Fullkrug strike gives Dortmund slender advantage over PSG

Backed by the famous Die gelbe Wand (the Yellow Wall), Borussia Dortmund defeated PSG 1-0 thanks to Niclas Fullkrug’s first-half strike.

The result means the German side hold the advantage as they look to reach their first UEFA Champions League Final since 2013, as the players responded by producing a brave performance that saw them emphatically match the Ligue 1 champions.

The Westfalenstadion and Edin Terzic were delighted at the performance, spurring the home side on and the stadium erupted into jubilation when Fullkrug opened the scoring with some classic centre-forward play in the 36th minute.

A long ball dropped behind the PSG defence, allowing the German to begin the chase. When the 31-year-old got the ball he shrugged off the defender, controlled the ball and fired low past Gianluigi Donnarumma at his right-hand side to give the home side the advantage going into the break.

It was a half where Luis Enrique’s side lacked their identity and commitment as they only mustered up three shots before the break, but the side who became champions at the weekend were always going to respond, and they should have been level in the 51st minute.

The chance came when Kylian Mbappe cut inside and used his trademark shot to fire an effort that cannoned off the inside of the post. Just seconds later Achraf Hakimi also hit the left post too with a low effort before Fabian Ruiz got his header all wrong with the goal gaping.

The game had opened up and exploded into life as both sides began to form good chances but proved to be tantalizingly wasteful, passing up chances to take a commanding advantage into the second leg of the game.

PSG continued to waste chances

Notably, Die Borussen then had a penalty appeal waved away after Fullkrug appeared to be pushed in the box as he leapt high for a header from close range. The English referee and his VAR crew paid no attention, leaving the club bewildered.

Then a clever flick by Mbappe saw Dembele eight yards out from sinking his ex-club’s heart but Dortmund survived again, and survive they continued to do as Dembele then fired over with the whole goal gaping for him moments later.

A game of missed chances went in Dortmund’s favor though, as they take an impressive 1-0 lead into the second leg and now, they have something to fight tooth and nail for whilst PSG have it all to do to meet expectations once again.

When is the second leg?

The rematch of this contest is not far away, taking place on Tuesday, May 7 at the Parc de Princes in Paris as PSG look to overturn the 1-0 deficit with Mbappe looking to win the Champions League for the first time.