PLAYER RATINGS | Dortmund 1-0 PSG: Niclas Füllkrug gives Dortmund advantage heading into second-leg | OneFootball

UEFA Champions League, Semi-final, 01/05/24

Paris Saint-Germain will have to overcome a one-goal deficit if they are to reach their first UEFA Champions League final since 2020 after Niclas Füllkrug’s first-half goal gave Borussia Dortmund a slender advantage (1-0) heading into the second-leg at the Parc des Princes next week.

Dortmund set the tone in the opening seconds. With the Yellow Wall roaring, Emre Can went into former Dortmund man Ousmane Dembélé, raising the decibel level further in the Signal Iduna Park. That noise did little to awaken Luis Enrique’s side, who were punished for a subdued first-half performance.

Marcel Sabitzer gave Les Parisiens any early warning, stealing in behind Nuno Mendes and striking straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma from a tight angle. However, the Italian could do little with Füllkrug’s effort mid-way through the first half. It came from a simple ball over the top from Nico Schlotterbeck and Füllkrug, who caused the back-line plenty of problems, timed his run perfectly, controlled and beat Donnarumma with a thunderous finish.

To add insult to injury, Lucas Hernandez was injured in the goal-scoring action and was forced off with a knee problem. The Frenchman headed straight down the tunnel and was replaced by Lucas Beraldo. Sabitzer forced Donnarumma into action once again before the break but on this occasion, Donnarumma was equal to the Dortmund midfielder’s volley.

Dembélé fails to haunt his former side

PSG were absent from proceedings, passive and failed to register a single shot on target – improvement was desperately needed. There was a reaction in the second half but quality was still sorely lacking in the decisive moments. PSG had their chances, they just weren’t taken.

Bradley Barcola had Les Parisiens’ first shot on target and it led to an avalanche on Gregor Kobel’s goal. Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi struck the inside of both posts within a matter of seconds before Fabian Ruiz missed a header from a matter of yards out. In the ascendency, PSG could not make it count and they were soon under the cosh once again with Füllkrug almost doubling his account and Dortmund’s advantage.

Against his former club, Dembélé had a night to forget. After his close-range effort was expertly saved by Kobel, the France international then blasted over, unmarked, with the goal gaping. Les Parisiens couldn’t force the equaliser and head back to the Parc des Princes with regrets and a one-goal deficit to overcome, just like in the quarter-final against Barcelona.

PSG player ratings

Gianluigi Donnarumma – 5

Nuno Mendes – 2

A night to forget for Nuno Mendes, who was run ragged by Jadon Sancho. He was persistently beaten and taken out of the game.

Lucas Hernandez – N/A

Replaced just before half-time. The Frenchman collided with Füllkrug on Dortmund’s opener and despite attempting to continue, was forced off. He was replaced by Lucas Beraldo (4).

Marquinhos – 7

Despite the scoreline, it was a strong display from the captain, who would have had an assist if not for Ruiz’s glaring miss. The Brazilian then made a crucial block on Julian Brandt late on, limiting the damage.

Achraf Hakimi – 5

Fabián Ruiz – 4

Vitinha – 5

Warren Zaïre-Emery – 4

Bradley Barcola – 4

Kylian Mbappé – 4

A quiet night for Mbappé, especially in the first half. He was muzzled by the Dortmund defence was large periods but wad still within inches of having an impact on the result.

Ousmane Dembélé – 3

The best chances fell to Dembélé and he couldn’t take them. Whilst Kobel was impressive with his save midway through the half, there was no excuse for the Frenchman not hitting the target later in the second half.

Selected Borussia Dortmund player ratings

Jadon Sancho – 8

The Manchester United loanee completed more dribbles (12) than the entire PSG team (11). He was no match for Mendes, who was left chasing his shadow all night.

Niclas Füllkrug – 7

Karim Adeyemi – 7

GFFN | Luke Entwistle