Returning to Wembley: Dortmund in the Champions League final

Outstanding player Mats Hummels, score: 9
A monstrous performance by the veteran stopper, both in defense and the winning goal, the disappointing player Kylian Mbappe, score: 5
The French star simply failed to rise in the most important moment of his career at PSG

The victory of spirit over matter, the victory of character over beauty, what the Borussia Dortmund players did can be described in many ways, they deserve all possible superlatives. Tonight (Tuesday) they exceeded all expectations and brought the Schwarzwald to the highest status that European team football has to offer.

The yellow-blacks achieved a second consecutive 0:1 victory against PSG and 0:2 on aggregate in the semi-finals and qualified for the 2023/24 Champions League final at Wembley, 11 years after the last time they played there. Even then it was, you guessed it, at Wembley.

In the finals of the 2012/13 season, the Germans competed in the finals with impressive names such as Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gondwan and none other than the great Jurgen Klopp standing on the lines.

Amera Jahn, Mats Hummels and Niko Schluterbeck on the roof of the world (Reuters)

This time, it was a completely different story, Dortmund was a clear underdog in the semi-finals, when the big stars who passed through its ranks in recent years, such as Jude Bellingham and Arling Holland, even went to conquer the continent in “bigger” clubs.

Against the background of all this, how symbolic is the fact that the one who scored the winning goal and provided an amazing performance in defense was actually the veteran Matt Hummels, who is one of the few remnants of the yellow squad from that final.

Mats Hummels, the great winner returns to Wembley (Reuters)

On the other hand, the qualification is much sweeter when the one who stood in front of her is Paris’ star battery. PSG was one of the favorites to win, led by Kylian Mbappe, who already imagined his last dance in the French uniform as the most successful, but suffered an unusual blow and will leave the city of lights without the trophy with the big ears.

The match opened with pressure from the host on the goal of Gregor Koval, but he was not bothered too much by rather fruitless attempts without the required sting. In the 31st minute, it seemed that the host finally got into the game, when Dembele missed from a good position in the box, but Ufo immediately saw a counter-reaction. Karim Adeyemi went on a deadly outburst and in a huge situation against Gianluigi Donnarumma was stopped by the Italian.

Kylian Mbappe is devastated, will say goodbye to the City of Lights without the trophy (Reuters) Kylian Mbappe cries (Reuters)

The Parisians started the second half in a higher gear, already two minutes into it, Warren Zaire Emery got a golden opportunity when he got into a situation in front of an empty goal, but only kicked the crossbar. The German penalty was not long in coming and against the backdrop of an inspiring defensive stand, Julian Brandt’s corner kick found the golden head of Hummels, who moved freely in the area and scored the priceless 0:1 for Schwarzwald.

Luis Enrique’s trainees couldn’t believe it was happening to them and at a stage perhaps too late in the game, the coach put Bradley Barcola in place of the disappointing Gonzalo Ramos who didn’t take advantage of the opportunity in the lineup. The entry of the French winger led to a score on Dortmund’s goal.

Mats is homeless in the clouds after the winning goal (Reuters) Dortmund’s big celebration (Reuters)

Despite this, the French champions simply couldn’t find the back of the net and were filled with frustration and despair, especially when they hit the crossbar and crossbar no less than three times, with one of the opportunities being such that Mbappe, facing a supposed empty net, had to score.

In the end, Edin Trezic’s apprentices completed their wonderful journey thanks to a performance that would not have put any of Europe’s greats to shame. They were able to prove that the game of football, which we love so much, is first of all a matter of soul and passion, even at the highest levels of all. If so, the yellow and black, who will find out later who will be their final opponent for the title, we can see in the grand final on the first of June.

Dortmund players explode with joy at the final whistle (Reuters) Dortmund players in the qualification celebrations (Reuters) Marco Reus celebrates with Dortmund fans (Reuters) The yellow and black are happy (Reuters) Luis Enrique comforts Kylian Mbappe (Reuters) Russian PSG players ( Reuters) Kylian Mbappe is disappointed (Reuters)

second half

• ’90+4

• The final whistle! Dortmund won 0:1 and advanced to the Champions League at Wembley after 11 years!

• ’88

• Just nothing was going for the French, Vitinia going wide from distance with a phenomenal kick that rattled the crossbar once more

• ’87

• The Parisian crowd can’t believe it, Koval was not good at the ball, which after a mix-up in the area fell at the feet of Mbappe, who was in front of the goal due to the lack of a goalkeeper, kicked the crossbar and out

• ’85

• Substitution in Dortmund: Enemche replaces Brandt

• ’84

• Yellow card for PSG: Hakimi also saw the yellow

Bradley Barcola with Solution Seeker (Reuters)

• ’82

• An excellent lift on a stationary ball found the head of Marcinius, who missed the frame by a few centimeters, the host began to despair

• ’76

• PSG substitution: Zaire Emery was replaced by Kang-in

• ’75

• Dembele saw the yellow card as well

Stubborn aerial battle between Marquinhos and Niklas Polkrug (Reuters)

• ’74

• Mbappe burst into the middle and unleashed a too strong kick outside the box that mainly indicated frustration and a lack of solutions

Edin Trezic (Reuters)

• ’67

• Another substitution for the Germans: Zola replaced Sancho

• ’65

• Homeless also saw the yellow card

Paris players complain to Orsto (Reuters)

• ’64

• Zavitzer saw the first yellow card of the game after he stopped a burst of Barcula in a foul from behind

Luis Enrique is frustrated (Reuters)

• ’63

• Ruiz was also replaced, Asensio entered at his expense

• ’63

• Double substitution of the host: Ramos left, Barcola entered in his place

• ’61

• From a Parisian press, a good ball fell to Mendes, who from a long distance outside the box unleashed a powerful kick that subdued Kobel, but only rattled the crossbar

• ’60

• A good move by Vitinia who raced forward and gave a good cross to Ramos who took a good kick on the move but narrowly missed the frame

The exchange between Marco Reus and Karim Adeyemi (Reuters)

• ’56

• Dortmund’s first substitution: Adeyemi was replaced, Reus entered in his place

Dortmund players don’t know their souls, they are getting closer to Wembley (Reuters) Mats Hummels is crazy (Reuters) Mats Hummels hits the net freely, Dortmund is happy (Reuters)

• ’50

• Gate! Dortmund went up 0:1: Brandt’s tremendous corner found Hummels all alone in the box, the stopper hit the net freely, putting Dortmund up 0:2 on aggregate and bringing it closer than ever to the grand final at Wembley

Warren Zeier Emery and Marquinhos do not believe (Reuters)

• ’47

• A stormy start to the second half, Mbappe collected a very good ball that found Ramos who hit inches from the goal, the ball fell to Zaire Emery who in front of an empty goal kicked the crossbar and out

Jadon Sancho gives Nuno Mendes a headache on the wing (Reuters)

first half

A battle of minds in France, Luis Enrique and Edin Trezic (Reuters)

• ’45

• At the end of a good attack by the Parisians, Mbappe found Ruiz with a cross, who from outside the area kicked a bomb that hit the goalkeeper and was very close to giving the host the advantage

Gianluigi Donnarumma and Karim Adeyemi (Reuters) Karim Adeyemi on the grass watching his kick (Reuters)

• ’35

• On the other hand, the Germans also reached their most dangerous situation, Dortmund went on a deadly burst when Adeyemi ran all the way to the goal and kicked well, but Donnarumma provided a fine save one on one against the German

Mats Hummels intercepts Kylian Mbappe (Reuters) Kylian Mbappe and Julian Ryerson (Reuters)

• ’31

• The best chance so far, Mbappe took a ball from the left wing all the way to the center and passed to Zaire Emery, who found Dembele alone on the right side of the box, but the Frenchman shot hard wide of the goal

Luis Enrique on the lines, looking for solutions (Reuters) Kylian Mbappe, hasn’t seen many good chances so far (Reuters)

• ’27

• The host began to show a little more frustration, Mbappe told Luitinia that far outside the box he tried to turn a ball, but his ball flew into the stands

Fabian Reus in pursuit of Julian Ryerson (Reuters) Lucas Beraldo is not ready to let go of the dangerous Niklas Polkrog (Reuters)

• ’19

• The Germans tried a similar move again, a strong outside kick reached Polkrug who dropped another ball in the box, this time to Ryerson who kicked hard into the outside net

Gonzalo Ramos in the fight against Emre Can (Reuters)

• ’13

• At the end of a pass attack by the Parisians, Ramos received a ball on the edge of the box when he was completely alone and kicked, but was unable to subdue Koval

Niklas Polkrug strikes between PSG players (Reuters)

• ’12

• Good situation for the visitor, Fulkrog acted as a pivot and dropped a good ball to Adeyemi, who from the air kicked very strongly, but was stopped by the defense

Kylian Mbappe in action (Reuters)

• ‘7

• After a corner kick, the ball traveled in the area and fell out of the air at Mbappe’s feet, the Frenchman kicked a volley, but Koval successfully dealt

Niklas Polkrog is looking for the next idea (Reuters)

• ‘4

• Hakimi burst well on the right wing and unleashed an accurate cross that found Ramos, but the Portuguese touched the ball weakly and Koval collected the ball without a problem

Dortmund players on the pitch (Reuters) PSG players on the pitch (Reuters) The magnificent setting in the Parc des Princes stands (Reuters)

• ‘1

• The opening whistle! Against the backdrop of a spectacular atmosphere, Oresto kicked off the semi-final rematch!

PSG players with the knife between their teeth, ready for the semi-finals (Reuters) Kylian Mbappe is preparing. Will take Paris to the final? (Reuters) Jadon Sancho in the warm-up (Reuters) The excited Parisian fans are already ready in the stands (Reuters)