BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-0 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN: Niclas Fullkrug’s first-half goal gives the German side an advantage heading into next week’s second leg – but the big talking point was Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho gave Manchester United a taste of what they are missing after producing a brilliant Champions League performance.
Sancho was sensational as he helped Borussia Dortmund produce another upset as they took a big step towards the final at Wembley on June 1. And his dazzling display must surely make the United hierarchy question why they could not get the best out of the £73m England international during his three years at Old Trafford.
This was Sancho back to his impish best, dribbling and jinking down the wing as the industrial city of Dortmund upset the wealthy Parisians and made it another frustrating night for Kylian Mbappe. This time the supposed best striker in the world was outdone by a journeyman center forward in Niclas Fullkrug as the 6ft 2in German international got the winner amid a yellow wall of noise in the raucous Signal Iduna Park.
It was obvious who wanted it more. Dortmund’s battlers overcame Paris Saint Germain’s millionaire superstars with a performance full of defiance, grit and big slices of luck. Mbappe is set to join Real Madrid this summer and if he goes without fulfilling his dream of winning the Champions League then he will look back upon nights like these with great regret.
PSG superstar Mbappe hit the post and the French giants passed up other gilt-edged chances as Sancho & Co defied the odds again as Dortmund have become the dark horses in this season’s Champions League. Yes, they are in the easiest half of the draw but they had to draw on every last bit of energy to get the job done as they were roared on by a deafening noise.
If you thought the Allianz Arena was loud on Tuesday night for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, this lot turned up the volume again to get their players over the line. It was a special night and a big one for Sancho because this is a player who has found himself unwanted, cast aside at Old Trafford after a fall-out with Erik ten Hag and yet he embarrassed United with this display.
Sancho, along with left winger Karim Adeyemi, worked so hard and the England star produced chance after chance but his Dortmund team-mates passed them up. But Fullkrug did take his advantage and he has become such a talking point in German football. He was playing in the second division two years ago, only got called up for Germany when he was 29 and much-traveled does not do his collection of clubs justice.
However, Fullkrug showed Mbappe how it should be done with the all-important 36th minute goal. It was route one from Dortmund. Nico Schlotterbeck’s long ball over the top reached Fullkrug who brought it down with a lovely piece of control, burst into the box and fired past PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Marcel Sabitzer, who was on loan at Manchester United this time last year, nearly made it 2-0 before half time but Donnarumma redeemed himself with a super save. PSG came out fired up for the second half. Mbappe’s shot crashed against one post and Achraf Hakimi’s effort from the rebound hit the other upright. It was an incredible let-off. Fabian Ruiz then missed a sitter. Dortmund were hanging on.
At the other end, Sancho set up chances for Julian Brandt and Fullkrug but both missed. Sancho was terrific, so exciting and a throwback to the United player signed in the first place. PSG will be wondering how on earth they did not take at least one chance as Ousmane Dembele skied another big chance over.
At least PSG have the second leg at home next Tuesday to save themselves but Dortmund showed they will not give up easily.
DON’T SCRAP REPLAYS! Join our petition to keep the magic of the FA Cup alive!
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
