Luis Enrique Reacts to PSG UCL Semi-final First Leg Loss to Borussia Dortmund

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Niklas Fullkrug’s 36th-minute strike was all Borussia Dortmund needed to secure their first Champions League win over PSG since the 2019/20 campaign.

In what was a revenge match for the Bundesliga giants, Fullkrug’s goal made the difference as the hosts defied the odds to secure an advantage, heading into the second leg in Parc Des Princes in a fortnight.

It was the third time the two teams have met in this edition of the competition after their double-legged the group stages where PSG had the better of the Bundesliga side.

They won 2-0 at home and drew 1-1 away in Germany to finish second in gthe group and book their place in the knockout of the competition.

Despite conceding four points to the Ligue 1 giants, Borussia Dortmund finished top of the group with 11 points, and have been phenomenal in the competition.

Hosting the 2019 finalists again in the crucial stages of the competition offered Edin Terzic a chance to revenge their capitulation in the group stages, and they fulfilled the mission with a narrow victory.

Overall, it was a difficult game for the home side as PSG riled up pressure on the hosts from start to finish. In the 51st minute, Kylian Mbappe rattled the far post with his curled effort. The uncleared rebound fell for Barcola and he teed up Hakimi, who smashed the left post again.

While PSG’s luck failed to shine through, Borussia Dortmund earned a deserved victory to secure a slim advantage ahead of the second leg.

Reacting to the defeat Luis Enrique waved aside the loss and banked on the return leg.

“It has been an exceptional atmosphere for the two teams and in Paris we will be supported by our audience.

“Our goal was to press. We have tried to defend ourselves on their right side and defend their long balls. They are a very well-worked team.

“In the first half, we were a little less intense in attack, in the second it was totally different.”

The Ligue 1 champions will hope to write off the 1-0 loss with a resounding victory when they host the Bundesliga giants in the second leg on May 7.

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