Borussia Dortmund showed courage and steel against Paris Saint Germain, as they secured an important first-leg semi-final UEFA Champions League win at the Signal Iduna Park.
Edin Terzic’s side remained unfazed against the Parisians, with Niclas Füllkrug scoring the deciding goal of the first leg.
Paris Saint Germain had several chances to score in the opening period, with one coming in the 34th minute.
Kylian Mbappe sent a cross-field pass into the path of Bradley Barcola, who swiftly went past Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson with a lovely move.
Barcola subsequently sent a cut-back into the middle hoping for someone to connect to it, but unfortunately, no one was forthcoming.
Borussia Dortmund got their crucial goal in the 36th minute, with center-back Nico Schlotterbeck hoisting the ball in behind the defense of Paris Saint-Germain.
Füllkrug afterwards shrugged off his marker, before taking a brilliant touch to bring the ball to the turf.
Füllkrug converted with panache for Borussia Dortmund against Paris Saint Germain
Niclas Füllkrug then slammed the ball beyond the reach of Gianluigi Donnarumma, placing it into the bottom-left corner.
PSG Boss Luis Enrique made an injury-forced substitution in the 42nd minute, with Lucas Beraldo coming on for Lucas Hernandez.
Both teams had massive opportunities in stoppage time of the first 45, with the first falling to Paris Saint Germain 2 minutes into added time.
Ousmane Dembele got to the byline before sending a low cut back across the face of the goal, however, no PSG player got on the end of it with Ryerson stepping in to clear for Borussia Dortmund.
In the 5th minute of stoppage time, Julian Brandt delivered a free-kick towards Marcel Sabitzer, who struck a volley against the ground and up again but his effort didn’t trouble Paris Saint Germain goalie Donnarumma.
Edin Terzic’s side headed into the break leading the visitors and were pretty much pleased by their display in the first period.
Early on in the second period, PSG sought to get the leveler through Barcola, but his curling attempt at goal was saved by Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
Borussia Dortmund’s great opportunity to double their lead
One minute before the hour mark, the home side got a golden chance, as striker Füllkrug headed the ball down for Brandt to hit an instantaneous shot.
However Julian Brandt’s attempt wasn’t well struck and it went wide off the post, with the blushes of Paris Saint Germain spared.
Six minutes before the culmination of normal time, Jadon Sancho, who was utterly magnificent in the affair, sent a gorgeous pass to Brandt.
The subsequent strike of Julian Brandt was swept away by PSG captain Marquinhos, as he put his body on the line to save his side.
Borussia Dortmund still piled much pressure with that move, as Jadon Sancho crossed the ball back into the area.
Niclas Füllkrug and Marco Reus were both advancing at the far post, but none could get a proper connection to it, as it glanced off the head of the latter and over the bar.
PSG with the last big chance of the game failed to score
The last big chance of the game came the way of Paris Saint Germain, as Vitinha found Fabian Ruiz via a cross towards the far post.
However, Ruiz couldn’t guide his header on target and the ball went wide from close range, with the players and fans of Borussia Dortmund heaving a sigh of relief.
The Black and Yellows crept out of the encounter with a slim 1-0 victory, following their dogged, imperious and pleasing display over Paris Saint Germain.
They will be hoping to reprise and better their outing in the coming leg on May 7, 2024, at the Parc Des Princes in Paris.
History looks set to repeat itself again, but the second-leg is what could make or mar it from becoming a reality.
What history? Bayern Munich faced Borussia Dortmund in the final of the 2012/13 UEFA champions league in Wembley, and fast-forward about a decade after, that feat is about to repeat itself and at the same venue.
