Special correspondent in Dortmund
So close, so far… Frustrating in the first period and clumsy in the second, PSG lost to Dortmund (1-0) on Wednesday, in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League. Niclas Fullkrug’s goal in the first half, in an incandescent Westfalenstadion and facing a Yellow Wall true to its reputation. Everything has to be done. Nothing is lost. But the Parisians will have to (again) reverse the situation in the return match, next Tuesday, at the Parc des Princes, as they were able to do in Barcelona in the quarter-finals (2-3 defeat in the first leg, 4-1 victory in the return). ).
“Maybe we are the team that is the hungriest,” guessed Edin Terzic before the match. It was obvious from the start. Carried by a melting Signal Iduna Park, the BVB imposed terrible pressure, particularly insisting on Mendes’ side, in the tough. 10 minutes in hell. Efforts remained in vain, Donnarumma still having to work in front of Sabitzer (13th). Luis Enrique’s players let the storm pass, with a few skirmishes signed by Dembélé (11th, 18th, 20th) along the way. Above all, after a quarter of an hour, they reversed the trend and finally put their game in place. Still nothing to worry Kobel, though. Parisian mastery? Yes. Unless Ruiz restarts full axis or Hakimi fails to score against his camp by unscrewing in clearance (30th)…
Marquinhos was vocal. He would have done better to watch his alignment, he who offered a boulevard to Fullkrug, who came to crucify Donnarumma despite the return of Hernandez (1-0, 36th). Double penalty since the latter, hit instantly, had to give up his place to Beraldo (42nd). The match was getting carried away, with Donnarumma still sovereign ahead of Sabitzer (44th) and Dembélé who set the stage on fire (45th). No shot on target (0/3), no chocolate for PSG, frustrating (1-0 MT). Not a bad first period, apart from that first quarter of an hour going backwards. Vitinha? Still so precious… Countless numbers of balloons recovered and properly relaunched.
Obviously, these first 45 minutes at least had the merit of whetting Parisian appetites. Lightning struck the Germans. Right post for Mbappé, left post for Hakimi, and a cross that “KM” missed by a hair in quick succession (52nd). Then Mbappé who alerted Kobel (53rd) and Ruiz who mysteriously did not target his head on a center delight from “Marqui” (55th), who did not dive after his error. There were also misses on the Borussia side: how did Fullkrug, ideally found by Sancho at six meters (59th), manage to miss the target? KO in the air, Dortmund hurting Paris again, especially with the head.
If he did not reserve any surprises in his 11, the same as in Barcelona, Luis Enrique called on Kolo Muani, despite a glaring lack of confidence, as the first real change (65th), in place of Barcola. And confidence cannot be found under the hoof of a horse… The ex-Nantais is lost. It was seen. No confidence concerns for Mbappé, with this candy for Dembélé, who came up against Kobel (72nd), nor for Sancho, who fell on Donnarumma (74th).
Money time at Signal Iduna Park. The control dear to Luis Enrique? To oblivion. A tennis match. With Hakimi going up to the net and serving Dembélé alone at the edge of the area. Golden opportunity. Above (80th). The excellent Vitinha also tried it, on the left (82nd). And Marquinhos made up for his defensive oversight in the first period with an XXL save in front of Bradt (83rd). What a comeback! Another header from Ruiz on the side, on a superb service from said “Viti” (87th). Having opportunities is good. Converting them is better… “The line between victory and defeat is fine”, as Luis Enrique likes to repeat. This setback was played out, among other things, on efficiency (1-0 final score). One thing is certain: PSG will have chances next Tuesday. This time, you will have to put them at the bottom.