month, Mats Hummels scored the game’s lone goal.
At the Parc des Princes, Hummels scored five minutes into the second half, and PSG was unable to mount a comeback. The host team was out of luck, hitting the woodwork four times in all. Dortmund, who are now ranked fifth in the German Bundesliga, were never predicted to make it this far, and they will be the underdogs in the June 1 main event whether they play Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, who square off on Wednesday.
It will be their first championship game since 2013, the year that, amazingly, also took place at Wembley and in which Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund fell to Bayern.
Eleven years later, Hummels, who was a player in that final, emerged victorious as Dortmund consolidated their lead from Niclas Fuellkrug’s goal in the first leg.
“We’re really excited about reaching the final,” Dortmund coach Edin Terzic said to broadcaster Amazon Prime, “but it will take us some time to realize that.”
“We did it somehow, making it to London.”
But PSG’s defeat in yet another tournament tight knockout tie is just as much of the tale of this semifinal.
Despite the substantial financial investment made by their Qatari owners since 2011, they have yet to win the trophy, and Mbappe’s farewell will not be a dream come true.
He was hoped to play his final game for the team in the June 1 final, but he will be leaving when his contract expires after this season.
Instead, PSG will have time to consider how they lost out on winning the greatest prize of all during Mbappe’s seven years with his home team.
We lacked sufficient clinical judgment. They scored two goals: a long ball goal and a corner goal. We produced many more opportunities than they did, but we failed to seize them, PSG captain Marquinhos said Canal Plus.
“We wanted to make it to the final since we were so close. But we needed to prevail tonight and show greater clinicality, which we did not.”
This was PSG’s first home encounter at this stage of a European competition with fans in 29 years, when they lost to AC Milan in 1995. PSG’s last two semi-final matches both occurred during the epidemic.
After defeating Dortmund 2-0 at home in the group stage, Luis Enrique’s team felt secure in the knowledge that a repeat of that performance would enough.
One significant pick made by the PSG coach was the replacement of Bradley Barcola with Portuguese attacker Goncalo Ramos. This required Mbappe to switch from the middle to the left wing.
Dortmund would have expected a full-scale assault from the outset, but that was not the case.
It took Mbappe just seven minutes to attempt his first shot, but Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel comfortably stopped his volley.
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Despite having the most of the ball, the hosts were unable to involve Mbappe in the match, as the France captain frequently appeared alone on the wing.
Actually, Dortmund had the better opportunity of the first half when Karim Adeyemi launched a counterattack and Gianluigi Donnarumma stopped his attempt.
It seemed as if the hosts had to make a change or else they might have to leave quietly.
Two minutes into the second half, Ramos could have taken the lead when Mbappe’s cross found its way into the box, but Warren Zaire-Emery resorted to a close-range effort on the post.
That was going to be important because, shortly after, Dortmund scored.
After PSG carelessly gave up a corner, Hummels headed home Julian Brandt’s throw from Dortmund’s right.
After an hour, Nuno Mendes became the second player from PSG to hit the right-hand post, this time with a strong long-range effort after Ramos had brushed a shot over.
Luis Enrique realized he had to take something when it appeared that PSG would not be winning, so he substituted Barcola and Marco Asensio for Ramos and Fabian Ruiz, pushing Mbappe through the middle.
Dortmund added the massive Niklas Suele as an extra defender, and they handled everything PSG threw at them. The goal’s frame also helped.
After 86 minutes, Kobel deflected Mbappe’s shot over the bar, and Vitinha also caused a commotion by shaking the wood, but Dortmund managed to secure their trip to London.
Kylian Mbappe Denied PSG Farewell as Dortmund Knockout Ends Champions League Dreams
Kylian Mbappe’s anticipated farewell from Paris Saint-Germain was thwarted following their surprising Champions League exit at the hands of Borussia Dortmund. The loss not only deprived Mbappe of his final game for PSG but also dashed their hopes of a Wembley final next month. As Mbappe eyes a move to Real Madrid, PSG’s dream of securing their first Champions League title remains unfulfilled.
The 2018 World Cup winner, departing PSG after seven years, had aimed to lead the Qatar-backed club to European glory. However, Dortmund’s 2-0 aggregate victory in the semi-final second leg ended PSG’s campaign prematurely.
Despite PSG’s dominance, with 31 attempts on goal and several shots hitting the woodwork, they couldn’t overturn the first-leg deficit. Mbappe, PSG’s all-time top scorer, expressed disappointment but acknowledged the need for clinical finishing.
The setback against Dortmund is another in PSG’s history of Champions League disappointments, including the infamous 6-1 defeat to Barcelona in 2017. The club’s overhaul this season, marked by departures and a new coach, aimed to enhance competitiveness across all competitions.
Luis Enrique, PSG’s coach, remains optimistic, highlighting the team’s Ligue 1 triumph and the upcoming French Cup final. However, PSG’s youthful lineup in the Champions League semi-final underscores the need for experience at this level.
Looking ahead, PSG faces the challenge of replacing Mbappe effectively while strengthening the squad for Champions League success. The coach’s strategic decisions and the team’s young talent offer hope for future campaigns, but Mbappe’s departure leaves PSG longing for that coveted European trophy.
Marco Reus Reflects on Dortmund’s Unexpected Triumph at Wembley
Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus expressed astonishment at his team’s unexpected success as they secured a place in the Champions League final at Wembley. The veteran player emphasized that “no one expected us to make it,” highlighting Dortmund’s remarkable journey to the finals.
Dortmund’s path to Wembley was sealed with a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, showcasing their determination and resilience on the field. This victory marks their return to Wembley, where they last appeared in the 2013 Champions League final under Jurgen Klopp’s management.
The decisive moment came from Mats Hummels’ header in the second leg at Parc des Princes, securing Dortmund’s 2-0 aggregate win over PSG. Reus, speaking to Amazon Prime, acknowledged the challenges they faced but praised the team’s outstanding performance.
The upcoming final at Wembley holds immense significance for Dortmund and Reus, especially as he prepares to depart from his longtime club at the end of the season. Reus reflected on the emotional journey from his early days in Dortmund’s junior system to now reaching the pinnacle of European football once again.
With a potential rematch against Bayern Munich looming in the final, Dortmund’s victory showcases their defensive prowess against top-tier opponents like Kylian Mbappe. The thrilling prospect of a Champions League title adds to the excitement surrounding Dortmund’s campaign this season.
As the final date approaches on June 1, Dortmund aims to capture their second Champions League title, adding to their previous triumph in 1997. Reus’s sentiments reflect the team’s determination to defy expectations and emerge victorious on football’s grandest stage.
