Borussia Dortmund must overturn a 2-1 deficit to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League when Atlético Madrid visit Signal Iduna Park for the second leg on Tuesday evening.
When the starting eleven were announced, it was clear that Atlético manager Diego Simeone made a change from the first meeting, with Mario Hermoso replacing the suspended Samuel Lino (who became Madrid’s goalscorer) on the left wing.
Dortmund also saw a change, with Julian Brandt replacing Felix Nmecha in attacking midfield. It was also clear that Jadon Sancho was back from the start after being missing from the match squad against Mönchengladbach this weekend.
When the match got under way, it was Dortmund, led by their home crowd, who set the pace straight away and after only three minutes of play, most people at Signal Iduna Park believed that Marcel Sabitzer would score the lead.
But at the last moment, Nahuel Molina threw himself in front of Sabitzer’s shot and managed to avert the danger.
But Atlético showed that they can create plenty of danger with their offensive weapons and just over a minute after Molina’s break, Alvaro Morata got free on goal.
The flag stayed down as the Spaniard stormed towards Gregor Kobel. Morata chose to try a chip, but had to see his finish go beyond the right post and 0-0 stood.
After the frantic opening, the pace of chance creation slowed down a bit, but after just over half an hour of play, Dortmund turned up the pace again – and then the payoff came.
In the 34th minute, centre-back Mats Hummels found Julian Brandt with a delicious outside pass. Brandt then turned around quickly in the penalty area before finding a small gap behind Jan Oblak with a left finish and all of a sudden the double meeting was even.
After the goal, the home team had clear momentum and five minutes after Brandt’s equaliser, the turnaround would be completed.
After a nice combination play, Ian Maatsen ran through on his left wing. With a distinctive finish, the Dutchman could see the ball drill into the back of the chair and Dortmund had reversed the deficit from the first meeting between the teams.
Before the second half, Diego Simeone chose to act by making a triple substitution and it had an immediate effect.
The guests went out on the offensive and in the 49th minute they created a corner. Griezmann headed in the ball which was headed in by Mario Hermoso.
The Dortmund defense looked to be in control, but at the last moment Mats Hummels put his leg out in front of Gregor Kobel’s nose, who was tripped by the changing trajectory of the ball and the home keeper saw the ball bounce into the empty net.
The goal was a useful injection for Atlético and just over five minutes after Hummel’s own goal, substitute Angel Correa was cleared by Koke. But the Argentinian rolled the ball just outside Kobel’s post and extra time stood.
However, Correa would get his revenge fairly immediately and after 64 minutes of play he carefully stayed in front after a rebound from Kobel.
The striker’s first finish was blocked, but on the ensuing rebound, Correa was able to tap over the crossbar to make it 2-2 – a goal that gave Atlético a 4-3 lead in the doubleheader.
But the double meeting had not swung for the last time and five minutes after Correa’s goal, Dortmund surged up the left flank.
Marcel Sabitzer found the net with a perfect cross, which Niclas Füllkrug managed to head into Jan Oblak’s far post and once again it was extra time.
However, the drama did not end there and just 143 seconds after Füllkrug’s full hit, a second ball landed in front of Marcel Sabitzer. The Austrian took the ball to his left foot, fired and produced a volley that went into Oblak’s left-hand corner – whereupon Dortmund were in the lead again.
– As this double meeting swings back and forth. It’s an emotional rollercoaster for players, coaches and the crowd, exclaimed TV4 expert Marcelo Fernandez Figueroa.
After Sabitzer’s goal, Dortmund focused on defending their lead and Atlético never managed to create any hot chances to take the game to extra time.
This allowed Edin Terzic’s side to hold off and secure a 4-2 victory, which means Dortmund are through to the semi-finals, where they will face PSG, who knocked out Barcelona in their quarter-final.
Startelvor:
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel – Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen – Sabitzer, Can – Adeyemi, Brandt, Sancho – Füllkrug.
Atletico Madrid: Oblak – Giménez, Witsel, Azpilicueta – Molina, Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Hermoso – Morata, Griezmann.
