Dortmund has experienced ‘miracles’ and feats in this Champions League. With all the quotes in the world, of course. Because in football, few miracles exist. Of course, he had to hit it at the first opportunity when he fell into the group of death against Milan, Newcastle and PSG and ended up going first. They had to be eliminated against a much more favorite Atlético and ended up breaking all the pools. They had to reach these semi-finals against the Parisian team with the team in disarray, with some of their best players injured… And none of that has ended up happening.
Based on work in the shadows and going game by game, Dortmund has reached the semifinals of the Champions League and is willing to work a new ‘miracle’ on its way: eliminate one of the favorites for the title. At 1-1 in the group stage, the Borusser team holds on to have a chance against PSG.
“We have to do everything possible to win. We believe in our possibilities. We may be the least experienced team, but we are the hungriest team. We have to work hard every day to get to Wembley,” said a tremendously optimistic Terzic at a press conference.
Luis Enrique, in the group stage duel at Signal Iduna Park / EFE
However, the company will have little to do with what happened in December. At that time, Edin Terzic’s men had qualification in their pocket against a Parisian team that was risking its life. Today, everything is very different. Despite the fact that Luis Enrique is determined to ‘equalize’ the tie, the Parisians start as great favorites to win at Wembley. They don’t even want to hear about more Borusser miracles.
Ligue 1 Champions
In December, the Asturian coach warned that PSG was going to be better when the titles were decided, and he was not wrong. After leaving Signal Iduna Park in the group stage with more doubts than certainties, the Parisians return to Dortmund with morale through the roof and in the best moment of the season. Morally encouraged by already being champions of Ligue 1, they have all the hopes in the world in this Champions League. Without Manchester City in the running, they are, along with Real Madrid, the big favorites for the title.
Although that, Luis Enrique knows, they will have to earn it on the field. There are few teams that can talk to PSG about painful eliminations. For the duel, Luis Enrique will have his entire arsenal ready, with Dembélé as one of the references. Vernon returns to the stage where he exploded as a player and made him become one of the most differential wingers in the world. He will form alongside Barcola and Mbappé, who wants to experience the penultimate of his nights of European glory with PSG.
‘Miracle’ with injuries
Dortmund will not have too many casualties in this first leg either. It seemed that a few were going to fall in the infirmary, but a ‘miracle’ seems to have caused some of them to have recovered ‘in extremis’. Hummels, Maatsen, Sabitzer, Malen… All of them, a priori and according to the German press, will be available for the match. Haller could also enter, who aimed to be out for the entire tie, but has been training with the group for days.
In Budesliga the team continues to struggle, with qualification for the next Champions League very difficult. However, this is the Champions League, and here they have shown that they are a tremendously competitive team. Sancho arrives wanting more ‘miracles’ and feats. PSG would do well not to trust.
Probable lineups
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Can, Sabitzer; brand; Adeyemi, Füllkrug and Sancho.
PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Lucas Hernandez, Nuno Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Dembelé, Mbappé and Barcola.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Inglaterra)
Campo: Signal Iduna Park
Hour: 21:00
