Dortmund, having previously suffered a loss and a draw against PSG in the group stage, can now dream of returning to Wembley 11 years after their last Champions League final.
Niclas Fuellkrug scored the decisive goal in Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. In a match where the journeyman striker outshined PSG's superstar Kylian Mbappe, Dortmund's dogged and determined play was crucial as they pursued a return to the final for the first time since 2013. The 1997 Champions League winners outmuscled their heavily favored opponents in front of a roaring crowd of over 80,000 fans.
Fuellkrug, playing in his first Champions League season at the age of 31, took a lofted pass from center-back Nico Schlotterbeck in the 36th minute and delivered a low shot into the left corner of the net.
PSG, led by Kylian Mbappe, had two close chances when they hit the post twice in quick succession early in the second half, but ultimately failed to break through Dortmund's resilient defense.
"We showed a classic team performance today. Everyone helped each other to win the game. We needed a bit of luck a few times, but we can be very satisfied with our performance," said long-serving center-back Mats Hummels. "It was a very satisfying, very mature performance from us."
Dortmund, who had already faced PSG in the group stage, losing once and drawing once, can now dream of returning to Wembley Stadium 11 years after their last Champions League final appearance.
Despite the defeat, PSG remains optimistic about overturning the deficit in the second leg at their home venue next week. In September, PSG had thoroughly outclassed Dortmund at home, giving them confidence for the return match. "The Parc (PSG’s stadium) and our supporters give us hope for the second leg, and we know we can do much better," PSG captain Marquinhos told Canal+.
