Just before winter, Paris Saint-Germain arrived to seek qualification for the knockout stages of this Champions League after the suspension in Dortmund (1-1).
In the heart of spring, he left the Ruhr without much certainty, falling (1-0) in the grip of a moribund Borussia in the Bundesliga in that semi-final first leg, but still unbeaten at home in Europe.
The plan devised by BVB coach Edin Terzic bore fruit: his team, which struggled from all sides last Saturday in Leipzig (4:1), managed to keep a clean sheet.
PSG’s attacking trio – Barcola, Mbappé, Dembélé – deprived of space by the German defense positioned very low on the pitch – failed to shine in a frustrating first act without the slightest shot on goal.
On the contrary, Niclas Füllkrug knew how to use the depth behind the Paris rear guard. With an opener from Nico Schlotterbeck, the Borussia striker took control from the right and then a powerful shot from the left to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma on his right (1-0, 36E).
Nuno Mendes was forced to step in to block the corner from Marcel Sabitzer after losing the ball on the right (14E), the Paris goalkeeper quickly lay down on his line to deflect a volley from the Austrian midfielder by Füllkrug, who once again gained the upper hand in the central axis of the visitors (44E).
Spine amputated by the early exit of Lucas Hernandez, hit in the left knee in his desperate save to avoid opening the scoring.
Double post and sorry
After returning from the dressing room, Luis Enrique’s men could finally prove dangerous.
They will no doubt regret this double opportunity 51E minute: after Kylian Mbappé’s shot from the right to Gregor Kobe’s right post, Achraf Hakimi found the BVB goalkeeper’s left post.
The beginning of the ball of missed opportunities. Like Fabian Ruiz, who catapulted his head wide open, alone in the reception at the entrance to the six-meter cross of the first intention from Marquinhos coming from the right (56E).
Or Ousmane Dembélé, whose old finishing demons resurfaced, alerted by a clever dive from Mbappé (72E), then on duty for Hakimi (81E), which was sent by the former from the yellow and black house to the stands of the Westfalenstadion.
77,000 Borussia fans could breathe a sigh of relief. They could have rejoiced a second time if Füllkrug had not taken Jadon Sancho’s caviar with his shaving (60E) or without saving Marquinho at the feet of Julian Brandt (83E).
A decisive intervention by the Parisian captain, who could weigh in before the rematch in a week.