Borussia Dortmund registered a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.
UEFA Champions League
Result: Borussia Dortmund v Paris Saint-Germain
Date: 01 May 2024
Venue: Signal-Iduna Park
PSG retained their regular 4-3-3 formation, with Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele flanking Kylian Mbappe up top Dortmund, meanwhile, lined-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, withJadon Sancho, Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi shadowing lone striker Niclas Fullkrug.
The Parisians did all the attacking in the opening exchanges but faced a threat from BVB on counter-attacks.
The front three of PSG were putting the German side under a lot of pressure but they were let down by the final pass and finishing touches in the box.
Out of nowhere, the Black and Yellow went ahead ten minutes before the break after Fullkrug latched onto a through ball over the defence by Nico Schlotterbeck, as he beat the offside trap and fired an unstoppable low shot past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Spaces opened up more for Dortmund, as Luis Enrique's's charges looked to respond and on the stroke of half-time, Marcel Sabitzer had a big chance with a low volley unmarked in the box that was saved by Donnarumma.
PSG were spirited from the break and six minutes into the second stanza, they were unfortunate after being denied by the post twice in quick succession, from the boot of Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi from a rebound.
The French giants continued to put Dortmund under pressure and just after the hour-mark, Enrique made an attacking change, as he introduced Randal Kolo Muani in place of Barcola.
However, the game was on the edge in the closing stages, Dortmund were a big threat on counter-attacks.
Brandt should have made it 2-0 for the home side in the last seven minutes after a through ball by Sancho in the box but his shot in the box was blocked in front of Donnarumma.
PSG struggled for momentum in the dying minutes and Dortmund eventually clinched their narrow win.
The second-leg is set for next week Tuesday in France.
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